The regular season is just hours away, and the Edmonton Oilers are reaching a pressure point in two areas. First, the final roster for opening night appears to involve paper transactions for a couple of waiver ineligible players that will see them sent down to the Bakersfield Condors today. Once the team is compliant, the season will officially begin. At that point, those players will be recalled and the Oilers will have the desired roster moving forward.
I was pleased to see the move by Kris Knoblauch involving Matt Savoie. Skill needs skill and Savoie is the most naturally talented healthy right winger on the roster. Playing him with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins makes sense to me, with Andrew Mangiapane as the other winger. Dandy landing spot for a rookie, plenty of wisdom on that line.
Lots of waiver intrigue today, as a flood of names hit the wire. I imagine there wil be claims, but it would seem to be a distant bell happening for the Oilers. We’ll see.
The big news all are waiting for is the Connor McDavid contract update. Elliotte Friedman mentioned on 32 Thoughts today he thinks the organization will receive an update from the captain before opening night. Does that mean a contract? Does it mean McDavid will confirm this is his last season?
I think it’s good to have clarity before the season. I think it’s fair. McDavid has every right to make his best decision and not be rushed. It will become a distraction without clarity.
If he decides this is his final year, it will become difficult for management and the coaching staff to keep things rolling in some kind of rational order. However, not knowing, in my opinion, would be even more unbearable. for all involved. Sticky wicket. Not fair to any party, but this is a business and McDavid has a right to pursue his dreams and hopes. It’s possible those things have changed in recent years.
We all grow as humans, especially in our 20’s. The Beatles broke up, and people blamed the wives. These men were getting married, had solo projects in the works and may well have been bored with the entire process. John Lennon didn’t like what George Martin did with his songs. George Harrison was writing at a furious clip, far more than two songs an album. It was time.
Maybe it’s Connor McDavid’s time. That’s his right and I respect it. I wish him Godspeed no matter his decision.
On the Lowdown today, we’ll hear from Rachel Kryshak, CTO of Betalytics and ESPN contributor. We’ll also chat to Jason Gregor. McDavid, waivers, Blue Jays, NFL weekend, we’ll have it all. Noon to 2pm, Sports 1440 and You Tube.
New for The Athletic: How Edmonton Oilers could approach waiver wire ahead of regular season
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6691491/2025/10/06/edmonton-oilers-waivers-wire-2025/
The Regula get. This will be fun to watch as it plays out.
Incredible!
Bless you Connor! Thank you
What a leader, what a winner.
Just moved up in my all time favorite player rankings.
Ryan Rishaug @TSNRyanRishaug
Talks heated up first thing this morning, this deal came together extremely fast once McDavid decided on what he wanted. Was undecided as of last night….
A bit more context on how this deal came together. McDavid and Judd Moldaver came to the determination several days ago that if they were doing a deal it would be 2×12.5m. That was their sweet spot. They then took a few more days to think it through and as of Sunday night a decision still had not been made. Monday morning McDavid green lit the deal and the conversation between Moldaver and the Oilers was 5 minutes. He informed them the term and dollars and that was the first time in the entire process any number had been mentioned. Didn’t take long to get it sealed up from there.
The way I look at the McDavid contract… I think Edmonton got screwed by COVID more than any other team. Last season, they should have had about $19M more to spend on the 21 players beyond McDavid and Draisaitl. They signed Draisaitl to a great deal in ’17-18 for $8.5M, then McDavid signed the season before the pandemic and the stagnant cap. So McDavid’s contract should have been a much smaller percentage of the team’s overall cap by 2025-2026. Prior to the pandemic, the cap was projected to be at somewhere around $112.5M for the 2025-2026 season. McDavid’s 12.5M would have been only 11% of his team’s cap! Or, last year, Draisaitl’s $8.5M, of which was formerly projected to be around $107.2M and McDavid’s $12.5M would have been only 19.6% of the team’s cap. Instead, their contracts were 23.9% of the cap. They would have been able to spend much more on the players around him from 2020 to 2025. The Oilers were really screwed to have a stagnant cap during McDavid’s prime years right after he signed a big contract. The Oilers should have had about $86M to spend around McDavid and Draisaitl by the end of Draisaitl’s contract; instead, they had $67M. An extra $19 million would have gone a long way to building contenders. Instead, they had to carry fewer than 23 on the roster at times and search for players looking for second chances and build around the fringes, and they couldn’t go after any big goalie names. So, McDavid making a bit of a correction for that is understandable. He shouldn’t have had to, but it does even things out a bit.
