If you listen closely to the news stories surrounding the Edmonton Oilers this week, you’d think the team is on the ropes early in the 2025 offseason heavyweight bout. Jeff Jackson and Stan Bowman are reportedly (via Ryan Rishaug) in Ontario speaking with Connor McDavid’s agent (the incredibly named Judd Moldaver, he sounds like a character from X-Files) about what the Oilers can do to retain the player past next season.
Offer sheets from Satan the Devil himself are being procured in a giant cauldron filled with evil and filth, about to be handed to Evan Bouchard’s representation.
If the book of Revelations had a hockey segment, the early Oilers verbal this summer would qualify.
Fans don’t really know what’s going to happen, but the early rumblings have Trent Frederic getting Evander Kane’s deal minus a million; Corey Perry getting a handsome increase to celebrate his 40th birthday; the Oilers are going to have plenty of cap space (via Bob Stauffer via Ira in the comments section) but we don’t yet know how. I don’t rate dealing Viktor Arvidsson as creating enormous cap space so there must be something.
Stan Bowman doesn’t have a full off-season track record as Oilers general manager, and he will have to negotiate difficult waters between now and September.
I like the moves he’s made so far, adding Vasily Podkolzin, Ty Emberson, John Klingberg, Jake Walman, Trent Frederic and others. He’ll need to rise above those moves and do something transcendent in the next two weeks.
On the Lowdown today, our feature guest will be Kevin McCurdy. We’ll talk about the way forward, noon to 2pm today.
The Oilers cannot trade Connor McDavid. But what would a potential deal even look like?
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6446855/2025/06/25/oilers-connor-mcdavid-contract-trade-offers/
McD, Nurse, Stu to the flames for Andersson, Zary and Wolf. Be Bold Bowman
McDavid, Bouchard, and Draisaitl to the Sharks for Celebrini, Smith, Dickinson, Askarov, and the #2 OV pick in this year’s draft.
McDavid for Larsson.
The trade is one-for-one
to Maple Leafs, McDavid and Nurse for Mathews, Carlo, and Stolarz money is almost even
He skipped over the thread.
-LT
This is not how you skip, -1 point.
What do you do if he doesn’t sign by game 1 and makes it known to Stan that he would like to start a new chapter in his life?
McD and Nurse for Rasmus Dahlin, Tage Thompson, Alex Tuch and a first rounder.
Can we get Lennart Petrell and the rights to Rob Schremp?
Too much for 97. Throw in a second and MAYBE…..
Frederic could not score a goal to save his life, and it has nothing to do with his ankle.
Kane sat out the season to heal, but highly likely he had a gentleman’s agreement to wait till playoffs to play.
He comes back and after some uneven play coach has him on fourth line.
This is why many veteran players are very careful coming back from injury, it is because the injury or rust, is forgotten, you are only judged on your play. And the numbers you put up have no asterisk beside them.
Fans here already dumping him for a poor playoff run when he literally had no warm up games.
However, they cut slack to Frederic due to injury and he’ll be much better. This is some blind reasoning
This is all factually incorrect.
Kane averaged 15:10 minutes of 5v5 time per game. He was 3rd in 5v5 TOI for Oilers forwards in the playoffs. Ahead of Nuge and Hyman by more than a minute. Hardly fourth line minutes.
Frederic by comparison averaged 11:16.
I think it’s incredibly disingenuous to say that a high ankle sprain doesn’t impact a player’s ability to score. Getting to the right place at the right time is everything for a player like Frederic to put one in the net.
To says his performance had nothing to do with his ankle is not fair nor based in reality.
He did miss a couple of chances but there is little doubt his game was limited.
Oilers can’t battle their way out of a wet paper bag, then they trade Kane because coach got mad at him.
Frederic cannot replace even half of what Kane brings.
Coach is backing the wrong horses. Connor Brown is not the way to the promised land.
Coach has 1 year or less with Oilers is my prediction.
Everybody else in the league knows why Oilers got beat and they will be bringing the formula. Oilers must change, must adapt.
Kane can’t win a d zone board battle to save his life. So maybe the Oilers realize they need more battle?
At the end of the day it’s the details. The Oilers were a deeper team skill wise but not as good a team detail wise. Twice
If Connor can’t outscore that no one can. Ever in history, see: 80s Oilers. Get serious and 5 Cups
Stauffer just made a suggestion at the end of his chat with Friedman today on Oilers’ Now (12:23):
Is Stauffer suggesting Arvidsson for Tarasenko? In other parts of the show Stauffer says he feels that Arvidsson could get moved after deadline, around June 2nd or 3rd. Or is this just suggesting Arvidsson’s destination, and not that Tarasenko would be coming back the other way?
