The signing of Kailer Yamamoto gives the Oilers 50-man list more clarity. We still don’t know if a trade to ease cap worries is on the way, plus two RFA’s (Ryan McLeod and Tyler Benson) need contracts. However, the business of summer is nearly complete, and the opportunity to reflect on the quality and depth of the roster can be pondered.
General manager Ken Holland mentioned on Lowetide and Jamieson yesterday there are free agents the team is looking at, and those players are “mid-to-late 20’s” in age. So, who is out there?
THE ATHLETIC!
- New Lowetide: Jay Woodcroft is the right man at the right time in Edmonton
- Lowetide: Oilers’ expectations of Jack Campbell in his first Edmonton season
- Lowetide: Who will the Oilers trade for cap purposes?
- Lowetide: 5 Edmonton Oilers training camp surprises
- Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid and his Art Ross dominance
- Lowetide: Can Oilers’ Darnell Nurse live up to new contract?
- DNB: With Oilers roster intact, stars readying for next step
- Lowetide: 10 unsigned free agents who could help the Oilers in 2022-23
- Lowetide: What are reasonable expectations for the Oilers in 2022-23?
- Lowetide: Oilers’ Evan Bouchard is on the edge of stardom
- Lowetide: How many goals will Oilers winger Evander Kane score next season?
- Lowetide: Four Oilers defence prospects applying for one job. Who wins?
- DNB: Oilers depth chart: Where did they improve and where can they make more moves?
- Lowetide: For Oilers forward Dylan Holloway, the future may come early
- DNB: Oilers’ Brad Holland on AGM role, analytics, working with his dad: Q&A
- Lowetide: Oilers top-20 prospects, summer 2022
- DNB: First-round pick Reid Schaefer can bring ‘big-boy hockey’ to his hometown team
- DNB: What if Edmonton Oilers trade Jesse Puljujarvi? The case for and against
THE LIST
- LW-RW Sonny Milano, 26, Anaheim Ducks. He has terrific speed and good hands, surprised Milano is still on the market. He is young and talented enough to have an impact for several years on a team like the Oilers. One dimensional, but that dimension is damned important. Solid boxcars (66 games, 14-20-34), 1.72 points-per-60 at five-on-five, good possession numbers and rock solid rel. I like him, suspect many teams will be in on him.
- LC Johan Larsson, 30, Washington Capitals. Woodguy identified him years ago as a possession machine, and Larsson continues to outperform his fellow teammates in things like Corsi Rel. I’m not certain he would cost much, and could be a major help for the team’s fourth line.
- LW Evgeny Svechnikov, 25, Winnipeg Jets. Drafted by the Detroit Red Wings when Ken Holland was general manager, Svechnikov took exactly one forever to show NHL ability. Last year in Winnipeg, his boxcars (72 games, 7-12-19), his five-on-five scoring (1.49 points-per-60) and his expected goals five-on-five (50.4 percent) were all heading in a good direction. He’s 6.03, 208, and he’s healthy.
- LW-RW Zach Aston-Reese, 27, Anaheim Ducks. He is a throwback winger who averages 11-13-24 boxcars per 82 games. His five-on-five goal differential and straight possesion numers are strong, but his rel numbers fade suggesting some danger. I expect he is on Edmonton’s list.
- LD Derrick Pouliot, 28, Seattle Kraken. He has never delivered on promise but still has good speed and is considered a two-way type. There is very little left on defense in free agency.
- RD Michael Stone, 32, Calgary Flames. He is past 30, but would be a solid for for the No. 7 defenseman role and Holland will have seen him good.
- LW-LC Dominik Simon, 27, Anaheim Ducks. He is so versatile I’d call him a Swiss army knife, but he’s from Czechia so we’ll just call him a fine utility forward. I’ve always liked him, he’s always hurt.