— this is such a great observation…
— its an important factor when considering all the reasons why the team has underperformed relative to expectations
— I’ve never considered macro factors outside of managements control for why they haven’t won
— thanks for this.
It makes the Nurse contract that much more galling. They knew the cap would be flat at that point.
I had mentioned (or at least thought of – not sure if posted my thoughts) this a few years back….not close to how well you articulated but agree 100%. It’s all about cap management this league.
Now the question is, what bait will the Oilers take causing them to blow the savings from the McDavid contract?
Markstrom next free agency, if he doesn’t resign in NJ.
Wow. My glass is half full… yours looks to be half empty, with a fly in it.
Bob suggested Tuch to MacT on air today, someone I’ve previously advocated for acquiring even at elevated cost. As a UFA signing next off season would be icing.
Frank Seravalli
@frank_seravalli
The NHL has fined the Tampa Bay Lightning $100,000 and coach Jon Cooper $25,000 “for their actions culminating in the events of” their preseason game on Saturday night against Florida.
The fine, levied by NHL Hockey Ops department, goes to charitable causes.
And Mikkola’s 10 game suspension is still no where to be found.
Is there a rule that stipulates that?
You would think that would be an easy call.
I wonder if it being a pre-season game factored into things.
Hmmm… Am I missing something? No costs to Panthers?
Cooper solving the Panthers in similar fashion to how Bowman “solved” the Flyers in 1975. At that time it was seen as coach and team dealing with a problem the NHL wasn’t willing to deal with. Now, NHL still not willing to deal with (Cup-winning bullies), and penalizing coach and team for taking it into their own hands.
https://www.habseyesontheprize.com/how-the-habs-solved-the-broad-street-bullies/
I suspect that the Lightning calling up a brace of goons likely triggered the punishment.
Scott Sabourin 6’3″ 205
Jack Finlay 6’3″ 227
Max Crozier 6’3″ 204
Roman Schmidt 6’5″ 225
None off them were in the lineup in an attempt to win a hockey games.
Preseason isn’t about winning hockey games.
It’s also not about spiking your lineup in order to maim the opposition.
Why would TBY have felt compelled to do so in the first place?
If that was, in fact, as you allege.
This entire rodeo goes back to last season when Hagel blindsided Barkov.
https://youtu.be/owJ3P24w9sE
Bowman’s AHL recalls for the Flyers game weren’t about winning on the scoreboard either. They were about settling a score that the league was not willing to acknowledge. Cooper pretty much followed the same script.
37 million for 2/29/97. Didn’t see that coming.
There’s a lot of things you don’t see coming, Andie,
Love the NHL.com writers and their headlines.
“… contract gives Oilers firm deadline to win Stanley Cup.”
Though true, they sound like a bunch of bitter Leafs fans haha.
And “12.5 makes it easier to trade McDavid to a contender should he want out”. ????
I will still be happy with this outcome.
If we like this contract, I think we should give Bowman some credit. It sounds like he was patient all along, and didn’t pressure McDavid. By giving McDavid the space he needed, McDavid took a huge discount. If Bowman had negotiated hard, McDavid might have responded in kind.
Sometimes by not pushing hard, you end up getting a gift.
It’s called patience. Perhaps Bowman’s patience will rub off on the forwards who are too ready to jailbreak?
And a great weight was lifted!
I can hardly believe it. McDavid deserves the utmost respect for this contract. It will bring his legacy to another level completely.
Hat tip to Billy Guerin playing the looooooooooong game. Once an Oiler, always an Oiler.
This season if everyone gets healthy they can run
88 97 18
92 29 22
53 93 10
42 19 48/86
14 2
25 96
27 75/49
Janmark down or trade and have 1.388M in space according to PP
In 25/26
88 97 18
92 29 22
53 93 10
Jarventie/Samanski/13 48 86
14(3.5M?) 2
25 96 (7M)
27 (3.25M) 75-49
74(3.5M?)
Ingram 2M
And have 6.5M in space. Lots of options and space if contracts are bigger. For me Ek at his age should take a reasonable contract, as should Kulak if he wants to stay. Ingram won’t be able to ask for much more than that given the situation even if he has some NHL games and a great season, and unless Stu really lights it up that’s about the max for me. Even if he does he doesn’t have the track record for much more with the Oilers
Berezkin a likely option for next season.
