I rarely post my personal opinion in the articles, because the blog is based on ‘following along at home’ and that’s more reacting to the GM and coach than expressing opinion. Once a year or so, I like to put down my thoughts on the team and future. Here we go.
I think the Oilers should sit out July 1. Just don’t spend money in the early hours of the crazy.
I believe the Oilers should sign Connor Ingram as the starter. Bring back Tristan Jarry because he’s a sunk cost, but commit to Ingram. Any free-agent add is going to have the capacity to be worse, and we can’t be sure a demonstrably better goalie will be available in trade. If Filip Gustavsson is available, calling the Minnesota Wild is a good idea. I like the recent suggestion of acquiring Sebastian Cossa for Ike Howard.
Failing a move, the depth chart should be Ingram, Jarry in Edmonton and Jonsson, Ungar in Bakersfield. Grow your own. The grass is always greener over the septic tank, but it doesn’t mean you trade for the other guy’s crap.
I would run the centers thusly: Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Josh Samanski, Owen Michaels. You don’t have a RH center playing much until Michaels forces his way on to the roster, but Josh Samanski can do a lot of things and maybe he scores a little more year two.
My left wingers are Matt Savoie, Vasily Podkolzin, Roby Jarventie, Colton Dach and Max Jones. The two youngsters move to the top of the depth chart, and are followed by two more youngsters. Nuge can always slide over if needed, but this is a talented group with room to grow.
On right wing, I’ve got Zach Hyman, Jordan Kyrou, Kasperi Kapanen and Trent Frederic.
- Savoie-McDavid-Hyman
- Podkolzin-Draisaitl-Howard/Kapanen
- Jarventie-Nuge-Kyrou
- Dach-Samanski-Frederic
- Jones-Michaels
- Ekholm-Bouchard
- Walman-Murphy
- Stastney-Emberson
- Carfagna
- Ingram (Jarry)
Five Edmonton Oilers prospects who could have NHL roles next season
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7248525/2026/05/03/edmonton-oilers-prospects-nhl-roles-2026/
You goalie haters would have run Wallstedt out of town already.
What goalie are “they” (or maybe “we” depending how you define hate) unfairly hating at present?
Jarry?
-> believe biggest issue is acquisition cost seemed bent over barrel steep for a much higher injury prone guy who just the previous season was on waivers and likely only reason not bought out once he passes through being his contract is buyout proof…
Worst case trade -> 1 for 1 based on 2+ million more in salary for a goalie that would be fair to say not clear significant upgrade nor even having some clutch style playoff history.
To add a 2nd seems like it should have then been some degree of retention (like we are taking the remaining 2.5 years of a buyout proof guy if you retain some of difference over life of contract).
To also add a vet completely servicable defensemen with added bonus of he’s stepped up huge for team in both of your last epic playoff runs…essentially just because that’s one of only ways possible to absorb cap hit increase….seemed bonkers. Didn’t take long to appear even worse seeing as he was flipped at deadline rightfully valued at a 2nd round pick and is now playing 2nd pair minutes on cup favourite…
The whole team wasn’t working. Yeah kulaks stats looked like he dropped off cliff but the cliff drop was who exactly is the 3rd pair playing with as bottom 3-5 or 6 forwards completely buried in defensive end with almost any shift where puck is heading in right direction ending with that rag tag group on the fly shifting off usually to give Mcbouch offensively tilted ice with which they are actuslly losing even strength scoring in…with added bonus of all these systems in place seem like they have been broken by other teams coaches.
Almost like everyone had watched this team last year in finals where a savy vet coach in maurice had done his homework following the previous finals and came back with an even better plan to mitigate elite talent impact…and all the oilers current coach seems to do about tactics is constantly change line combinations to degree surely no one outside super weapon has much of any consistency/familiarity with combinstions of teammates they are on ice with not just game to game but insanely even shift to shift….each and every game almost the only thing consistent is akin to ronald mcdonald “do you believe in mcmagic and we hope you do! Anything can happen right before your eyes! Expect the unexpected but…expect a suprise!”