LOWETIDE AND JAMIESON
At 10 this morning, through two this afternoon, it’s four hours of fast paced sports patter. We have many guests, including Salim Valji from TSN in Calgary. We’ll talk about the Jonathan Huberdeau extension and the Flames cap situation. Steve Lansky will be by at 11 to talk Vin Scully, the Jays and more. Matthew Sekeres from Sekeres and Price will talk BC Lions, Tyler Yaremchuk from Oilers Nation at 12:20, Kevin Laramee talks EPL at 1, plus John Hendrix – Sports Illustrated New Orleans will chat Saints at 1:40. 10-1260 text, @Lowetide on twitter. It’s Friday!!
I think the Huberdeau contract is mostly bonus money each and every year – so it’s a lot like the Lucic deal – pretty much buy-out proof. If yes then this contract will probably age as well or worse since Lucic was younger at signing and the contract is 1 year longer.
I don’t post here often but am a daily reader. Knowing how supportive this community is, I knew it would be ok to share this tweet about my cousin’s son Satchel.
https://twitter.com/snetcampbell/status/1555718901106970625?s=10&t=ZKsXBcS7q_eQ-O4x2KX3yQ
The Oilers don’t need more scorers at this point, they need more players that are willing to do the dirty work – the hard and unfun part of NHL hockey
That can play a team system well, have the boots to keep up with teams that have deep rosters, as in teams that make the final 4, and have enough grit to not be pushed out of the play when that’s a tactic used
For me that means guys like Larsson etc, that are good enough to move up when needed, and can fill out the bottom roster with competence and competitiveness and know their place and price tag
This should be easier to do now bcs of success. Just have to assess properly
Players like Perlini, Milano aren’t going to help. They aren’t good enough to back up their one way play and haven’t accepted a different role mentally, or just don’t want to play role player hockey. Fair enough. But good role player players are what the Oilers have lacked
The Oilers with a bottom 6 and third pair that would defend the house hard, and push the puck up the ice would be bonkers
Thank you for understanding hockey. Oilers are now considered one of the 2 main fave teams in the West, which is a great thing compared to the post-dynasty past.
Hilariously the East teams, many which are overhyped are currently enjoying 1980s levels of having too many good teams which every year are going to be killing each other to get in the Finals; where waiting should be a combination of Oilers/Avalanche.
It was horrible to see the Oilers wagon fall apart against Colorado, but expected to anyone who understood the goalies were going to eventually present the team with near impossible level of team commitment to keep them in the series. Injuries sank the team in the end, so it wasn’t really Mike Smith’s fault and I hope he goes on to have a wonderful post hockey life.
At the end of the day McDavid can win games all by himself when its needed.
Injuries aside next season should be an absolute barn burner.
The pleasure is mine
1st line – Kane, bully. McDavid.. Wasn’t he leading the playoffs in hits at one point?
2nd line – Hyman, bulldog. Draisaitl, we’ve all seen him angry. 3rd 55-55 season on the way while once again being severely underrated around the pundit sphere.
3rd line – Foegele or Holloway will bring plenty of Jam. Nuge beat up Monahan into a 4th line player.
4th line. Well if Woody holds true to form there’s probably alot of nights it’s 11 forwards with the big 3 centers all lined up accordingly. So they’ll be specialist.
When the opposing coach isn’t sending out their best against Woodcroft’s best they’ll see Nuge at best for them.
Add all the puck skill, then add some more puck skill. Then Patrick Kane.
Bruce McCurdy with a solid piece on the Oilers high in the draft compared to other teams. A Puljujarvi trade would ruin the streak but as of today this team is well stocked with first round picks.
https://edmontonjournal.com/sports/hockey/nhl/cult-of-hockey/with-yamamoto-signed-edmonton-oilers-have-achieved-an-unusual-milestone
He’s certainly a top 6 Oilers analyst.
His precision of thinking reads like a breath of fresh air.
