It’s amazing how much is already known before the stores open. Here’s what I wrote last year on the morning of free agent frenzy:
This is going to be a big day in the life of the Edmonton Oilers franchise, and based on what was flying around last night I’d say there is a mixture of good and bad on the way down the transaction wire. The current guesses are Zach Hyman, Tyson Barrie, Cody Ceci and something coming back for Ethan Bear. Ken Holland and Dave Tippett are entering their summer of spending, and there is no do-over in hockey team building. A signed Zach Hyman is forever. Trading Ethan Bear is final. Many story lines rolling out over the next decade will have their beginnings now, today.
THE ATHLETIC!
- New Lowetide: For Oilers forward Dylan Holloway, the future may come early
- New DNB: Oilers’ Brad Holland on AGM role, analytics, working with his dad: Q&A
- Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers targets early and late in NHL free agency
- Lowetide: Oilers top-20 prospects, summer 2022
- DNB: First-round pick Reid Schaefer can bring ‘big-boy hockey’ to his hometown team
- Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers prospect pipeline needs a post-draft boost
- DNB: Oilers’ Duncan Keith to retire, opening up more possibilities for Ken Holland
- DNB: Oilers’ Zack Kassian trade clears crucial salary cap space, so what’s next?
- Lowetide: 5 AHL players who can help the Oilers next season
- DNB: Edmonton Oilers offseason what I think and what I know 1.0
- Lowetide: Remember Oilers’ biggest summer ever? It needs to happen again
- DNB: How Oilers’ draft pick Kelly Buchberger became the long shot who delivered
- Lowetide: Could the Oilers look to RFA’s to find solutions?
- DNB: What we’re hearing on Edmonton Oilers’ Puljujarvi, more
- Lowetide: Can Oilers’ Xavier Bourgault make the 2022-23 opening night roster?
- Lowetide: Oilers’ pivotal summer and what fans want to see from Ken Holland
- Lowetide: 10 free agents for Edmonton Oilers to target this summer
- Lowetide: What Oilers assets should Ken Holland trade this summer?
- DNB: Oilers commit to coach Jay Woodcroft
- Lowetide: Are Oilers prospects Philip Broberg, Dylan Holloway NHL-ready?
- DNB: What if Edmonton Oilers trade Jesse Puljujarvi? The case for and against
- Lowetide: Oilers pro scouts have to get it right in free agency this summer
- DNB: Edmonton Oilers offseason priorities: A 10-step plan for success
ONE YEAR AGO
Despite some of the names that were known, my guess for the roster opening night had some major errors. Projected additions underlined and in italics:
- Mike Smith, Mikko Koskinen
- Darnell Nurse, Duncan Keith, Ryan Murray, Kris Russell
- Tyson Barrie, Cody Ceci, Evan Bouchard
- Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Getzlaf, Ryan McLeod
- Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Tomas Tatar, Jordan Martinook, Devin Shore
- Jesse Puljujarvi, Kailer Yamamoto, Zack Kassian, Josh Archibald, Kyle Turris
Missed by a MILE. The Oilers did sign Hyman, Barrie and Ceci, but the Murray, Getzlaf, Tatar and Martinook additions were all wrong. Edmonton did shuffle left-wing over the summer, so I got that much right. Here’s the opening night look:
- Mike Smith, Mikko Koskinen
- Darnell Nurse, Duncan Keith, Kris Russell, Slater Koekkoek
- Tyson Barrie, Cody Ceci, Evan Bouchard
- Connor McDavid, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Derek Ryan, Ryan McLeod, Devin Shore
- Leon Draisaitl, Zach Hyman, Warren Foegele, Brendan Perlini, Tyler Benson
- Jesse Puljujarvi, Kailer Yamamoto, Colton Sceviour, Kyle Turris
The Oilers had some strangeness on right-wing, Zack Kassian (concussion) and Josh Archibald (illness) were part of the team but not in the lineup. Holland’s bets were a mixed bag, but Hyman, Ceci and others delivered quality seasons in major roles.
THIS YEAR’S PROJECTION
- Jack Campbell, Stuart Skinner
- Darnell Nurse, Brett Kulak, Philip Broberg, Dmitri Samorukov
- Cody Ceci, Evan Bouchard, Tyson Barrie
- Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Ryan McLeod, Devin Shore
- Evander Kane, Zach Hyman, Warren Foegele, Dylan Holloway, Tyler Benson
- Kailer Yamamoto, Jesse Puljujarvi, Ondrej Kase, Derek Ryan
The best thing about this day is how few moves need to be made. Now, I can see the Oilers signing one of those RFA’s who suddenly became unrestricted and a second free-agent defenseman wouldn’t go amiss. I am predicting this lineup partly because it’s such a small group of additions. I will tell you right-wing may turn out differently on opening night. Here’s a view of the possible lines and pairings.
There’s just one problem: It’s over by $3 million. Tyson Barrie, Jesse Puljujarvi and Warren Foegele are possible exits to get under the cap. I would also pay close attention to the RFA signings. Holland can’t squeeze JP and KY (arb rights) but he’ll need to play hardball.