Do you mean July 2? That would make sense if teams looking for UFA options couldn’t land their targets.
Yes, sorry, of course July 2.
Say what you will about EK, I think it’s a little unfair to evaluate him based on his play in a few games in a finals when the entire team got handily beaten (and our top talent didn’t bring their best, or ran out of gas, too). I don’t love his contract, but his space may be hard to fill for less. Sad to see him go, honestly. Wanted to see him here as part of the team that finally gets it done. I don’t see Frederic being any sort of upgrade or even equal in terms of scoring potential.
I don’t mind the trade, but just hate that it will be undone by a terrible Frederic contract.
Man, I seriously wonder if the idea of that Frederic contract is actually what is bugging Connor right now. I just think it would be madness.
Do we have any evidence to suggest Connor is being bugged by anything?
McDavid said he has no issues signing with the Oilers if they are consistent contenders – which they have been for 3 years (and were in the WCF the year before) and management is clearly going to try to continue that.
Almost no doubt McDavid will be signing this off season. His words were simply a continuation of what he has been saying for years – it’s about winning.
His team has been winning more than any other, but one.
Bob mentioned Brett Leason as an RFA probably won’t get qualified by Anaheim…
I hope that he’s not mentioning this player as a possible target for the Oilers…
How do we feel about Klim Kostin? Supposedly he’s not being qualified by the Sharks so would hit free agency. He could replace some of the truculence lost in the Kane departure and slide into the left wing. He’s also only 26 so still plenty of tread left on the tires.
Previous contract was $2 mill x 2 years, but surely he’d sign for around $1 mill here given how much he enjoyed his time in YEG.
I get he’s not going to threaten to climb into the top 6, but a bit of sandpaper for the 4th line is always a good thing.
On the cheap, he could be a value addition
I get that Klim’s a likeable dude, but he’s not been good since he left Edmonton. The aim needs to be higher.
For league min and not a cent more though, right? I mean he’s been a disaster since he left Edmonton – hasn’t been an NHL player.
If he hasn’t been a player since Edmonton then why acquire Klim even at league minimum? Acquiring a “disaster” is the exact opposite thing the organization should be doing.
Perhaps he can find an impact NHL game back where he had his only success?
At league min, there would be no risk.
I don’t know why he would find success back with the Oilers. His one Oiler season was the one and only outlier in his career. Not to mention that that one season was under a different coaching staff. Heck, the lowly Sharks are rumoured to be walking away from the RFA.
He’s only 26 it’s all about the fit and he’s exactly what we need in the bottom six. He played by far his best hockey in Edmonton. Sign him for 2-3 years at a Mill a year. What fo you have to lose besides a roster spot.
What he has done since he left Edmonton is not what they need in the bottom 6 given he hasn’t been an NHL player.
He’s 26 and he’s had one heater where he’s been a legit NHL player.
He might be looking at a 2-way deal or even a PTO – would be terrible to give him something over league min or any term.
Talented, young, tough, cheap. Also fits in with the group and loved his time here. Agent was a damn moron not looking out for his client’s long term interests.
Would much rather have Klim on line 4 or coming from the PB than many of the alternatives.
Why do you say he’s talented?
Am I the only one who thinks Savoie is going to shine this year?
Based on what?
Based on his excellent rookie pro season. Those that watch the Condors have high hopes. I have expressed my reasons many times on this blog.
No.
Believe with his hands and good skating, there is a spot open for him
If he can stay healthy I think he’ll be a quality player. I do wonder about his longevity. See Yamamoto.
He’s nit built like Yamamoto and has oodles more skill and smarts.
He’s bigger than Yamamoto.
I sure hope he’s given rope with both Draisaitl and McDavid each individually.
Interesting, I listened to an interview with someone in the east, and they said Fredric was nowhere near his skating ability during the playoffs and suggested he was a very valuable player. I DO NOT know this to be true, but I have also heard that a high ankle sprain can be worse than a break, recovery-wise.
I suffered a high ankle sprain years ago. At the time when I went to the duty clinic the Dr. on call happened to be a sports medicine specialist. He told me I would have been better off with a break.
Wish someone had mentioned this to Bowman before he invested in Frederic as a deadline upgrade.