Don’t know whether this has been said yet about the McExtension, but:
#NeverInDoubt
From a team perspective… McDavid is the kind of teammate you’d run through a brick wall for.
McDavid clearly stating winning is more important than money and providing the team flexibility over the next few years.
How can teammates not be even more driven?
Wild times.
This is almost what makes me nervous about the whole scenario however. If anything, perhaps this team has already been gripping the stick a bit, trying to win one for the captain. I’m delighted in the signing but Connor also needs to follow-up when the chips are down.
Adjusted for eras, in the 2024 playoffs, Connor had the highest scoring playoff in all of NHL history. Better than Gretzky, better than Lemieux.
In the last four playoffs, Connor has scored 75-33-95-128. On an 82-game pace, that is 140 points. In the hack, trap, and grab NHL playoffs. He was the first skater since 1976 to win the Conn Smythe on a losing team.
Connor has followed up when the chips were down.
This is selective. Now do the prior two finals and the Vegas series.
He and Leon (and Bouch) have been great through three wounds. The fourth, not so much, so far
Anyone else think the timing was intentional to let others like Kaprizov set their own market value?
If Connor signs this 1 month ago, does Guerin go as high?
To me, the man was not only doing the team a solid, but was helping NHLPA
I wrote such below
Interesting wrinkle… using current roster, in McD’s next negotiating season for 2028 and beyond, the only other contracts coming due of note are Day and Jonsson, both RFA. Very clear deck for the next deal!
Oops, I should use my glasses more.. add Howard and Hyman to that list also, but still not bad workload for the GM
I think possibly one of the biggest issues among all those you mentioned was that Lennon wanted to sign with that manager that turned out to be a sleaze, Allen Klein, and McCartney really didn’t.
With Epstein’s death, they lost a stabilizing figure and that comfy feeling fell away and gave rise to some of the chaos of finding a solution and the ensuing rudderless feels?
Back to hockey:
Shouldn’t they still cut a guy loose now in order to accrue more significant cap by the deadline?
On Walman, I was hoping for 6 years and somehow under $7MM but that wasn’t realistic with the new d-man market.
I think its too long given his age and increasing injury history but i will give zero real effs today – presuming he can stay relatively healthy over the next 4 years, he’ll be a massive piece in that time and its great to have him locked at at a reasonable amount.
OP once they finish with the paper shuffling, can you confirm they can’t accrue cap space during the time Hyman is on LTIR. Also, when he’s healthy how much $ will they have to move off the roster. I haven’t fully wrapped my head around the new CBA and you have it nailed. thx
They cannot accrue when the are using the LTIR reserves, which they will be.
They will need 3 players off the existing roster (including Janmark) to make room for Hyman if no one else is on LTIR.
Thanks Obi-Wan
Which means, that if hyman is on ltir, but they have more than that available on their current roster, they can still accrue.
No, they cannot accrue if they are “over the cap” using LTIR reserves even if they have room left in LTIR.
I agree with you on Walman. He will be 37 when his contract is done. Probably won’t matter that much as our Stanley Cup window will likely be over by then.
In any case, I’m not going to let it spoil the great news of today.
One more move needed for Opening Day roster. I expect Stecher likely to go down or be traded. slightly less likely to me would be Emberson. Regula is staying, in my mind.
After they put Hyman on LTIR, they will send Hamblin down and recall Tomasek and Howard.
They will be good until Janmark comes off IR.
So you think they’ll break the season with 8D?
No, 7! Bouch, Walman, Emberson, Regula, Nurse Ekholm and Kulak. That’s 7.OP s comment only refers to forwards, so no impact there on number of D.
Well, there’s still 8 on the roster. OP said “they will be good” so that suggests to me he thinks there’s no more moves until Janmark returns, not counting the above paper transactions..
Yes, for now.
They have 14F on the cap, with Janmark (13 on the roster) and 8D – LTIR gives them the cap space.
When Janmark is activated, it could be Stecher waived when Janmark comes back – or Lazar or Regula or Philp or Janmark.
Dangle’s head is probably going to explode on the SDP today.
I hope so!
Priceless:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPe7xyyk3Qh/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Connor is such an absolute beauty!!!! Jack Eichel is probably the opposite of happy about this.