ADDITIONAL PLAYERS
It’s possible we see Jesse Puljujarvi dealt for Connor Brown, or Tyson Barrie for a less expensive player, and I do think those RFA/UFA names could bring great value. A No. 3 goaltender will get signed, possibly today, suspect we’ll see additional grit added in here and there.
COOPER MARODY
I don’t expect him to be signed today, but this is a player who has earned an opportunity yet to arrive. For a team looking to add inexpensive skill, Marody would be a wise investment in my opinion. His AHL offense is screaming that he could deliver in the NHL, and his (very rare) auditions would seem to confirm it. Worth a contract.
BRAD HOLLAND
Brad Holland’s new role (AGM) looks like a home run early. His conversation with Daniel Nugent-Bowman (link above) is a must read for all Oilers fans. In reading the interview, it’s pretty clear Holland has a good understanding of analytics while also having his feet firmly planted on the ground in terms of hockey reality. I won’t be completely satisfied until we see what improvements are made in analytics, but there’s a sincerity and willingness to embrace new ideas in that interview that is refreshing. Music!
SIGNING EVANDER KANE UNDER A MARQUEE MOON
Two things about Ken Holland: He is most comfortable negotiating in free agency, and he almost always gets his man. Now, this contract still has to weather what may come from the arbiter, but there was too much productivity in his time on the Connor McDavid line to let this go. It’s a reasonable contract, Kane checks a lot of boxes, it’s kind of cool Kane signed under a marquee moon.
LOWETIDE AND JAMIESON
A big show today, 10-2 on TSN1260. Our only scheduled guest is Bruce McCurdy from the Cult of Hockey at the Edmonton Journal (at 11), but this show usually has about 10 people popping in by the end of the day. 10-1260 text, @Lowetide on twitter. See you on the radio!
In regards to Johnny Buckeye leaving Treliving at the altar I have two theories.
1. Johnny had to get out of Canada, after the extreme COVID restrictions relative to USA, the restrictions on his freedom, he felt the need to wrap the US Constitution around his shoulders like a warm blanket.
2. Pressure, he’s tired of the pressure of the Calgary market, he wanted to be able to walk down the street again without being bothered.
What I going restrictions?
Not ongoing, past restrictions, and fear of future restrictions perhaps
Ok, fair enough.
2 makes sense, 1 doesn’t explain OHIO.
I assumed, without verifying, that OHIO is a red state…maybe Johnny loves guns and freedom
Or just freedom of fucking movement, but no everything has to be radical
I was being facetious, If I had a US passport I would have bailed on this tyrannical gov’t long ago.
Sorry, more of a broad statement than a response to your post, which could also be accurate
Let’s not make this political. As a physician I would say the Canadian government put in measures to protect the health care systems of some provinces and thus their governments from their own stupidity. Doubt that Johnny is going back to USA so he can bear arms and restrict women’s abortion rights…
People are negating the obvious. Saying Calgary did everything this summer is letting management off the hook, because it ignores the past failures. When Johnny was down last summer, the team and city did nothing to pick him up. An extension would have been the right move, but there clearly was no appetite from the team to try. His attitude and leadership was openly questioned and he wasn’t really defended. 1 year later when you prove to the nay sayers wrong, what next? Some people would rather cut their nose off to spite their face.
Also there’s a lesson here for other teams, Oilers included. JP being the obvious example here of an undervalued employee who is probably sick of it. Malkin was another example but he decided not to thumb his nose at the team when he easily could have after the Rakell signing
Wouldn’t his relationship with his coworkers be a simpler assumption? Maybe he doesn’t like Tkachuk or Looch, or maybe he doesn’t like Sutter or Treliving?
Connecting his choice to COVID and a preference for “guns and freedom”.. seems like a weird place to start.
As far as pressure and being able to walk down the street comfortably, I’d still assume his choice starts at the rink, not away from it. But you may be right, being the best player for a Canadian NHL team has a significant impact on your life outside of hockey.
I don’t know, Freedom is pretty darn important to many people, not everyone obviously…but the restrictions in Canada left an awfully sour taste in many peoples mouths. What if Johnny’s parents are unvaxed…still can’t visit Canada (unless they take a connecting flight thru Ukraine)
The United States is hardly “free”, despite what it tells itself.
I hear you, but the US constitution goes farther than any countries’ Charter(s) to protect an individual’s rights from their federal gov’t. They took the British Commonwealth’s Magna Carta, learned the lessons from the French revolution, and built the best (not perfect) system we’ve ever known wrt individual rights and freedom….like I said above…some people don’t care about freedom. (govern me harder daddy)
I said “despite what it tells itself”: This is all things it tells itself.
This is also what foreign historians tell themselves.
Funny you say that, I’m reading a book by foreign historian Gerald Horne and he might take issue with that.
Horne isn’t foreign. He’s an American. And yet another idiot Marxist. Who cares what he takes issue with?
Yeah the US’ freedom to shoot other people and get eachother sick is going pretty well over there from what I have seen. People are reallly loving it over there right now.
This is the best guess. Needed out of Calgary because there’s not enough there to keep him. Crappy facilities and shitty coworkers. Made his mind up long ago, thought he could find a home on the east coast, realized too late he couldn’t and also couldn’t find it in himself go back to Calgary. I can sympathize with that. But his agent likely needs to take a long walk, should have started prepping the move much earlier so this wouldn’t blow up in his face.