Once they clear out Arvidsson and Henrique, there should be enough space to add Marner ;-p
Looking forward to getting Bouchard signed (I’ll take the 8 years at $10.5MM over 5 years at $9MM), maybe upgrading a partner for Skinner and one external mid-range add.
I meant this tongue in cheek … after years of enduring the Toronto media predicting that McDavid would leave Edmonton for Toronto (they’re back at it again lately), it would be hilarious if we cleared enough cap space to poach Marner out of Toronto.
That said, the Oilers did try to trade for Rantanen, and reportedly had a contract extension ready … so they had to have known that they could clear enough cap space, even with Bouchard and McDavid extensions to come.
I’ve been thinking the same since that Rantanen news broke. What was the plan? They must have had some certainty on being able to make it work… could that still be explored relating to a different target?
Could well have been Bouchard related (smaller term/cap hit or trade). Not a fan of that, especially in terms of trading him and McDavid’s comments. I can’t see many other options to open that much cap space, other than Nurse… which would be very intriguing.
Bowman doesn’t seem to leak much (other than the rumoured Fredric signing). Could be wrong, but I don’t recall hearing much lead up rumours to most of his trades so far… Walman was a suprise. Being in deep trade talks for Rantenan was a suprise. Odds are this off-season goes along fairly predictably, but part of me wonders if another suprise drops.
Any word on Klingberg. Normally you get some rumors about a player but theres complete radio silence
Not sure he’s coming back. He may have earned a market contract that doesn’t fit the current salary structure and it would mean one of Emberson or Stecher lost on waivers if Ekholm is healthy and not on LTIR after surgery.
Can’t imagine room to carry 8D if they aren’t in LTIR.
Personally I would rather have Kane for his last year than Frederic for 8 more.
As much as I would like to see a big upgrade in goal we desperately need a top 6 winger and a middle 6 winger
Matt Savoie fits one of those two wonder spots.
I admit that I was a bit skeptical when Kane first joined the Oilers as I wasn’t sure about his character. Thankfully, I was proven totally wrong. Kane was an excellent teammate on the ice and a great Edmontonian off the ice with all that he did for the community. I’m happy for him as he’s going to the team/city that he wanted to go to.
That said, I’d rather have 1 more year of Kane at $5.125 than any number of years of Frederic at $3+.
^^^^^ This ^^^^^
Same here.
I was rather harsh of him coming in but he showed quickly how much he’d matured since his other stops around the league.
I said this year that keeping Kane was my preference, it’d be like an own-rental for the playoffs and let him walk after next year.
That they only got a 4th round pick when Mason Marchment *spits got a 3rd and a 4th is a bit galling.
Is Utah a team to watch re trades for draft picks? They have more than they can accomodate on thier 90 contract limit, realistically… do we have an opportunity there?
I am wondering if the coming play is Arvidsson and Henrique out, add Cody Glass or similar, give a chance to Philp… add in possible goalie move and a new top 6 winger?
A 4th like last summer. So it works out to Kane for Podkolzin and much needed cap. Good plan,Stan
That bizarrely awful, reported Frederic deal does not inspire confidence that Stan Bowman will know how to retool on the fly. Could that be part of the explanation why Oilers fans are a little edgy?
I wonder if this Frederic report is giving McDavid pause too. If Bowman starts signing bottom-6 wingers to contracts that are too big and too long that affects the overall talent level of the team and just puts more pressure on McDavid and Draisaitl to carry the team.
My biggest question around Frederic is whether Knoblauch was consulted as to where he sees him in the line up. Seems Knoblauch likes him as 4th LW. If that’s where he will play Frederic next season, that contract is a disaster from the get go
I think they’ve Frederic as a 3C or middle six winger. I don’t think his playoff deployment is an indication of plan as it was injury related.
When healthy, he’s a much better skater and I think the org expects much more than he provided post trade.
Who is “they”? If it’s Stan than yes I agree “they” are giving Frederic a contract that says you are 3C for life. If “they” is the coaching staff, I’m less certain 3C is promised even when healthy.
JJ brought in J Skinner and Arvi as the two 2nd line wingers for Drai. Coach did not think that was a good idea.
Hence I’m sceptical that Knoblauch, having deployed Frederic as a 4th liner in the playoffs, will agree that even a healthy Frederic with a new contract is his 3C.
Never said “promised”.
Arvidsson spent most of the season on Drai’s wing.
Arvidsson played 394 minutes with Draisaitl five-on-five, 486 away from the big man during the regular season.
