Edmonton Oilers Linked To 700 Game NHL Veteran With Stanley Cup Pedigree In Free Agency

The Edmonton Oilers have had a busy off-season, but now reporter Rupert McDonald has linked them to a surprise move as he predicts they land Evgeny Kuznetsov.

This off-season has been full of movement for the Edmonton Oilers, with the team seeing Connor Brown, Corey Perry and Viktor Arvidsson moved on for them to acquire Andrew Mangiapane and Isaac Howard, with the roster likely set for the 2025/26 campaign.

However, they do have a little salary cap room and the opportunity to move someone else out if the right fit emerges, and according to Rupert McDonald of The Hockey Writers, that free agency option could be veteran Evgeny Kuznetsov.

The fact that Kuznetsov is looking to return to the NHL suggests he has more to give and perhaps something to prove. He will be motivated, and based on his stats from last season, it's clear he still has a ton of skill. Though primarily a centre during his NHL career, Kuznetsov could easily shift to the wing and get a chance to play alongside Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl and make the Oilers' top lines an absolute force this season.

McDonald believes Kuznetsov could be a perfect fit on Leon Draisaitl's wing for next season.

Though Zach Hyman is seemingly locked in as the left winger on McDavid's line, there is no sure thing when it comes to Draisaitl. There has been talk that Mangiapane could play on his left side, though he has proven throughout his career to also be very useful in a bottom-six role. That could mean that the left-shooting Kuznetsov could play alongside Draisaitl.

In Kuznetsov, the Oilers could have a very useful third line centre, or they could opt to push someone out of the top-six into that role to make way for the former Stanley Cup Champion, who is fresh off a solid campaign in the KHL after departing the NHL last season.