Ohio is a purple swing state. It has not permanently gone one way or another yet. Remember it was somewhat surprising when the orange man won the state in 2016.
It makes perfect sense, his dad tweeted about it being 800 days since he’s been to Canada….if I was him I’d be more comfortable at home as well.
He can do whatever he wants. But he clearly didn’t plan on the Blue Jackets. All of this is post hoc rationalization after getting squeezed out.
Yeah, the bjs are an odd choice
A BJ is almost never an odd choice.
He is also much much closer to home. It was probably the closest place to home that would pay him. I wonder what those eastern coast teams could have got him for? Seems like a missed opportunity for them?
To everyone but HH – Oilers finally appear to be serious contenders for the Finals.
Matt Benning? Will Nino Niederreiter be taking a pay cut this time around?
Bennington got three years somewhere.
Actually, 4 years – Sharks.
Next key move – hire Brian Lawton – get it done.
Brett Ritchie for Kassian’s old spot?
I’d rather get a RH centerman, leave Roy at wing, but man the pickins for RHS free agents at any position are heroin skinny.
Tyler Bozak maybe?
Let’s stay away from the marginal hockey guys. They’re all finally gone
Get a truculent competent zone denying D to replace Barrie and that’s enough knuckles
Thinking about the Greg McKeg signing and that should be great for the Condors but my concern is that the org may be thinking Malone is more than the org 16F.
On with Gregor yesterday, Holland did speak about needing to add some bottom of the roster players ($1M and under) but also mentioned Malone expressly to battle for that spot (and his original plan was to sign in Europe before the org re-upped with another NHL deal).
Malone is a Woodcroft guy. The coach trusts him. He’s a marginal NHL player but so is everyone else who plays center and is ticketed for Bakersfield. I understand that you like to have things in their place, but Malone on the NHL roster is possible and may happen. It isn’t an efficient use of a roster spot, but the same could be said for any number of fringe players on this roster going back to 1979.
That is likely all true and fine.
I was simply relaying what Holland mentioned on with Gregor and proving my opinion on the potential. I acknowledge the potential and, in my opinion, if Malone is in the org’s top 14, let alone top 12, forwards then there is a big depth hole and the bottom line likely isn’t good enough to truly contend. Deadline could change that.
The opinion is based on Malone’s career, where he’s at, his play on the NHL last season and the small sample of his numbers I. The NHL last year and over the years.
Benson in the top 14 bodes worse.
Not in my opinion.
Which is fine, but I haven’t seen many worse skaters play in the NHL.
But generally I am a much happier fan nitpicking the 14th forward position than having Josh Archibald in the top 6.
Good lord folks.
Colorado had Jayson Menga (32 years old, 20GP 0-3-3 last season) and Sampo Ranta (young but 10GP 0-0-0 in the NHL and 38GP 7-7-14 in the AHL last season) in their opening night lineup this past season.
TBay had Boris Katchouk on their roster to start the season too, and he’s a good match for Benson in terms of age, pedigree and AHL production.
Malone and McKegg both have more than 200 games of NHL experience. Benson’s a high end AHL scorer who’s meh at the NHL level.
As LT said, they’re marginal NHL players, but having these types of players on or near the NHL roster is not something that’s stopped other teams from contending.
And beyond that, every year he’s been here Holland has continued to pick away to add cheap depth as the off season’s gone on and the prices drop. I really don’t see this as an issue at all.
I agree with all this. I also think we could attend to Malone (or Benson) differently on opening night vs when he’s taking a crucial own-zone face off in overtime in a playoff elimination game.
I stand by my opinion.
Malone is a defensive forward at the NHL level who leaks goals against. He’s and agitator that doesn’t really agitate. He takes penalties. He generally is good on the draw.
There is a reason he has spent 99% of his time in the AHL the last number of years.
He has great value to the org, as the captain of the Condors, a role he’s excelled in over the last few years.
Hes not suddenly an NHL player on a contending team as he gets further in to his 30s.
Part of this is my personal opinion that the team needs more from the bottom 6 and fourth line on a nightly basis.
The “more ice for McDavid” is the opposite of what I think the goal should be through 82 games and a 2-month playoff grind.
That’s certainly fair.
Not only did management fill the top 3 needs, all at acceptabe (Campbell) to very nice (Kane/Kulak) but he filled the 3G role as well – Picard for 2-years on a 2-way – that is solid.
Been looking at 4th line RHS FO guys and just noticed that Derek Stepan missed the last 35 games of the season after having shoulder surgery.
He’s easily the best FO man out there in the right price range and point production for the role.
If he’s healthy and would come a solid player
And he’s already got the shoulder surgery out of the way 😉
After all of Oilers moves the past week, and reading this forum, two things I’ve come to the conclusion of:
“Content” is how Oilers fan base is feeling right now, IMO. Can’t complain. Could things be better? sure. Could things be worse? yup.
Elliotte Friedman
@FriedgeHNIC
·
33m
Palat 5x$6M in NJ
I like Palat but that’s two years too long.
They’re not on the verge of contending and this contract probably becomes an anchor when they do.