Lebrun reporting Bouch contract could be 4yrs, in the $9M range. Still think it’ll be 8x$10.25M but if Lebrun is right the roster/cap would look like this:
RNH McD Hyman
X Drai X
Fred Hen Brown
Jan X Podz
Savoie
Ek Bouch
Nurse Wal
Kulak Emb
Stech
Stu
Pic
With $7.85M left on the cap
(assumes Fred at $3.75 and Brown at $1.75)
So next to no cap space and once again no wingers for Drai. Good plan.
That’s right. Unfortunately shopping in the Anthony Mantha, Mangiapane, Reilly Smith, maybe Grandlund, Claude Giroux aisle not the Marner, Boeser, or Ehlers aisle unless more cap is moved which we’ve told by Bowman won’t happen on the blue line so options are limited.
Because Oilers.
Henrique will be gone, Podz will not be playing his offwing on the 4th line.
Perhaps, that line up/cap would like this assuming brown and Fred sign:
RNH McD Hyman
Podz Drai X
Fred X Brown
Jan X X
Savoie
Ek Bouch
Nurse Wal
Kulak Emb
Stech
Stu
Pic
With $10.85M left to fill 2RW, 3C, 4C, and 4RW. Philip at 4C would reduce cap to $10M. Could pencil Savoie into 2RW and run a 21 man roster. Is a 2nd line of Podz Drai Sav championship quality? I say no but your mileage may vary.
I am not sure about Savoie, as I haven’t been following him too closely, but I like/think this lineup is better than your first one.
I have and I think he is fully ready to plan in the NHL and make a place.
Reasonable chance he slips right in as Drai’s right winger and, if he doesn’t, I think he has a starting floor of a very good energy 2-way forechecking 3rd liner with skill.
The Oilers should be looking at extending Podkolzin now, before all the positive numbers he’s posting turn into the points that shouldn’t be far behind.
Podkolzin compliments Draisaitl extremely well, if he has a season of puck luck to go with it, he’ll quickly become priced out for an extension.
Add Patrick Kane and Corey Perry as bonus-laden contracts to flank Draisaitl.
Trade Henrique & Pickard to ANH for Gibson with 25% retained.
Tomasek centres your 4th line.
Accrue cap space. Add at the deadline.
Gibson does not inspire confidence, never understood the allure.
One good season in the last six is a track record of 17% positive results.
How is trading Kane for a 4th(nothing) different than keeping Kane for the last year of his contract and letting him walk for nothing? Frederick for one million less to do the same job is hope beyond hopeful and has the likelihood of turning into a Jack Campbell.
EDIT, strike likelihood for posibility.
I’d be absolutely shocked if Bouchard signed and offer sheet – I’ve explained the many aggregate reasons why it doesn’t make sense including his arb case and the five year max term for determining compensation tier (effectively making a 6-7 year deal not available).
i look forward the 8 year $85MM deal to be made official.
We were shocked that Holloway did too. Not so much Broberg.
Not even close to similar situations and I posited factual reasons that did not apply to Holloway.
I like Evander Kane but this deal makes sense for the Oilers. $5MM of needed cap space for an aging and regressing power forward that didn’t play at all last season and worked his way to the bottom six in the SCF – after being sold for a few rounds.
The player style will be missed but this is likely no longer an 82 game player (he’s been hurt ALOT the last few years) and business needs to be done.
Agreed. I like Kane and appreciate the swagger, but as the saying goes – better a year too early than a year too late. At 33 and with recent majot surgeries and a rugged playing style, it is a good time to move down to a younger replacement.Sail on, good sir.
Never thought I’d say it but you’re right. I was adamant they needed Kane to win against Florida. I was wrong.
They did need Kane to beat Florida, but Kane did not show up. Except to take needless high-sticking penalties.
Kane signaled this trade with his play in the Finals.
I don’t think we should be surprised that a player who missed the entire regular season while having 5 surgical repairs ran out of gas in the playoffs.
Can we say virtually the same about Demko?
I wonder where Arvidsson will want to be traded to for a fourth rounder. That will give Stan $21M to play with.
I bet Pittsburg.
My guess is Tampa or Carolina.
I could see Tampa, I don’t see Vik and Rod the bod working well together.
Kane gave the team a great presence in the playoffs, but was a dude who was getting worse during the season. And frankly, if he couldn’t help the Oilers vs the Panthers this past season, he was not a guy they needed for next season.