We must be one of the most improved teams over the summer because the schedule looks easier to me this year. Here’s the first 2 months
OCTOBER 2022 (9 Games; 6 Home, 3 Away)
Wednesday October 12 VANCOUVER 8:00 PM
Saturday October 15 CALGARY 8:00 PM
Tuesday October 18 BUFFALO 7:00 PM
Thursday October 20 CAROLINA 7:00 PM
Saturday October 22 ST. LOUIS 2:00 PM
Monday October 24 PITTSBURGH 6:00 PM
Wednesday October 26 St. Louis 6:00 PM
Thursday October 27 Chicago 6:30 PM
Saturday October 29 Calgary 8:00 PM
NOVEMBER 2022 (14 Games; 6 Home, 8 Away)
Tuesday November 1 NASHVILLE 7:00 PM
Wednesday November 2 NEW JERSEY 8:00 PM
Saturday November 5 DALLAS 2:00 PM
Monday November 7 Washington 6:00 PM
Tuesday November 8 Tampa Bay 5:00 PM
Thursday November 10 Carolina 5:00 PM
Saturday November 12 Florida 2:00 PM
Wednesday November 16 LOS ANGELES 8:00 PM
Saturday November 19 VEGAS 8:00 PM
Monday November 21 New Jersey 5:00 PM
Wednesday November 23 N.Y. Islanders 5:30 PM
Saturday November 26 N.Y. Rangers 11:00 AM
Monday November 28 FLORIDA 7:30 PM
Wednesday November 30 Chicago 7:30 PM
and that’s with zero games against the likes of Arizona, San Jose, Anaheim etc that will come later in the year.
Hehe
We’ll Murder the Bums!
2pm St.Louis
2pm Dallas
2pm Florida
11am Rangers
All Saturdays.. Is this when the American viewership is highest?
So 4 game win streak..
4-1
6 game win streak..
10-2
3 game streak
13-3
4 game streak
17-4
2 gamer
19-4.
Completely reasonable goals.
I would add Sam Steel, Jonathan Dahlen, Daniel Sprong, and, yes, Brendan Perlini to that list of Mid-to-late twenties players. Steel is local, so that may play into things. Svechnikov as a former pick could help too. I really like Sprong and feel he’d be a good fit too. And Dahlen had a string rookie season last year.
Sam Steel gets on the team for his name alone.
His ancestor was breaking horses in Winnipeg in the 1870s in -50 weather.
Any hockey player with that kind of character would be a force.
An Athletic article from a couple days ago about grading teams contract efficiency has the Wild with over $47 million in dead money! How is that possible? How can you field a team with half your cap unusable? Maybe I’m just not understanding what they mean by “dead money”.
They have Edmonton with $8 mil. I presume that will make Holland’s job a lot easier when that falls off the books.
I think they must be talking “in aggregate” as the Wild are apx $13MM in dead money this season and the Oilers closer to $4M (including the performance bonus overage).
I love the Minnesota teams. They rise and fall and no one notices.
Randle’s dream list came true; Kane, Campbell, Kulak
And yet the thing I am most excited about witnessing this year….. Jay Woodcroft.
In his list of recent accomplishments, let’s not forget this ^ Holland signing
No…but seriously this time…Peace Out.
Agreed, very excited about Woody’s first full season.
#heismyfavoritedeputy
I would have gone with Kuemper/Samsonov tandem in net
He’s the perfect coach.
Like he was made like Robocop in an NHL coach factory.
A shout out to Dave Tippett who finally instilled order in this team. All Woody needs to do is let them run.
Can’t see the Huberdeau contract aging well.
They purchased “star power” at exactly the right time for Damage Control; Face of the Franchise; Stop the Bleeding; Bums in the seats …. all that sort of stuff.
Elite Talent + Commitment to the Calgary market = Marketing Gold.
I like how they tried to nickel and dime Gaudreau and then immediately open up the wallet for Huberdeau
Guess you don’t get respect if you’re a Johnny but Johnathan on the other hand….
I think they offered the same term and dollars to Gaudreau that Huburdeau signed for, didn’t they?