This is the last time I’ll revel in the misery of the Calgary Flames, tonight anyway, but I have been waiting to hear from Eric Francis, having endured his commentary through the decade of darkness, and in repeated Sportsnet intermissions. So I can’t resist.
https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/after-emotional-breakup-flames-must-find-a-way-to-move-on-without-gaudreau/
Tears like fine wine…
Palat 5X$6 million in NJ.
I’m confused, Seattle just signed Jultz and Bogdan Rifferthuggin….what happens if they both win the Borris trophy this year?
There’s something about watching Flames fans rip eachother apart over disagreements about whether Columbus is a more desirable location than Calgary due to driving/flight times to other US cities that just warms my heart.
“Johnny picked Columbus because it ticks a lot of boxes that Calgary doesn’t:
-flight convenience
-driving proximity
-close…ish to family!”
Poor fellas down south are desperate trying to convince themselves as to why Columbus is a superior city and team to play for.
Doesn’t help when Johnny says this about Columbus:
““I’d never been to Columbus before until I made it to the NHL, so when I started playing there I didn’t know what I was walking into, and I was just .. ‘wow!’
“But it was more than that. I played in the Worlds with Zach Werenski. I’ve known … “
https://mobile.twitter.com/Aportzline/status/1547416005307146240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1547416005307146240%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fforum.calgarypuck.com%2Fshowthread.php%3Ft%3D188881page%3D45
It was just… “wow” he says!
I guess playing in the Worlds with Zach Werenski and knowing Eric Robinson for 15-20 years was just that much better than staying another day in Calgary making quite a bit more money.
What a bizarre choice by Gaudreau. I am not sure if he just hated Calgary that much, or really, REALLY loved being in Columbus during those away games, or he just closed his eyes and picked a team out of a hat.
Yeah, it does kind of seem like he went out of his way to screw the Flames over.
When Tavares left NYI, everyone knew it would be for Toronto.
Gaudreau going to CBJ was completely out of left field … and all because his buddy, who is a 3rd or 4th line scrub, is on the team???
Eric Robinson is going to have a job in Columbus for life.
The NHL is getting to be a bit like the NBA … teams will need experts at following social media to identify which scrub to trade for to improve one’s chances at getting marquee free agents.
You don’t need those experts. The player will tell you.
I’m trying to think of another free agent decision this bizarre. He makes noises for *years* about wanting to go back home. He has (supposedly) at least three New Jersey-adjacent suitors. And he chooses….one of the least desirable spots in the league? On a very bad team? For $10M less than he could have gotten in Calgary?
Did he really just not know that none of the ‘hometown’ teams were going to offer him big money, and have to settle for Columbus?
Does he already regret his decision?
I almost feel bad for Calgary. It’s like he was willing to hurt himself just to spite them.
I hope there are some articles coming in the coming days that provide some background.
Just to be clear, he left $17,500,000 on the table….
Yeah, Gaudreau is a different cat, strikes me as a bit conflict-averse. Looks like the music stopped and CBJ were the only eastern team with enough cap room – even then not what the Phlegms were offering.
An now Calgary has some dough, but the shelves are bare and this move has cast a Pronger-like stench on the org. Such a shame.
Well and the odd thing is, there are still reports coming out that teams like NJ offered him more than Columbus and had it on the table until he signed.
Oilersnation on the Campbell signing this morning
https://oilersnation.com/2022/07/13/edmonton-oilers-sign-jack-campbell-to-five-year-5-million-aav-contract/
The deal includes a 10-team no trade list for all five years of the contract
I haven’t seen this anywhere else online – Capfriendly and PuckPedia haven’t updated the ‘clause’ section of their sites to confirm this
It’s still a good signing- the Oilers tandem this year is $5.75M, roughly a million dollars less than last year
If I’ve learned anything about this off season, it’s that teams are willing to move heaven and earth just to get a warm body in the crease.
Agreed. 22 teams still available. That’s not devastating, if true.
Arrows…
Daniel Nugent-Bowman
@DNBsports
·
4h
One player the Oilers organization feels has excelled at development camp is LW Reid Schaefer, the No. 32 pick last Thursday. It’s a small thing but a good start with the franchise nonetheless.
I’m trying to find the headline on SN that says “Ken Holland Won Free Agency.” Anyone know where it is?
Holland did some tidy contract work re-signing his own free agents but, at the end of the day, this is the same team that came up short last season with the exception of a potential upgrade in goal.
If you’re looking for a winner look no further than Ottawa where Dorian absolutely killed it.
Honourable mention to agent Dan Milstein who is likely enjoying the rewards of an incredibly lucrative day.
I thought Vegas, Calgary and the Canucks won the day.
There is definitely more work to be done this summer by Holland but I would think that isn’t really the headline. Free agency is usually the tale of bad decisions by desperate teams and I think Holland managed to get the three pieces he felt were most important without doing that. On balance for the three moves I think he did better than expectations.
And, yes, Dorion had a great summer but we all know it is easier to crawl out of the basement after years of suffering than it is to take the final steps.
As for the Oilers there is still work to be done on RW and balancing on RD to make this team look like a contender going into the season but the team today being basically the team that had a great last half of the season is nothing to sneer at.