Certainly makes Kaprizov look like an overpay.
@#$%!! There goes the house i was going to buy each of my cousins’ kids.
Two years until Nurse’s contractual clauses loosen.
At that point the Oilers should be able to afford a top-drawer UFA, helping encourage McDavid to sign a 4th contract with the Oil Drop.
Unless he’s so friendly with Nurse, he wouldn’t like that. I know he wants to win, but could friendship cause him to view Nurse’s hockey contributions as better than they are?
In two years his AAV will look much more reasonable due to the Cap inflation for that time at almost 20%… not a big issue in my mind unless he falls off a cliff or is wanting out, which I don’t see.
Not a lot of talk about the Walman contract. This was my expectation for a 7×7. Wish it was a little less but in this cap environment it is a tidy piece of work. Hope we can get Ekholm extended for cheap
I think regression will tell the tale between Kulak and Ekholm for 3rd pairing duties going forward. Makes sense to let them tell us who they’re going to be going forward before extending either.
Ok, allow me to post the stupidest comment of the day. What will the PA have to say about this lowballing of a contract and could it actually invite crazies to try and hurt him.
More players will be making more money on the Oilers because he took less. Guys like Walman should be shaking his hand for giving the team room to give him generational wealth.
Hard cap system changes the chemistry a bit.
Honestly, I’ve never understood the PA pushing the superstars to go max in a salary cap situation. The PA is for ALL players, and obviously with a cap there’s only so much to go around so it would actually benefit the MAJORITY of players if the cap is divvied up more evenly. ????????♂️????????♂️????????♂️
That’s right. Player maximum salary has already been negotiated (20% of team cap, if I recall correctly), as has the league-wide salary cap. It’s a fixed pot, so if McDavid takes less money, that’s more for other union members. I suspect the PA likes this deal because it counters increasing salary stratification (Kaprizov types vs fourth line scrubs making league minimum) that poses a threat to union solidarity-just the kind of fracture ownership loves to exploit. It’s good for the union.
I don’t think the NHLPA is pressuring players to take max money, it makes no sense to do that in a cap world.
And if they are, than they’re doing a lousy job of it because players have been signing contracts with “team discounts” for years.
And who are these crazies you speak of – other hockey players, fans? I don’t think anyone is going to go after a player for getting less than market value.
Crazies? I’m not sure what you mean…
And I’m not sure if I’ve been misinformed but there have been many articles over many years of the NHLPA pressuring the top tier players to take max $?
Still scratching my head over your “crazies” comment…????????????
The NHLPA can eat a big steaming… disappointing meal. They don’t protect him or other stars. He doesn’t owe it to the NHLPA to max out his contract and hurt his chances of winning a cup. The fact that this could upset the NHLPA makes the signing even sweeter.
Without the NHLPA owners would still take your money and your heroes would have nothing.
I don’t know… that feels like a false binary argument.
The NHLPA could ensure hockey players get paid well while also lobbying to have star players protected.
You would do well to read up on Ted Lindsay and Gordie Howe’s era of contract negotiations.
They were treated poorly – 50 plus years ago.There also aren’t kids in coal mines anymore, at least in NA. Eagleson was also hosing the players. It has progressed to as fair as it can be, which good
Haven’t commented since last season. What a great day.
Wow! Unbelievable. True to his word, all Connor cares about is winning. Whatever happens in three years time this man has done everything he can for the organization and city.
Legend.
When this is announced, and McDavid answers questions, I fully expect a “Well, he’s been better than me lately” from him when asked about Leon making more cash.
Half joke, half legit.
I think this was a part of 97s plan.
When you’re the greatest player on the planet, and you’re in a union, theres divergent things to consider. Doing your part to raise the earning potential of your union brothers, at the very minimum not setting a false ceiling. Secondly considering what affect your contract has on your chances to win.
McDavid obviously could not sign for 12.5 in August. The only reasonable assumption imo, is that this was his intention all along.
Stan Bowman was just given a gift from a friend of the family, and the weight of every dollar takes new significance. He’s not spending company money, he’s spending gifted money from someone who sacrificed millions.
Now I’ve heard there was a secret chord
That McDavid played, and it pleased the Lord
But you don’t really care for music, do you?
It goes like this, the fourth, the fifth
The minor falls, the major lifts
The baffled king composing Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrLk4vdY28Q
“Hallelujah! Holy shit! Where’s the Tylenol?”
