The 2013 NHL Draft delivered less than promised on the trade front, with only one major deal (Cory Schneider for a top 10 draft pick) and relatively few involving established NHLers.

From the perspective of the Edmonton Oilers, it was much ado about nothing much. There was a little actuarial alchemy that turned 6 draft choices into 10, but a yield that one can already confidently project will play zero NHL games next season. No Lindholm, Monahan or Nichushkin that might have had a crack at making the team right out of the gate. Darnell Nurse looks like a fine choice, but as a defenceman, especially one who is likely 25+ pounds below his eventual playing weight, he is surely staying right where he is in the Soo for at least one year, likely two.

Meanwhile, proven NHLers like Dave Bolland, Michal Frolik, Tyler Kennedy, Cal Clutterbuck, and Andrej Sekera changed addresses, in many cases at an acquisition cost of just draft picks, but none of them added “YEG” to their luggage tags.

Thus Craig MacTavish and the Oilers enter the upcoming free agency period with a lot to do. 18 of the 31 players who appeared in at least one game for the Oil in 2013 remain under contract, a figure which includes the big-dollar extensions that will kick in for Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, and Ladi Smid. Of the remaining 13 players, just three — Sam Gagner, Magnus Paajarvi, and Theo Peckham** — remain under Oilers’ control. Of these, the club is certain to submit qualifying offers to both Gagner and Paajarvi by today’s deadline, while one to Peckham is unlikely. Barring late developments, the other 10 are set to become unrestricted free agents.

Here’s an updated version of the depth chart:

(**Note: Depth chart initially published showing Peckham as UFA. Thanks to Jonathan Willis for the correction.)

Not included: Andy Sutton, who was under contract in 2013 but never played a game due to a serious knee injury. He has since announced his retirement.

Also not shown is Russian defenceman Anton Belov, who signed a one-year contract with the Oilers earlier this off-season. Belov, who turns 27 later this month, is a veteran of nearly 400 games in the KHL and its predecessor, the Russian Super League. He certainly is in the plans of the big club and will slot into the next version of this depth chart. But with no NHL or North American experience, at this point he remains a 6-foot-4-inch question mark.

Belov will be the sixth NHL defenceman under contract. Of the others, Peckham and Ryan Whitney are clearly headed elsewhere, while Mark Fistric remains an outside possibility for a return engagement.

Up front, Teemu Hartikainen has committed to the KHL, although the Oilers will continue to retain his North American rights. It’s a similar situation as applied to Linus Omark last season. There remains a possibility that Edmonton will extend an offer to Omark, a skilled winger who led the Swiss League in scoring but who has garnered no interest on the trade market according to MacTavish. Hard to gauge Oilers’ own interest in this player, given the major changes that have occurred in the organization on both the management and coaching fronts since Omark’s messy departure in 2012.

The other UFAs are technically eligible to return, but don’t expect much action on that front. The likes of Ryan Jones or Jerred Smithson might fill a need in a depth role, although at this point it appears likely that they will be allowed to test free agent waters while Oilers do the same in searching for replacements. Meanwhile, question marks hover over Ben Eager and Eric Belanger, a couple of players who remain under contract but who played their way out of favour.

The situation is similarly unsettled between the pipes, with #1 man Devan Dubnyk under contract for one more season, and hopefully “unflapped” by the club’s failed pursuit of Cory Schneider. The backup role remains to be filled, with Nikolai Khabibulin as good as gone. Yann Danis remains a possibility for the #3 role having proven to be a competent starter in the AHL, but is nobody’s idea of a long-term solution in Edmonton.

News of qualifying offers will be coming today from the Oilers and across the NHL. While it’s possible the odd flawed gem will let go by his current team, expect to see names like “Benoit Pouliot” topping team lists of untendered contracts. Clubs will be allowed to interview potential UFA’s, including unqualified RFA’s, tomorrow and Thursday, with doors opening for business on Friday.

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