As I have said before playoff results involve a number of things including luck. I don’t think winning four straight against Calgary or losing four straight to Colorado are accurate assessments of where the team is at. It is somewhere in the middle of those two events.
For less cap than experts thought it would take. Not to mention the complete about face of players now wanting to play in Edmonton.
I think it’s now about the bottom 6. Archie and Kassian were basically no help. Keith couldn’t pivot anymore
Smith and Koski were high adventure. They could be far more solid as a group, which is where they need improvement, so everyone can play the system to a strong degree
The 25-30 year old doughnut hole in the Oilers roster is GONE. The team has a proper age distribution.
It is a contender if most of the under 25’s can make a contribution…and well, if the Soup(man) is (Os)good.
Is it OK to hope he’s slightly better than Chris Osgood? (and I know Osgood wasn’t so bad, but still…).
Soup-man is only a stutter away from Soup-er-man.
Best first day of free agency in as long as I can remember. Don’t like the size of the wager on Soup but it was one of the top options at market value so how am I gonna bitch? Would be the most NHL thing ever if the arbitrator blows up the Kane contract. Don’t see that as likely, just saying this league is a joke sometimes.
The goalie market turned out to be a better buyer’s market than I thought it would be, say a month ago. Just the sheer lack of numbers available augured cap misfortune. GMs were well-behaved today except w.r.t. defencemen.
The non-inflationary cap seems to have cratered more team’s futures than typically fade back at the end of a disappointing season. As PinkSocks points out below, a good chunk of our division is in rebuild mode.
What I’m trying to say is there wasn’t a lot of “cap dollar competition” for talent today. This development could not have come at a better time for the Oilers.
I would argue K.H. was very well behaved w.r.t his free agent defenseman signing. 👌
Holland did just terrific work on the Kulak deal.
He showed his player some respect by letting him sniff around the market, and still managed to get him signed for reasonable term, at an AAV less than 3 million per season. Given the lack of decent defensemen available in free agency or by trade, coupled with Keith’s retirement, and the fact that the Oilers would be hard-pressed to find a replacement for Kulak if he left for greener pastures, I fully expected the AAV to be around 3.5 million. Kulak deserves some praise by recognizing the opportunity to showcase himself at 2LD on a contender, as well.
By comparison, Chariot, Gudbranson, Zadorov and Leddy all got much more … Kulak has better underlying analytics than all of those guys, without the same ‘name’ recognition. For those who think the Oilers don’t value analytics … see Kulak, Brett.
We’ll see if he can post the same numbers with increased work rate in the 2LD spot, but even if he can’t, his contract for a really high end 3LD would not be onerous.
Well a decent chunk of that is two of the main buyers went off board early with their goalie purchases, perhaps fearing a sellers market. But hey, works for me.
I mean from the get-go.
For eg, there really was only two buyers. Those two buyers, us and WAS were pretty restrained in what we paid because we didn’t have a lot we could pay and there were really no competing bids. Look at what TO went through to get a goalie. COL.
Maybe we’re saying the same thing?
I meant there were only 2 bidders because other buyers (Toronto and Colorado) surprisingly removed themselves from the market, making unexpected early moves for players who weren’t really even considered in the market.
Columbus OH is an underrated city
but not for hockey players
what a terrible 24h for Flames fans and absolutely entertaining for everyone else
I can tell you they definitely feel slighted/led on and are made at Treliving for not recognizing it. Hell I feel a little slighted, but laugh at it, “Even” Gudbrandsson left, haha
In fairness to Gudder, they did back up the Brinks truck for him. He had no chance of seeing another 16M USD in his career except the luck of becoming FA in a thin, thin graduating class.
Ryan Strome signs with the Ducks. 5x5M per Fried Man.
He should send a thank you card to Panarin.
May 18th, 2022 – proving all the experts right, thumping Edmonton 9-6 and cruising to the Conference Finals.
July 13th, 2022 – best player takes 12M less and is willing to play in Columbus rather than stay here
Who am I?
I need that Gravatar.
Big ticket items in Carolina. How’d they end up with so much cap room?
Eric Tulsky.
They lost Neiderreiter, Trochek and DeAngelo and replaced them with substantially older players who could fall off the performance cliff as soon as next season. And Kase has never been able to stay healthy.
Matt Benning, 4years @ $1.5 million per w/Sharks, good for him.
Zadarov re-signs in Cowtown for 2×3.75M
What a beautiful day. Top UFA goaler signs here for a fair contract. Kane and Kulak return for what is clearly less money they could have received. Brown was not traded for JP. Calgary, via a massive mismanagement of assets, loses the face of the franchise who left ~$12 million on the table to leave and sign for a far lesser team. Toronto made a conscious decision in Murray over Soup with a $200k difference in cap dollars. Vegas got weaker. There are now only two legitimate playoff teams in the Pacific, EDM & LAK. Can’t remember a better day 1 of free agency.
Some quibbles… Kuemper was the top UFA goalie but we got the 2nd guy. CBJ if they extend
Laine, now has a pretty talented top 6 and Werenski. As for playoff teams, free agency isn’t over yet but right now VGK probably makes the playoffs if healthy. Still, ALL good points.