He wanted to be extended last year and my guess is they lowballed him. My supposition only but would explain why he walked.
In the end yes. That was their final offer before he walked
GM trying to save his job or at least make himself hireable when he gets booted.
It couldn’t be better.
Flames get a player who cannot possibly live up to his price, and after a few years will be getting paid star money for 3rd line playing ability lol
No Time left for JP? Warren? Tyson? ….it’s a classic Guess Who
Mm-da, mm-da, mm-da, mm-da, mm-da
Enjoyed Lansky this morning. (his passion / energy is contagious)
Also liked that you said you will never call anyone stupid; That there are better words to choose from….and 15 seconds later Jamo reads a text… “The Oilers should trade Leon Draisaitl”…….It must have been tempting….
Peace Out.
LT has said in the past how he is really not connected to the Oilers.
Honest question…is this the first time LT has interviewed an Oilers GM?
Was wondering that myself.
In any case, it’s wonderful for him to be getting greater access to the team in recent times.
It’s a fascinating sequence of events that occurred after his daughter asked him for a blog and he immediately said, “no you can’t have one (without knowing what a blog was).
I have a similar issue, I am an agnostic insomniac, with a selective case of dyslexia. Sometimes I lie awake at night and wonder if there really IS a dog…
He has the best content of all Oiler media hands down!
He has for years.
We need some Lowetide merch!
I can think of some great ideas for T shirts!
No.
I got this printed on canvas and framed!
https://sta.sh/01qjala6vwk2
HAHA!!
It’s all there!
Thanks MS11
There’s a lot of detail in that picture (and I don’t mean the details I inspected 1st).
Quite cool.
It’s all there, except for the shapely, adventurous woman *with bad eyesight*
But I’m not going to complain too much about that, uh, oversight.
Haha, I remember seeing that years ago.
Is that a hard no?😉
Lol. Well, it’s a no. This is (I think) the second time I interviewed Mr. Holland, and Mr. Woodcroft was on earlier in the summer. It’s been three years in a row for Tyler Wright on the show, and there were sporadic interviews previously. Access has been exceptional over the last two or three years, and I am grateful. It’s a great opportunity.
Normally I have, not only an opinion on my preferred path forward on a specific topic but also an opinion on what I think the org will do in that regard.
With respect to getting cap compliant, while I have a couple preferred paths forward, I really have no idea what I think Holland is going to do. I don’t know if he’s going to:
1) move Jesse and perhaps back-fill with a Kessel or Svechnikov
2) move Jesse and use Hyman on the RW
3) move Foegele and insert Holloway
4) move Barrie in a trade for a cheaper RD
5) move Barrie for cap only and sign a PK Subban
6) actually run with a 21 player roster
7) something somewhat unexpected
I just have no sense of how this is going to play out. I’m starting to think that there are no real plans to move a Jesse, Yamo, Foegele or Barrie and something else will give.
But what though? There’s not really anything else that can give.
Lucic retirement frees up $750k…not likely but possible
Fair enough, but that still isn’t enough to keep a 22 man roster without trading one of the usual suspects.
It’s summer. How’re the Flames going to bench him?
If Lucic was going to retire, I think he would have done so by now.
I know he doesn’t have a ton of comp left on his contract but that man may be looking for another contract for all we know.
There are many things though – just not things that we, on the outside, see as reasonable – a more “material trade” for example.
I can’t see it, in particular with Holland’s general verbal about being essentially done but you never know.
I kind of spoke to that in my subsequent post though.
Every contract bigger than Campbell’s is tied down (ie-NMC).
They’re not trading their just signed starting goalie.
That leaves the 4 guys we’ve been talking about plus Ceci and Kulak. And it’s very difficult to imagine one of their ~$3M top 4 D being the cap dump.
99% it will be one or more of Foegele, Puljujarvi or Barrie departing.
Moving Jesse seems like the obvious move.
Is that enough?
They are not moving Jesse unless he wants to leave.