Good one… and you beat me to it! Cheers!
Jack Campbell’s dead cap space looms larger than ever next season. $25M in cap space next year with 10 forwards, 4 defensemen an 0 goalies signed.
How could this be your take away after getting the best player in hockey for at least a $4 million discount? Lol
That’s what I was getting at. Spend the money wisely to ensure that he stays past these two years. I just mentioned that Campbell’s buyout looms as Bowman has to fill out the roster.
CapWages
@CapWages
Connor McDavid signed a 2 x $12.5M extension with the Edmonton Oilers.
After the Walman signing (7x7M), the Oilers will now have $22.5M in cap space for next season.
Ya, really weird takeaway.
Man, Connor barely even cracking the top 5 highest paid players is astonishing and beyond my wildest expectations and as much as longer term would have been nice I like the two years in the sense of totally putting the ball in the franchises court without handcuffing them financially. This essentially wipes out Nurses overpay.
Any word on the other details on the contract? I’m assuming a full NMC, but the other ultimate unselfish act would be for him to have a partial NMC in case he decides to move on in three years the team has options?
Anyways, such great news. Thank you Connor!
It is kind of hilarious watching commentators twist themselves into knots over this.
He will make more money by doing things this way, and gets what he wants out of it.
Thats called having a good agent and choosing your path.
That is if he stays Hockey healthy. It’s crazy to think that Bobby Orr was done at 30.
1 – Orr would have been repaired and likely played until 40 in this era.
2 – Insurance is a thing and will take care of the man for a very very long time and in the style to which he is accustomed.
I can think of no better way as a distantly living fan to show my appreciation than to get a mcd jersey with the number 12.5 instead of 97. Who is with me? Let’s make this a thing!
Before we fully analyze the McDavid extension, we need to see if there is a full no movement clause.
It would be shocking if there was anything other than a full NMC. The organization will give Connor what ever he wants, why wouldn’t he keep full control of where he plays.
I think OP just made a joke. 🙂
????
Confirmed, it was intended to be a funnie……
Haha. Thanks for this. 🙂
Will be fun listening to the Toronto media/personalities discuss this one.
Copium will be strong for 5 seconds then they’ll go back to yapping about the Jays.
I’m having so much fun in leaf nation winding them up:
— “oil making cap room to bring on Matthews whose buddies with CmD”
— “I’m hearing Leafs went hard for him and he wanted no part of playing for leafs”
So much fun
I get that you’re yanking folks’ chain but anyone who falls for the second one — clearly being tampering — doesn’t know much about hockey.
I also think that he waited knowing what he wanted to do to give the other guys waiting a chance to get deals not based on his deal. He wasn’t going into the season not signing, so Kaprizov scored and the others now have perhaps lost a bit of leverage
Amazing
McDavid waiting so long to sign a massive value contract could be for many reasons. Do you really think this was his plan the whole time are do you think it’s possible he might of had a change of heart where as Captain he started feeling the distraction this was having on the team and his legacy.
Nobody knows but what I wrote seems like how Connor thinks, he wants to do what he wants but thinks about how it affects others. It was a pretty radical move
There was zero leaks nobody knew is resigning until this morning which came out of the blue. McDavid must hang with some tight-lipped people or he came to this decision recently. If this was McDavid plan all along he did one hell of a job of selling it to me in his recent interviews that he was was going to let his contract expire. If McDavid can pull off a two-peat Olympic Gold and Stanley Cup he’ll instantly vault up the charts as a Canadian Great.
And maybe selling it to his teammates too.
All along, I had no problem with McDavid putting the franchise’s feet to the fire, just so long as he signed before the season started. What we heard earlier was that the HoF room reserved for today had been cancelled, which threw into question the essential premise needed to justify McDavid’s actions.
It turns out that question was answered quite firmly.
What it tells us, I think, is that reporters and podcasters and YouTube guys who’ve been speculating about this contract for the last month really didn’t have a clue what they were talking about.
Well, Friedman has been saying short term and for materially less money that many think for quite a while now…..
That is news? They always do that, and afterwards they have the memory of a goldfish.
This is 100% as expected.
They will submit their opening roster like this, then they’ll place Hyman on LTIR, send down Hamblin and re-call Tomasek and Howard!
