The Edmonton Oilers don’t appear to be done adding to their roster. After an aggressive start to free agency, NHL insiders believe the club is shifting its attention away from veteran center Claude Giroux and toward another experienced scorer who could strengthen Edmonton’s forward depth.
Edmonton Oilers Linked to 23-Goal Ex-Minnesota Wild Scorer
General manager Stan Bowman has already been busy reshaping the Oilers’ middle six, bringing back Kasperi Kapanen while adding Mathieu Joseph and re-upping Jason Dickinson.
Claude Giroux had been viewed as a strong fit for Edmonton’s third-line center role, but the 38-year-old now appears more likely to either re-sign with the Ottawa Senators or return to the Philadelphia Flyers.
That has led the Oilers to another veteran option: unrestricted free agent Vladimir Tarasenko.
NHL insider Elliotte Friedman recently addressed Edmonton’s search for forward help in his report for Sportsnet. “Saw reports that Claude Giroux was going back to Philadelphia. Not disputing anyone, just no confirmation as of Friday night. The Flyers were… a little busy. I do think Edmonton was one of the teams interested,” Friedman noted.
Friedman then added another intriguing possibility. “Wonder if the Oilers look at Vladimir Tarasenko. Heard a few teams looked at him as things calmed down after free agency day one.”
Tarasenko is coming off a productive season with the Minnesota Wild, recording 23 goals and 24 assists for 47 points in 75 regular-season games despite playing mostly in a middle-six role with limited power-play opportunities. He also chipped in five points in 11 playoff games, proving he can still contribute in important moments.
Why Tarasenko Makes Sense for Edmonton
After clearing Darnell Nurse’s entire $9.25 million cap hit in a blockbuster trade with the San Jose Sharks, Edmonton now has roughly $7.25 million in available cap space.
If they do move for him, the Oilers won’t need Tarasenko to carry the offense. Instead, he can provide reliable secondary scoring and veteran experience to a team built around Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Under new head coach Mike Babcock, Tarasenko could slot onto a skilled third line alongside Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and newly acquired center Jason Dickinson.
His resume also fits what Edmonton is looking for. Tarasenko is a two-time Stanley Cup champion, winning with the St. Louis Blues in 2019 and with the Florida Panthers in 2024.
Adding another layer to the speculation, Tarasenko recently hired agent Dan Milstein. Milstein and Bowman just completed Shakir Mukhamadullin’s contract extension, giving the Oilers and Gold Star Hockey an established line of communication.
While no deal appears imminent, the connection could make negotiations easier if Edmonton decides Tarasenko is its next offseason addition.
With Giroux’s future seemingly headed in another direction, Tarasenko has emerged as a realistic veteran option for an Oilers team that still has cap space and appears intent on adding one more proven scorer before training camp.