What would you do?
If they’re willing to run a 22 man roster, moving Foegele or Puljujarvi is enough.
If those moves are on the table, hard to imagine how delaying them helps the team. I mean, if you need to make a trade to free up cap space, for me, it makes sense to make that trade before you are over the cap, because other teams may think they have less leverage over you. I am puzzled.
They’re already over the cap though.
Patience grasshopper good things come to he who waits. I trust Holland and his team are working on a number of things. Think of it like Christmas, eager anticipation!😉
I suspect there won’t be anybody traded off of the roster before training camp. If Holland is talking 21 man roster he’s suggesting that they can be cap compliant by shuffling small contracts. Lots of players get hurt in training camp so no point in paying to trade someone away (that’s the situation now) when things will open up either for the Oilers or another team that will solve the problem before opening night.
Holland isn’t really talking about a 21 player roster – he’s only acknowledged it as a possibility when asked (and he makes it clear its far from ideal).
Players getting hurt in camp only helps if they are going on LTIR and then its only helpful for a short term (unless they are out for the year) and we are talking about needing a player with a material cap (as they’d be replaced on the roster with a lower cap hit player).
I don’t think that Holland’s plan for cap compliance is hoping for injuries to material players in camp.
With Smith and Klefbom on LTIR and 22 players (including Foegele, Puljujarvi, Barrie, and McLeod signed), the Oilers will be about $1.5M over the cap. So they need to clear $1.5M to get cap compliant.
They’re not going to run with a 21 man roster. They just aren’t. (and even that possibility requires waiving Ryan to Bakersfield etc).
Having a 22 man roster after trading someone from it requires replacing the traded players spot, so the cap out actually needs to be at least $2.25M ($750k to replace the traded player, and $1.5M cleared to get compliant). A $2.25M or greater contract is headed out from the Oilers in the next month or two (barring a freak summer injury to someone making that much).
The complete list of Oilers contracts at $2.25M or greater is:
McDavid $12.5
Nurse $9.25
Draisaitl $8.5
Hyman $5.5
Kane $5.125
Nuge $5.125
Campbell $5.0
Barrie $4.5
Ceci $3.25
Yamamoto $3.1
Puljujarvi $3.0
Foegele $2.75
Kulak $2.75
McDavid and Draisaitl aren’t going anywhere (pretty sure). Nurse, Hyman, Kane and Nuge have NMCs. Can’t trade you’re starting goalie you just signed. Ceci and Kulak are top 4D you’re paying $6M total.
Barrie, Yamamoto, Puljujarvi and Foegele is it.
I am starting to believe that Foegele or Puljujarvi traded and running a 22 man roster is a realistic possibility (I know, late to the party). But at least one of those 4 players HAS to be traded, and it sure doesn’t look like it’s going to be Yamamoto.
What’s the penalty for not being cap compliant? If it’s less than a few million on a fine maybe just pay it, roll with what we’ve got and keep everyone.
The penalty is you can’t proceed.
IIRC the penalty features severe fines, loss of draft picks and forfeiture of affected games. so NOT a desired tradeoff.
I am amazed that you even consider PK Subhan for Barrie.
You generally have a nearly unassailable pov.
Subhan you bring in when the team is in decline and needs comedy relief. His media presence could do wonders for the local scene.
Lol, ok….
It’s interesting Holland specified the age range. Obviously a surprise given his proclivity towards older players in the past (and that there remain some pretty good older UFAs available).
Perhaps the guys they’re looking at at this stage are looking for multi-year contracts?
Or possibly this signals a change in philosophy? Or just smoke? (there have been rumors about Kessel, and Holland certainly didn’t seem like he shut those down).
Interesting in any case.
Maybe someone finally left a player aging curve on Holland’s desk. 🙂
Perhaps Brad brought it to his attention.
If we’re being honest though, Holland has gotten a lot of value from that segment of the player population over the years (including in Edmonton).
