January 29, 2025 by Ryan Lotsberg

Pouncing on free agents that become available as a result of non-conventional situations has become a patented move for the Edmonton Oilers.

It started when they signed Evander Kane in 2022 after his contract with the San Jose Sharks was terminated. They did the same with Corey Perry last year after his contract with the Chicago Blackhawks was terminated. Jeff Skinner signed with the Oilers after his contract was bought out by the Buffalo Sabres last summer. John Klingberg recently signed with the team after sitting out for over a year after hip resurfacing surgery.

It appears that they are ready to pounce again. The St. Louis Blues placed Brandon Saad on waivers on Tuesday. After clearing waivers, Elliotte Friedman reported that the Blues and Saad will mutually terminate the contract. Blues GM Doug Armstrong tried to trade Saad, but he was unable to find an acceptable deal. Saad will have to pass through waivers again before he becomes an unrestricted free agent, which makes Friday afternoon the earliest that he could formally sign with another team.

The Heavy Hockey Network’s Dash in the Park (@dashinthepark) has reported that the Oilers will be meeting with Saad’s representatives to try to work out the details of a new contract on Thursday.

Bob Stauffer also alluded to Saad’s desire to come to the Oilers on Tuesday’s episode of Oilers Now:

“If anybody can relate to the Prince Albert’s and the Eerie’s in major junior hockey at an NHL level, it’s fans in Edmonton because not everybody’s wanted to come here. Well, now a lot of them want to come here, including the guy that was waived today.”

Oilers GM Stan Bowman has a previous relationship with Saad. Saad won two Stanley Cups in 2013 and 2015 with the Blackhawks, who were managed by Bowman. Saad was drafted by Bowman’s Blackhawks in 2011. Saad was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets in the summer of 2015, but Bowman re-acquired him in the surprising trade that sent Artemi Panarin to the Blue Jackets in 2017.

A meeting doesn’t always result in a contract being signed, but there is clear interest from the Oilers. Stauffer’s comments imply that Saad has interest in becoming an Oiler. We’ll see where it goes from here, but there’s a clear path forward between the two parties. Don’t be surprised if Saad signs with the Oilers.

Related: Klingberg signing adds intrigue to Oilers trade deadline plans