His cap hit has a ton of value to the Oilers, he brings what the Canucks keep looking for and he will earn himself another contract to finish his career. I think this is a win for everyone involved.
Next, jettison Arvidsson for somewhere he wants to be.
“What are any of you going to do about it”. Evander Kane.
I hated the acquisition at the time, but EK delivered and was a damn good Oiler, on and off the ice. Hope he has great success in Van, just not against us. I see a Kane Fredrick tilt in the future, and it’ll be a good one. Kane was a fantastic citizen, and I’m glad he rehabilitated his image here. I hope he has a great final stage of his career. Nothing but appreciation today.
Kane is looking for one more contract 2-3 years before he’s finished. Remember he just started over recently. He has a much better chance in Vancouver where he’ll see more PP and 6-5 time.
I’m happy with the trade as I don’t think Kane was a part of the solution for getting over the hump. Despite his tools, he was completely outmatched in board battles and net front in the Finals and has shown every sign of falling off the cliff. Freeing up his 5.125mil was vital IMO. Getting a 4th back is just icing on the cake 🙂
I imagine his trade list made getting much back hard. At least a full exit of the cap hit
Happy with a 4th
was thinking it was maybe part of a Demko thing and that worries me
no need to purposely plan on LTIR
Perhaps having learned from last offseason, the Oilers are no longer vulnerable to an offer sheet … until they make ridiculous signings on July 1.
Jake Allen at 5×5?
Frederic at 8 x 3.5M Perry 2 x 2.5M?
Over the past 10 years or so, cap space has become a tradeable asset.
So look at this as Kane for a 4th and $5M in cap space.
I would have been fine with keeping Kane, but at least Stan is pushing buttons and pulling levers.
Fine, but cap space doesn’t score goals. If the cap space is used to bring back Frederic and Kapanen is that worthwhile?
Tough loss in Kane, he will be missed. Arvi likely next. Will be interesting to see how they go about rebuilding the 2nd line and addressing 4C/PK.
For the love of god, please do no sign Perry for 2yrs at $2-2.5M. Unless its 1yr at league min or slightly above, its time to move on from Perry.
I expect Arvi and Henrique to be moved shortly, and as much as I like Perry at his age I only go one year deals unless the contract is almost completely buryable in case of decline.
YES. Please no multi-year deal if they feel Perry has a place here. Personally, I am not certain the ‘Perry Curse’ ISN’T real…
Thanks for pointing us to some good tunes LT.
I didn’t know that one.
Walking inside an HEB (grocery store) in the Woodlands, TX wearing my Oilers Hat.
A guy w/ his 2 boys walks past me ” Go Oilers”
One of his little ones (about 9ish) “Go Oilers”
I said to the boy “Thanks buddy”
Made my day!
The pick acquired was originally Ottawa’s, so will be #117 overall.
Was the pick EDM got in the Bourgault trade that they then sent for Podkolzin. Full circle 🙂
How much would Vancouver want for a two year rental of Quinn Hughes? I read a post suggesting 3 firsts, 2 prospects, and a roster player.
They seem to like big defensemen, is there any framework where we rent Hughes for two years, and they get Nurse plus rebuild collateral?
There is potentially more value on rebuilding with the McKenna draft lottery coming up.
What if we gave 3 firsts, two 2nds, Nurse, and retained 2 million?
I’m guessing they could likely get better elsewhere, but strange things can happen when NMCs come in to play, and assuming Nurse would agree.
Big enough to not cause a Riot like it’s 2011.
Tidy work by Stanislas Bowman. Keep it going.
I am extremely sad to see Kane traded. He was awesome for this team. Can they use the cap space? Certainly. But will they fill this gap with the same level of scoring and toughness? I am not sure.
I am worried for sure that the Oilers lost a big piece of their identity today.
I agree this is a huge loss. Evander Kane on a contract year is probably going to be a great year for him, ride it and let him walk. IMO the person to trade is Hyman, 33 with declining numbers, a recent wrist injury and three more years at 5+ million would have went a lot further. Sail on Evander.
I think the SCF showed what Hyman means to this team. Hyman has the kind of toughness this team needs. Loved what Kane brought to the team but even in a couple months of playoffs he was fading hard. Hyman however was thriving. We will never know what Hyman would have done in this final in particular but his forecheck and board battle ability was missed significantly.
I think we bubble wrap Hyman during the playoffs, until the Finals. Then let him loose.
Nope. But at least we got the pick back the league is likely to charge us for no good reason (eye roll). Sure gonna be a fun 5 games against Vancouver.