If we are being fair, that was in response to a specific question from Al asking Ken if he’s looking for a more veteran guy in his 30s or maybe a younger late 20s type guy. Ken thought about it and gave the response but I don’t think he’s married to the younger age-group and we know he has no fear acquiring veterans.
Thanks for that context.
From what I saw the last two years, his comfort with older players extends those he can get at relative value, as a one or two season stopgap. I don’t see him paying large dollars or term for older assets, but I am unfamiliar with his past track record in this regard. He relies on their experience and hocky IQ to hold the fort while he lets the prospects percolate n development. AM I seeing what I think I see?
If correct, I have no problem at all with that stratagem.
Sure, that sounds about right. Of course, in this context, an older player acquired would not be for large dollars or term – we are talking about one year deals for the likes of Kessel or Subban, right?
Holland plays GM like an adult. For all the intenet bashing, he’s fully respected among NHL bigshots and is going into the hall of Fame.
He was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame back in 2020 for his GM work in Detroit.
We kinda do though, don’t we?
Maybe the plan is to use the Tampa Bay playbook of using the LTIR to definitely-not-circumnavigate the cap? I’m mostly joking, but I am flummoxed as to how KH is going to get out of this jam.
Adding LTIR doesn’t help them through the season though (as has been discussed here lately). It only helps if a team has injured players and can then activate them for the playoffs once the cap goes away.
And I don’t know how exactly Holland is going to sort this out. But it’s going to involve at least one trade, there’s no way around it.
That only kicks the can down the road unless the LTIR player is out for the entire regular season. Trying to open up the cap space to activate during the season is even harder.
I mean, I guess there is the potential to keep cycling guys on to LTIR but that seems risky as far as not only the ability to do it but also as far as a competitive and successful team on the ice.
I also have no idea what Ken is planning on doing.
I see three UFA’s still available that would help the Oilers immensely , Johan Larsson , Dominik Simon & Evan Rodrigues and they wouldn’t break the bank , like a few other unmentionables .
Rodrigues probably comes in near $2MM.
That’s still less than Poolparty, Yamamoto and Foegele . Not to mention Barrie who isn’t going anywhere.
Yes and I’d definitely rather have Jesse and Kailer in my lineup for the next 1-7 years and, of course, the team needs to move out a player without adding a cap piece, if we add that player for $2MM, well, two players out is likely necessary.
How good would Ryan Getzlaf be for a February addition to the Oilers at say $1M
Not very good if he hasn’t touched the ice in 6 months and is retired
Considering he’s retired and likely not near NHL shape, probably not very?
Seeing Panther fans roast Calgary for Hubs contract being larger then Barkov’s is beautiful morning weather.
THey have to overpay otherwise he signs elsewhere and they look like losers.
Yeah it’s going to hurt them in 4 years but I agree, it had to be done
They could of parlayed Huberdeau Hanifan and the 1st into some nice players going forward. Huberdeau has had it pretty soft in Florida totality different ball game in Calgary. One of the reasons I like Jack Campbell was he took everything thrown at him in TO and thrived on it. They didn’t lose to Tampa because of Goaltending.
I agree on Campbell.
I mean the overpay makes them look like losers, they just handed a guy generational wealth to disappear in the playoffs until he retires.
Montreal is going to make them eat salary when they trade for him in a few years, excited for the upcoming Sutter and Huberdeau are not seeing eye to eye reports.
The Panthers played fire wagon hockey with physicality. A very exciting team to watch especially with the number of comebacks when down by multiple Goals. I definitely question Zito for what seems like a panic move acquiring Tkachuk. All that team needed was some tweaking and a Stanley Cup was in reach.
Gregor yesterday referencing a Don Mehan interview and that it sounds like Subban would be very interested in signing with Edmonton and it wouldn’t cost much at all, like the $1.3MM range.
Im not sure I see it but if they did trade Barrie, Subban is one of the only reasonable free agent replacements (trades for guys like Mayfield aside).
