Oilers UFAs: Players Open to Pay Cut, Some Leaning Toward Market – The Hockey Writers – Edmonton Oilers

While the Stanley Cup Final is underway, there is a lot of buzz about the offseason and teams are already starting to get to work, making trades and prepping for free agency. The Edmonton Oilers may be focused on Game 6, but agents and executives continue to do their jobs with the NHL Draft and free agency only days away.

Talk recently surfaced Leon Draisaitl’s camp is talking to the Oilers, with Connor McDavid and Evan Bouchard already potentially locked in at numbers that work long-term. More news is popping up regarding a couple of Edmonton’s UFAs (Per Frank Seravalli). Mattias Janmark is likely willing to take a pay cut to remain with the team, as long as there is more term on the deal. Meanwhile, Vincent Desharnais likely won’t take a team-friendly deal to stay and could hit the open market.

Looking at those two players, and then asking if there are other players in similar situations, who might have to make a tough decision in a few days?

Why Would Vincent Desharnais Test the Market?

A late bloomer like Desharnais doesn’t get the chance to cash in on free agency often. This past season was his best in the NHL and while he’s not a regular in the Stanley Cup Final, he’s turned enough heads that teams will inquire about him on July 1. Desharnais probably wants to stay with the Oilers, but the emergence of Philip Broberg has changed the narrative and the Oilers have to be cautious about where they spend their money with big contracts on the horizon.

It’s not clear what the Oilers believe he’s worth or what his camp thinks he’ll be offered in free agency, but anything more than $2 million per season probably removes Edmonton from the running. The Oilers would either need to trade Cody Ceci first or make other moves. Even then, Desharnais has proven to be a solid option, but not a regular NHLer when the games matter most.

Janmark Is Comfortable But Wants Security

Janmark has found a comfortable role with Edmonton and he’s grown into an important depth piece. Also not necessarily a regular, he’s shown that taking him out of the lineup is not an easy decision. That has value in a lower-six role, especially if he’s open to a team-friendly deal but wants a couple of season’s worth of security on his next contract.

If the number is right, Edmonton shouldn’t hesitate to get this deal done. Janmark has been an excellent leader and role player on a Cup-contending…