Insider Drops Notable Updates on Oilers UFAs Murphy & Dickinson

The Edmonton Oilers have a slew of pending unrestricted free agents on their roster to deal with this offseason. And while it looks like Jack Roslovic and Adam Henrique might not be back, discussions are ongoing in earnest to try to retain Jason Dickinson and Connor Murphy. 

Mark Spector of Sportsnet reported on Saturday that Dickinson, in particular, is looking like he'll be returning. 

Re: Jason Dickinson and EDM, hearing “very positive movement towards reaching a deal.”
As he said at exit interviews, Dickinson’s family quite liked EDM.
Should be a big week in EDM, with coaching hire and likely at least 1 UFA announced.

— Mark Spector🇨🇦🇺🇦 (@SportsnetSpec) June 20, 2026

Spector is hearing that there is “very positive movement towards reaching a deal" between Dickinson and the Oilers. 

The third-line center was acquired by Edmonton from the Chicago Blackhawks at the trade deadline, and provided the shutdown defense and penalty killing that the Oilers got him for.  

As for the top-four defenseman Murphy, he was also acquired from Chicago to perform shutdown duties in his role on the blueline. He did so, while blocking 51 shots in 20 games, and posting a +1 rating while logging 20:27 average TOI per night. Spector reports that discussions are ongoing with Murphy as well.

Re: Connor Murphy, and EDM,
there are ongoing discussions and the new coach hire is not the primary factor for Murphy, we are told.
Bowman has been quietly working the market beneath all the coaching/Nurse drama.
Let’s see what pans out.

— Mark Spector🇨🇦🇺🇦 (@SportsnetSpec) June 20, 2026

Spector adds that whether or not Mike Babcock is confirmed as the new head coach will "not be the primary factor for Murphy." 

Jim Matheson wrote in the Edmonton Journal on Friday that the Oilers "definitely need to keep the solid citizen and tough-to-play against" D-man, but that it might take a four-year deal at a $5.25 million AAV to do so. He's coming off a cap hit of $4.4 million on his previous four-year deal.

He figures that Dickinson, coming off a $4.25M AAV deal, will also be looking at a $5M+ annual stipend on his new contract.