I am surprised with all the conversations that seem weird around the Oilers,
We have been the SCF twice in the last two years – we are a very competitive team
We have changed our management – we have a very competitive management team.
Stew Skinner has flaws, but is a 26 years old pushed into a starter role – he is way ahead of his development curve.
Evander Kane has a unique skill set and will be additive to the roster even at $5.1M
Perry, Brown, Avidsson, Henquire, Janmark are replaceable non impact players
If Ekholm, Hyman and Nuge were healthy in this year’s SCF could the Oilers have won two more games?
Bouchard and McDavid want to play here.
The UFA market does not have real answers
Cap space without trade assets in the summer is useless.
Counter – the Oilers should have won the last 2 Cups and were undone by specific flaws and weak points rather than an overall shortcoming.
You’re correct about the group of older, replaceable guys.
Here’s the thing – it isn’t about whether they could have won 2 more games. It is giving a big enough margin that even if all that happened and more, they still win.
Disagree re Cap space… trading in the summer the prices can be higher. Cap space at the trade deadline, however is VERY valuable.
Evander Kane
@evanderkane
·
8m
As my time with the @EdmontonOilers
has now come to a close, I want to take a moment to sincerely thank the entire organization, my teammates, and the incredible community of Edmonton.
To the Oilers Ownership, front office, coaching staff, and trainers—thank you for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to be a part of such a respected and passionate franchise. Your support meant everything, and I’ll always be grateful for the chance to compete in the blue and orange.
To my teammates—thank you for the battles, the friendships, and the memories. I’ll always remember the playoff runs, the highs and lows, and the pride of going to war with a special group of guys.
To the fans—thank you for embracing me and showing unwavering support throughout my time in Edmonton. Rogers Place was always electric, and I’m proud to have played in front of such a passionate hockey city. My family and I have built some incredible relationships that will last forever.
With that said, I’m incredibly excited for the next chapter of my career as I join the @Canucks
. It’s an honor to become part of an organization and team I grew up watching as a kid. Vancouver is a city that lives and breathes hockey, I’m looking forward to the opportunity to play in front of my hometown as I did many years ago as a Vancouver Giant.
With appreciation,
Evander Kane
For a mid round draft pick, no retention.Me no likey.
This is an awesome deal for the Oilers. Opens up cap space, plus Kane is very overrated. Awful defensively, old and injured a lot
Not over-rated for what he did early in his Oiler career but he’s now aged and regressing and hasn’t been healthy for any period of time for years.
The Oilers will miss what he once brought but he wasn’t even in the team last year and regressed through the playoffs and was more of a liability than anything in the SCF as he got moved down to the bottom six.
You like retention? this word does not mean what you think it means…
Wow, I am shocked by this. I didn’t think the Nucks would want Kane.
Interesting that Demko isn’t coming back as has been loudly speculated by some.
I think they want the menace to help Pettersen along. And more push back to help Hughes who gets manhandled in playoffs if they get there. A Hail Mary in hopes of keeping him
Makes sense. With Miller traded last season and Boeser likely walking in 7 days, the Canucks have few options for wingers or even forwards for their top 6 that tip the scales at over 200 lbs. Chytl is 210 but is at best a 2nd line center who never hits anyone and Drew O’Connor and Joshua Dakota, the only other 2 forwards over 200, would not be mistaken for regulars in anyone’s top 6. They were the lightest team by average in the NHL last season, and that was with with Miller, Desharnais and Boeser on the books.
The lack of size may have influenced Tocchet’s decision to leave if he didn’t think the roster had the size to keep playing his brand of hockey.
Marchment for a 4th, no retention.
Kane for a 4th, no retention.
Both a useful player with one year left on their contract.
Marchment was traded for a 3rd + 4th.
While Kane has definitely had the better career thus far and peak Kane >> peak Marchment, a few things probably worked in favor of Marchment returning more in a trade this summer:
Marchment just turned 30, Kane is about to turn 34
He scored 22 goals and 47 points in 62 games this past season vs. Kane @ 0,0,0
His AAV is $625,000 lower – almost enough to add league min contract to the roster
His contract had a 10 team no team trade list vs 16 so more bidders were possible
Good luck, EK.
Heck of a player when healthy. Seemed like a great bloke as an Oiler and Edmontonian. And big respect for even trying to play through the injuries he dealt with the last few seasons.
Also paterick from oilers fanatic mentioned around 11 pm last night big thinga are a brewing
Lovely headline love it 😀