Wow. !! I was of two kinds on Connor. We all have our takes, for me if he would have dragged it out till spring, especially if he walked, I would have lost respect. Many wouldn’t, I would
I I thought he would sign, but not at his current cap. The chatter about it being less than expected I thought meant 15 or 16. Now my respect is even higher. Talk about putting your money where your mouth is. Man
We are so lucky as hockey fans. I believe Bowman is up to this now that’s it’s in his court, but the pressure is on
The wedding rings meme I think was spot on. Not only matching, but what this means is he recognizes that Leon has been as valuable to the team and what they’ve done as he has been. I think this means Connor wants Leon to catch up to him somewhat in earnings having been on that value contract
That Leon deal meant the team got world class play with extra cap space, well below market value. Now Connor is giving the well below market, which gives Bowman some folding money, and Leon gets a more fair deal, which is still below market
Bravo Duo. Pure class
Minds not kinds
START THE CAR!!!!!!!
LOL reading the first few points in this comments today from before McDavid signed.
Looking forward to reading through the rest of the posts to see if there are any “apologies” for the character assassination some put on McDavid.
What character assassination took place? No one called him a bad guy, no one said he wasn’t generational.. Wait.. No one was saying anything other then it will be a circus and the Oilers need to do what’s best for the team.
No apologies are needed, folks talking hockey.
No one called him a bad guy over the last few weeks? Please, they certainly did and its impossible to argue that many called his character and commitment to the Oilers in to question.
Gaslighting OP for calling out people routinely calling Connor selfish, a bad captain, not a team player, and this and that, is a bad look.
It happened. Daily.
Those folks were merely projecting more than they were offering any kind of data based in fact.
Connor’s extension today confirms this.
— Does he have an “uncle Tony” that’s arranging a special vehicle entity ?
— the math on this going forward is stunning : basically 2-3 $6mm dollar players for “free” they can get …
Great day in Oilers country. Thank you Connor, thank you Lauren. Now the only wish for us all, is to see that picture of Connor raising that illusive 1st Cup over his head, followed by a couple more… oh what a day that will be! Break out the scotch, break out the ganja, a celebration awaits.
LET’S GO OILERS, LET’S GO!!!
This is out of the realm of reasonable possibility.
I think we all knew he wasn’t going to demand the max, even though he could get it.
Anything $16MM and under would be a big discount, even before Kaprizov signed.
Small chance it would come in near Leon’s $14MM but, $12.5MM? That is out of the realm of reasonableness.
My goodness!
As my wife texted me: “Hopefully people will shut the Fu@k up now!”
I was hoping he might, by some fluke match Drai at 14M — this is bizarro.
This was my thought too. The new reality is astonishing.
“Hopefully people will shut the Fu@k up now!”
and I pray that it is so. So very (very) tired of the pointless worrying and projecting around McD and this contract.
better sit back enjoy these years
Hmm, well not bad as a day goes.
Great deal for the Oilers. Still don’t like that it feels like an inevitable exit.
Give it a rest, HH
Amazing news. Obviously, you want Connor as long as you can go, but you can’t argue the price. Holy moly.
Also, when his contract is up:
-Nuge’s last year and his 35 year old season. Hate to think of it, but a buyout at that time could be good business. He’ll still have a full NMC.
-Nurse will be tradeable. He’s buyout proof, but will only have a 10-team no-trade.
-Drai still has 2 years on his deal
-Hyman’s contract is done. Love him, but what kind of player is he in 3 years at 36?
-Podkolzin (27) and Frederic (30) are the only other forwards currently under contract
-Howard and Savoie are 24 (the former just ending his ELC)
-Bouchard is under contract and in his prime
Draw should have more than 2 years left. His extension kicks in this year.
You’re right. I was on puckpedia and just saw the UFA thing after the 29/30 season, but didn’t notice the “2033” under it. I guess the chart only goes to 29/30. Frederic expires the same time.
Another plus is that Campbell’s buyout penalty, while still there, is “only” $1.5M compared to the $2.3M and $2.6M we’re carrying this year and next
I think the NMC in Nuge’s contract means he can’t be put on waivers, which needs to happen to start the buyout process. Can’t be bought out.
Connor bridged the Oilers in a prove it deal.
Some may think “what’s a few million for guys who are already that rich”, but to leave $100+ million on the table and hope things are still hunky dory in 2 or 3 years is incredibly bold imo.