The Edmonton Oilers have been one of the NHL’s busiest teams this offseason. After creating significant cap space by trading Darnell Nurse and his entire $9.25 million cap hit to the San Jose Sharks, general manager Stan Bowman wasted little time reshaping the roster with several signings and extensions.
Even after those moves, Edmonton still has room to add another veteran piece, and one familiar name continues to surface in discussions.
Insider Delivers Update on Oilers’ Chase for 7-Time All-Star Claude Giroux
Two days of free agency have passed, but veteran forward Claude Giroux is still on the open market, taking his time.
After deciding against signing the extension Ottawa offered during the season, the 38-year-old forward has entered free agency, sparking speculation about where he could land. With Edmonton still looking to strengthen its forward group, Oilers insider Bob Stauffer was asked whether Giroux could be a fit.
Speaking on Oilers Now, Stauffer acknowledged the growing interest from fans. “Lot of people are asking me about Claude Giroux. And I talked about the fact that in a perfect world, the Oilers would maybe get a guy that could take some draws. There ain’t anybody in the league better than him. He’s 61%, 63% over the last couple of years,” Stauffer noted.
He added that Edmonton is likely one of several teams keeping tabs on the veteran, although the competition is expected to be strong.
“I have had some people suggest to me that Philadelphia and Ottawa are definitely in on Giroux. Of course, he’s played in those two cities. It would not surprise me if Edmonton was trying to work its way into the mix as well. And Giroux is another guy, theoretically, that could qualify for a base plus bonus deal.”
Stauffer later reiterated on another episode that Edmonton has interest, but also acknowledged that several clubs remain in the race.
From a hockey standpoint, the fit makes plenty of sense.
The Oilers have been searching for another reliable right-handed center, and Giroux remains one of the league’s best faceoff specialists. He won an outstanding 63.1 percent of his draws last season while appearing in all 82 games for the Senators, finishing with 49 points.
His versatility is another major selling point. Giroux could center the third line to ease the workload on Leon Draisaitl or slide onto the wing in a top-six role when needed.
The biggest question isn’t the contract.
Giroux is expected to command a relatively affordable one-year deal, likely in the $2 million to $2.75 million range with performance bonuses.
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Instead, the challenge could be convincing him to leave Ontario. Giroux returned home when he signed with Ottawa, and insiders believe his family is well settled there. That could make a move to Edmonton a difficult decision, even if the Oilers offer another legitimate chance to compete for the Stanley Cup.
If Giroux decides that chasing another championship is his top priority, Edmonton could emerge as one of the strongest contenders for his signature.