Yeah I’m not sure I’d write off Vegas yet, but we’ll see
Oh boy, Calgary eh?
At least you’re a short drive to Banff. There’s that.
Never been on calgary puck before. Thought I would swing by and see wassup!
You inspired me to check out their Gaudreau thread.
Schadenfreude aside, my favourite was the one who asked, in all apparent innocence, where Columbus was.
That was pretty sweet.
or how about the one who tries to explain by saying if the governments shut down the border again due to covid he will still be able to visit his family!
That is some good, sad, angry reading haha
Reilly Smith 3X$5 million in Vegas.
More like 6 months for Vegas. 2.5 years for another team
Maybe Tkachuk is a cancer.
Walking away from 10.5M x 8 for family reasons is one thing, but then actually signing for 9.5M x 7 with a struggling franchise that plays home games nowhere close to his family begs many questions.
Chucky and Looch hah! Plus Markstrom and Lindholm’s wives wanted out of Cgy since this spring. My wife is a huge Flamers fan, follows all the drama on social media.
Philly or Jersey must of reneged on Johnny his signing should of been submitted first minute of free agency. I can’t wait to hear the real story, it should be a doozy.
Why would they renege on an offer if they want the player?
Because it took all day for Johnny to sign in Columbus a team that wasn’t in the running for his services. Columbus is not close to the east coast where supposedly he wanted to go back home. Nothing about this signing makes any sense.
Way closer to the east coast then Calgary though. And it’s a domestic flight now. Probably the best option he had.
I’m wondering if playing for Sutter may not be as wonderful as it seemed for Johnny
I think the Canadian border had some considerations with serious Philly and Jersey offers probably not materializing. All we can agree on is it’s pretty funny Calgary lost a marquee player to a ‘have not’ franchise.
Weren’t they all just at Monahan’s wedding together 3-4 days ago?
Considering the rehabbing of Kane’s image seeming to be on the rise, what other turds can we polish that have some hockey in them in the coming years for discounts?
Deangelo?
Scheifele?
Jarko Ruutu?
Evander Kane says I stayed in Edmonton to win.
Gaudreau says “I’m going to Ohio for less money.”
^ Are we entertained yet? Tell me we’re entertained???
I’ve seen a few posts today of the “Spare a thought for the poor Flames fans. There but for the grace of god…” variety.
I’ll spare a thought:
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
I’m certainly not going to rain on what Holland was able to accomplish today. He addressed major deficiencies on the club.
What does surprise me is everyone’s reaction. I guess we’re so used to overpaying for talent or not getting players to buy in to leaving money on the table that when it finally did happen, we’re all over the moon.
Awesome feeling right?
Just goes to show that with the right coaching, the right system, success throughout the playoffs, the players will provide the buy in the organization needed.
So well done Holland and Son. Very creative contract numbers and structuring. There’s always risk with signing players but I think they did a fine job of minimizing the risks in both the short and long term.
I think Mcdavid and Drai should be pretty happy today. Woodcroft should be excited.
And Holland has earned himself a nice vacation.
Arguably we are no better or worse a team than our final roster last year. Maybe goaltending is a bit better. But I was afraid because of cap we would step back a bit, so all good. Another astute deadline addition this season and we’re a better team.
With a few more astute moves I think they are better
All of the players out had issues at the heart of best play. The goalies had good numbers but made critical untimely mistakes, a lot
Keith overcame his mobility issues such as pivoting, but another year could have been bad. Good on him for knowing his body had enough, as he said
That’s a very conservative position…”maybe goaltending is a bit better” Soupy and Stew vs Smith and Koskinen is a MASSIVE upgrade. Skinner was our best goalie last year FFS.
Where the real improvement will come from is the younger players- McLeod, Yamo, Jesse, Holloway, Skinner, Bouchard, Broberg, whatever d’man get a chance- Samorukov, Neimelainen, plus the goaltending should be more stable.
For me Campbell is not a value contract and too much term. Maybe they had to do it. But Kuemper is far more established, went to a fading team, and gets 250K more
Campell in the 4’s for 3 was more right, given he’s old and not established etc
I sure hope he is the diamond in the rough waiting to breakout and I hope there aren’t silly movement clauses as an offset to the generous deal
Campbell is going to be a nice change we finally have a athletic Goalie that plays a calm style. Maybe I’m just glad not seeing Mikko are Talbot letting in the first shot which enables certain opposition to play the trap. I wonder what Campbell record is on letting in the first Goal of the game in? I’ll put money that it’s under 4 in 10 games.
Mikko drove me nuts for that. He’d do it right while I was trying to pump his tires, too. I do think as the oilers tidy up their own zone play, they’ll concede a grade a as the first shot of the game less often. I thought their decisions and execution in their own zone improved last year and hope for more this year.
There was a disproportionate number of non grade A’s that found home. Nurse’s underlying compared to almost any top minute dman I compared with on natstat had a very clear anomaly in differential of low danger goals scored for and against…To a very disturbing degree (last time I was sussing through stuff in pointless response to a hatchet thread jack attempt involving non sequitur trolling response)
But yeah low percentage shots at differential that didn’t seem likely due to simple bad luck type scenario. There was too many and some of them hapoened to be first shot far too frequently..
I prefer Campbell to gamble on husso.