Clearly that is a big drop off from Barrie but I do think the Subban is still a serviceable 3RD and has some physicality and would bring some elements.
Is the drop in 3RD to keep the rest of the team together (given cap savings of apx $2.7MM) better than, say, moving Foegele plus a pick and replacing him with Holloway and running a 22 person roster because that cap savings is under $2MM?
Oh great lets lose Barrie for a washed up player who might well screw up the dressing room.
A player on the roster is going to have to go – it may be Barrie, it may be Jesse, it may be Foegele (and that likely still requires a second cap move).
There is going to be a down-grade.
PK is clearly not the same player he was in his prime but I don’t think he’s washed up and I have no fear of dressing room issues.
The room would be fine.
Its not my preferred route but its a route.
If you play Barrie in the top four you have to shelter his minutes. He is miscast and too high cost for third pairing. I thought Barrie was excellent in the playoffs but logically speaking due to team D makeup and cap restraints Barrie is the logical choice to move. The leadership group for the Oilers will assure the dressing room is just fine!
How would Subban screw up a dressing room? He was pretty well liked whereever he was.
He, like Kane, would be coming with a single minded purpose…to win a Cup.
At under $1.5 million, that would be good value for a 3rd pairing RD.
The Oilers need veteran value, perhaps deep value, contracts.
please see my response to OP
You simply don’t toss players into a dressing room and expect your expectations to simply happen.
Of course, you expectation of what would happen with Subban in the locker room does not seem bases on objective facts of history.
I personally think Subban has lost a step of two in his play. I saw perhaps a dozen NJ games this past year and he’s not the same player he was. Mind you, playing in that environment might have been soul crushing.
I would only like him under the scenario you presented but at something short term and at league minimum. One of the biggest pluses with him is his playoff experience and that in my mind is invaluable.
I wonder how he and Kane would mix?
Subban has lost steps – he’s had significant back issues since 2019 which causes him to struggle to get back. I love his vision (he can make a make a pass like few I’ve ever seen) and he’ll punish guys, but he’s a 3rd pair d-man at best who will struggle. Definite downgrade from Barrie.
Go back and look at some highlights and all the slew foots and other questionable plays he made because he just can’t skate anymore.
This is text book how you make your team worse.
Yes, he’s lost steps, hence why he would be a $1.3MM 3RD and not a Norris-caliber 1RD for $9MM.
Yes, a clear downgrade from Barrie there is going to be a downgrade to the current roster – something has to give.
Of course he’s lost a few steps – hence why he would be available for $1.3MM (give or take).
Subban is one of the most overrated, overpriced players ever to play…….please stay away!!!
We need a tough D that is the exact opposite of Subban.
Overpriced at $1.3M?
That may be so but he would be acquired to play 3RD for $1.3MM.
This is by no means a preferred route. I do not want to move Barrie for Subban and the $2.7MM cap clearance for compliance.
Something needs to give with the current cap commitments.
Anyone but Subban please…..
I’d offer Subban and any other aging vet looking to sign (Kessel) for a run at the Stanley to the absolute minimum and nothing more.
You want to play with McDavid and Draisaitl, there’s next to no cap space available. Here’s a coffee and doughnut, we will give you a beautiful send off and the fans will make you feel like a gladiator.
Kessel being in the top 50 for primary assists last season was shocking to find, all the free coke and hotdogs.
It will be beautiful as Toronto will melt down watching the aging vets sign on for pennies and make it pass the 1st round.
Next season Dom will rate the Nuge contract a F while eating a bowl of frosty tearioes, while Yost is in the corner murmuring about the 11 games of RW Evander Kane played in Atlanta.
It sure would be funny if Kessel signs and scores 29 Goals while Campbell shows Demko, Markstrom, Lehner Gibson Quick that there’s a new sheriff in town and his name is Jack.
Kessel is 35 in October he has 399 Goals and never gets hurt. If Phil lands in the right spot the next 3-4 years he could close in big time on the magical 500 goal club that only has 45 members.