Cool 1st day of free agency.
I’m still a bit in shock that Kane signed for $5.125 x 4 years, that’s a great deal.
So backfilling the forwards and 7th D with cheap guys (just using guys from the Oilers system for now, but all are $775-925K, so as cheap as it gets), and adding the 3 RFAs (3.0, 3.0 and 1.1) puts the Oilers $1.9M over the cap.
At least one more move needs to happen it looks like.
I was wondering though. Since Kane signed for $5.125M and reportedly left money on the table, and Kulak signed for $2.75M, is it possible/likely that helps convince the RFAs to shave a bit off of their ask?
Puljujarvi’s still got to be convinced he even wants to stay first obviously, but for Yamamoto at least, does he decide to sign for $2.2M or $2.4M instead of $3.0M so one of his teammates doesn’t need to be traded, or to generally help the team?
No idea, but I do wonder whether their deals might come in lower than I’ve been expecting because of the situation the team finds itself at this stage (almost being able to keep the band together, while adding a more expensive goalie).
Good post. I wonder, too, if the RFAs might come in a bit lower.
I think we’ll still need to shed cap, though.
I signed Mcleod 1.2, JP 2.6, Yam 2.6, and filled in the holes with Benson, Holloway, and Bourgault, and still am 1.36 over the cap.
Adding in some space for leeway. it seems getting rid of at least 2.0 M will be necessary (unless one goes with a smaller roster).
Yes, they definitely still need to shed cap. Something a bit cheaper (not likely if Bob is correct) could be the difference between one and two players needing to leave though.
With the numbers I used above, trading Foegele and replacing him with a league min player would save that $2M but leave just $100k under the cap. That’s real tight, probably too tight. But more do-able were Yamamoto + McLeod cost $3.6M rather than $4.1M (ie – there’d be $600k to spare).
Puljujarvi (at my $3.0M) out instead of Foegele would open up a little more wiggle room.
Barrie has the most potential to save cap obviously, but with Kulak at 2LD you probably don’t want to leave Broberg with too cheap/weak a partner.
The bottom 6 forward ranks are pretty thin too. Sure would be nice to be able to spend $1M or $1.2M instead of $800k on a some reinforcements there. It’ll be interesting to see what they can do.
Numbers Bob bandied about today were 1.25 for The Highlander and 2.75 The Samurai.
Cool. I’ve been penciling them in at $1.2M and $3.0M, Bob’s numbers would be reasonable for sure.
Wonder what the last shoe(s) to drop will be..
Guessing Kane took less cause he’s expecting something from arb. You might take a 10% haircut voluntarily but more than that, doubtful. So I would say KY and JP take a $300k discount at most.
They could always trade a 4th round pick to Buffalo for Bishop and pick up his $5M in LTIR to give them some walking around money since they are going to be in LTIR all season anyway. 😉
And I guess my math is off on that since they can only go $8.25 M over the cap in the summer but there must be somebody somewhere on LTIR that can add to Klef and Smith to pick up another $1.7 or so.
I remain confused about that LTIR detail. I’d suggested adding an LTIR player at some point last season and was convinced by a couple of posters here it’s not actually beneficial.
The Oilers will be in to LTIR with Klef and Smith – they will be able to use LTIR reserves to go over the cap (it won’t equal their full cap hits combined but will likely be close with structuring).
If they add another LTIR player, it will increase their LTIR reserves to go over the cap more but it also increase their cap hit by the same amount.
Acquiring another LTIR contract will create zero cap space – that is a fact.
There could be some benefit by the team disposing paying an asset to take the contract but it will not create cap space for the Oilers.
Another potential benefit is acquiring such a contract during the season if the player could be deemed healthy after the season ends and sometime in the playoffs.
Thanks for the recap. What got me confused I think was teams like TB acquiring Seabrook for instance. But in that case Seabrook was cap neutral for TB whole being punitive for CHI so it makes sense.
A Johnny Metaphor: He dumped his long time mistress to supposedly move back in with his ex-wife, which is understandable, but along the way decided to pick up the girl hitch-hiking along the side of the road and date her instead.
And she’s a serial killer.
I know this movie!
Love all the signings today by Kenny. Time will tell but from here they look solid. Would like to move Barrie for a big tough RD with hair on his ass, Keep JP and Yammer on right side, and of course McLeod. Thats my balance photo.
Could be going back to Calgary to replace Gaudreau
Jaromir Jagr
@68Jagr
·
4h
NHL GMs- I am also free agent, once again. 6,3 265 … 50 years old ,slow, but strong and good hands. Can bring experience and like to play only home games. Call me anytime.
265 is a lot of Jagr.
btw…a wink emoji followed Jags post..:)
Don’t tell Trelliving that, he has Jagr’s agent on speed dial.
Could he possibly be any slower than Looch?
Jagr at 50 is probably still better than Andreychuk at his best.
Wow. Gaudreau turns down a reported 8 x 10.5 to stay in Calgary then accepts 7 x 9.8 (according to Friedman) to go to Columbus.
Well done Jarmo!
Don’t know if it’s the team they’re building or the tax situation in Ohio, it’s very clear though that Mr Goudreau didn’t share Calgary’s vision for the future.
With Tkachuk likely getting traded next, Lucic might get 1st line minutes again, thus fulfilling HHs prophecy that Calgary won the Lucic / Neal trade.
Ohio is just around the corner from south Jersey, right?!
Well, like, yeah, it’s one thing if it was Philadelphia or New Jersey as expected…
Well that’s a slap in the face to Calgary. 9.5M ha ha ha!
Gaudreau’s AAV turns out to be $9.75m.
Sucks to be Calgary.
But we knew that.
Gaudreau to Columbus pending league approval…. what a decision on his behalf, hah!
Is Laine available?
If it goes through, only $3m left, according to Lebrun.
Is there money left for someone like Dylan Strome
Probably depends on how much someone like Dylan Strome is willing to sign for.
Connor Brown to washington
In a surprise move Vegas signs both Gaudreau and Kadri, and are forced to trade away their entire defence corps in order to adhere to the salary cap.
“We’ll just figure things out in September” says management, “we’re sure it will all work out in the end.”
I hear they’ll put Eichel and Pietrangelo on LTIR for the year.
I’m no capologist so you guys correct me, but looks to me like we have about $7.5 mil left and pretty much all of that will go to our three RFAs, if not more. Des that sound right. If see we need to dump a bit of money still. And its hard to trade midling to bottom guys (Foegle) given so many free agents still available.
We have right around $7.8 million (rounded) without Holloway in the lineup. That should be close for signing all three and adding Holloway and would leave us with 21 players on the roster.
are we allowed to be over the cap by 10% in the off-season?
Yes, believe we are but again, looks like over the summer we still need to open a bit more cap space.
Yep
Great signing of EKane by KH, didn’t see it turning out that way.
Crickets from the Anaheim Mighty Ducks of Anaheim based in Anaheim.
They need to spend $14 million to get to the cap floor. By far the furthest away from the floor in the league and the don’t have any significant RFAs to sign.
Wonder if they are going to land a big fish or just sign a bunch of leftovers?
Will probably take some cap dumps for picks I would assume?
Maybe Vegas has a trade partner?
Ouch.
Frank Seravalli
@frank_seravalli
@GoldenKnights
have been forced to unload for no or minimal return due to salary cap crunch: Max Pacioretty Evgeni Dadonov Marc-Andre Fleury Nate Schmidt Paul Stastny Cody Eakin
Not exactly a master class in asset management. To get Pacioretty, for instance, VGK gave up a Nick Suzuki, 2nd (Samuel Fagemo) and Tomas Tatar. To get Tatar, VGK gave up a 1st, 2nd and 3rd.
That asset management was so bad I Googled it just to ensure it was true — no offence OP, but that just looked too awful to have not involved Peter Chiarelli.
How close is Vegas to adhering the cap now? Are they going to have to bleed more talent?
Brutal.
So what is the status of those players?
Per Bob McKenzie looks like Connor Brown will be traded to Capitals for picks.
Will Puljujarvi survive the summer despite Holland’s efforts? We can hope
Holland in the presser seemed to subtly walk back the trade talk re Pulu. At least opened up possibility he’ll be here this fall.
2nd rounder. To think some wanted to trade JP straight up….
Just got notice that advance tickets to the Young Stars tournament are available.
https://valleyfirsttix.evenue.net/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/EVExecMacro?linkID=global-penticton&evm=prmo&RSRC=&RDAT=&caller=PR&mc_cid=99f3611421&mc_eid=c725bc16d3
Sail on Josh Archibald.
Back to where he started.
Back to the Penguins. It is amazing that just over 12 months ago for the Kraken expansion draft, the Oilers forward depth was such that Zack Kassian and Josh Archibald were included in the top 7 needing to be protected (others were McDavid, Draisaitl, Nuge, Jesse and Kailer). They have been replaced by Kane and Hyman as players worthy of protection and I believe McLeod is in that category now too. Foegele and Ryan are also more valuable that Kassian or Archibald were. What an improvement in forward depth.
How will they replace his annual negative goal differential? (sorry Archie fans, I had to).
Overall a decent day one today. We look stronger than Colorado on offence especially if Holloway and Bougault pan out. But in order for us to make it past Colorado Broberg and especially Boosh have to really become top level or as close to top pairing D as possible.
Yes. Have to bank on significant year on year improvement from within, especially on D. But that’s normal, and it’s a reasonable bet. I like Kulak and Broberg covering off LD behind Nurse, though it’s likely some cheap veteran cover could still be added at some point.
It was a day waaaaaay beyond expectations, yet really what it amounts to so far is more or less bringing back the playoffs team with the goalie swapped out and Kassian/Archibald/Keith/Koskinen/(Smith) pulled. I guess they’re falling over themselves to add Connor Brown, but otherwise it’s essentially the same team.
But it’s a pretty damn good team.
[Edit: and no sooner do I post this than the Bobmeister tweets we’re out on Brown.]
Colorado gets a huge amount of its offence from its D.
Last season, Toews and Byram were injured for a significant portion of the early season.
At this point, the only offence they’ve lost is Kadri but they still have cap space.
Burakovsky has entered the chat.
Replaced by Lehkonen who is much better defensively.
the team that one had both, by the way