Given Ken’s verbal on the free agents he is looking at, isn’t Subban (& Stone) etc. too old? I thought that the UFAs in consideration are in their mid to late 20’s open for a single year contracts.
If we are being fair, that was in response to a specific question from Al asking Ken if he’s looking for a more veteran guy in his 30s or maybe a younger late 20s type guy. Ken thought about it and gave the response but I don’t think he’s married to the younger age-group and we know he has no fear acquiring veterans.
Last year the media was hyping up Calgary having THREE 40 goal scorers…and rightfully so….
When was the last time a team had three 50 goal scorers? I think the odds of McD and Drai scoring 50 are better than even, Kane has a real chance too.
Last year the media was hyping up Calgary having THREE 40 goal scorers…are rightfully so….
When was the last time a team had three 50 goal scorers? I think the odds of McD and Drai scoring 50 are better than even, Kane has a real chance too.
Forget about goal scorers and everything else. Just win the cup.
I think you’re likely right, the team might very well have three 50 goal scorers. That would be a hell of an achievement.
I just want them to save that for the playoffs. I don’t care if they finish 2,3,or 4…
I just want them to crush it there and leave no doubt in everyone’s mind that they’re a team to be feared.
It’s only happened twice both times by the Oilers in the 80’s. With Kane on PP 2 it’ll be difficult but I do see him getting 4-5 empty netters. I also see the entire team scoring 40-45 more Goals as a unit. As soon as we replaced Smith and Mikko with Campbell and Skinner our window has officially opened.
If the question wasn’t rhetorical, 3 x 50 goal scorers on the same team in the same season has only been done twice in the NHL, by the Oilers in 1983-1984 and again in 1985-1986. Both times the players were Gretzky, Kurri, and Anderson.
So 1985-1986 was the last time there were three on one team in the NHL.
Ahh. I was just looking that up! 🙂
Hope the Oilers can add to their count as the only team to achieve that feat.
Would be amazing but I don’t imagine Kane comes close to 50 – I predict somewhere in the 33-37 range and that will be great value, in particular with the other elements he brings.
I agree 50 is unlikely. I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised with something in the 40s though.
Agreed – I wouldn’t be surprised if he hit 40 for the first time but it isn’t something I would “expect” – I mean, if he scores 37 goals this year, I won’t consider that a disappointment, right?
Here’s an amazing stat. Conor has been able to keep pace with Leon in career goals, despite drafted a year later, missing half a year with a broken collarbone, and Leon notching 2 fifty goal seasons Connor is only 15 goals behind Leon in his career.
Is it legally possible via NHL rules for the Oilers to trade(or sell) their buyout contracts to another NHL team to help that team reach the floor?
It’s not but it should be.
Allowing buyouts at all was a concession from the players to the owners. The players allowed it only because the rules inflict some cap pain on the teams so that management would have to think about doing it. Any mechanism that would make it easier for management to choose to buyout players increases the likelihood that teams would use this option, which the players want to discourage.
Allowing teams to trade dead cap would also widen the gap between the financial haves and have nots in the league. This also runs counter to the leagues desire to maintain a competitive balance. And before any one who might get on their high horse about wanting the free market to decide the NHL is not the free market. it requires no skill or acumen for the Rangers and the Leafs to be much more financially strong than say the Jets or the Blue Jackets solely by the virtue of being located in major markets over which the league effectively grants them monopoly rights. If the big market teams want to out spend their competitors, they should allow franchises to freely join almost anywhere and anytime without expansion fees.
That, and a mechanism to buy out retained salary would be my wish list…
Lost in all the hullabaloo over that new contract down south that will surely age swimmingly, our high flying 7th rounder Joel Maatta, while on the ice 3 on 3 in OT last night, scored the game winner in a WJC exhibition over the Swedes. Looked pretty good doing it too, against Wallstedt no less!
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