Ugh. Anyway. Sorry need a coffee. But was just bothered how easy a kulak seems like he sucks narrative molded around him when sent away but a lot of pundits/bootlicks and packled fsnbase. Like none of it made sense because hyman and rnh had injuries and mcdavid was losing his minutes and coach simply refused to do anything but punish bottom 6 immediately if a goal was scored against snd mistake could be scaoegoated to one of them and they were given no real chance to offensively even try to provide 2ndary scoring ever. Just mix and match fall guys.
Like i’ve never seen a team in all the oilers permutations of cup contender mcdavid editions that was even close to as lobsided as far as captain and coaches favourites….
Like all the logical complaints of “worse that could happen” basically did happen
1 overworking top end in compressed season with olympics the key duo will not get rest in in fact be beat up from super competitive playoff tournament when they get back with added bonus of massice time zone difference and travel be worn out when games near immediateky start after.
2. Won’t stand a chance if team keeps getting played like there’s 2.5 lines and bottom 6 has no established identity come playoffs when depth scoring is often the difference in a series.
3. Yes mcdrai & probably almost any other players on a powerplay unit likely would have a 20-25+% conversion rate but it can get shutdown and it seems clear they often burn a lot of minutes not being super dangerous and the back half if a lot of those extended shifts become even more stagnant as far as movement and surely any sane strategist looking at how ineffective it was in previous finals on top of how every team coming in has cleary adjusted to shut down drai’s office or bouchbomb not aggressively contested being easy goal options would see benefit of establishing a 2nd unit. Not just in case of emergency but because the value of a lot of secondary scorers can also come from that 2nd unit. Like a guy like howard is honestly little to no value on a team run like this is. Like he can’t be added as top line offensive threat because that line needs defensive concious added to stand chance of outscoring…maybe he could work in 2nd line but only if you make a 3rd line that gets solid icetime 200 ft style or you are wasting what has become your best LW which i think i’d prefer to keep developing confidence and range of ways a threat to score beside draisaitl. Like he started doing one timers…he scored a couple fro drai’s office on a type of shot i’ve never seen him take before….like his ceiling as a top 6 power forward who is defensively sound is still developing his spot on a properly constructed team is LW on drai’s line scoring threat all sorts of different ways and on pp2 working on developing his netfront game for inevitable day when hyman needs replacing as a 1st unit option.
Ugh sorry.
Goslies.
What’s unfair about it:
-> jarry that arrived wasn’t the same jarry who returned fron injury. That dog’s breakfast of their gravy train homestand with gift of lots of back to backs or 3 rd game in 4 nights was a collective sucking point that solidly showed they had no real team built and were incapable of defending leads was unfairly whitewashed as primarily a goalie related problem.
And the coach himself did not really shelter his new goalie at all thru it. While aloof about it he was garbage saving his own arse from deeper critical problems. New goalie sold out thst soon…absurd. Even in post season that comment about ingram “being our guy” like cowardly uneccessary.
If they are rightfully keeping jarry and giving him another honest shot at net -> the coach who played “blame goalie” throughout season cannot be running the bench.
End rant…will post on new thread.
Kasperi KAPANEN and Vasily Podkolzin still tied for 3rd in playoff 5v5 scoring. Tied with Taylor Hall, who is scoring 5.6 points /60 at 5v5.
14 goals. This is a fun game when you have no dog in the fight.
Make it 15
Our squad, as currently run, would have stopped on the side of the road at 3-0, got down 6-3 because they were standing around, then allow an EN before finally scoring again.
This was two teams with the pedal down, as it should be.
Mistake on both sides was not switching goalies.
I wrote a thing about hoping they don’t just sign ingram without considering other options wemt through all the UFA guys with sv% above 90% aversge last 3 seaaons….phone ate it though.
Not going to redo it.
Culled it down to these guys (based off past 3 seasons in order of highest to lowest EV sv%):
**added just to see Reb% – percent of shots/game that were rebounds (better team defense or worse rebound control indicator maybe if nuance added)
Brossoit 6’3″, 203 lbs
-> 33 yrs, 3.3 mil, 78 GP
-> Sv% 0.918, EV 0.926, HD 0.835
-> shots/g 27.5, HDSA/G 6.8, REB 6.5%
– injury prone concerns
– on highest contract
– surely some inflation due to VGK stingyiness
Cooley 6’5″, 192 lbs
-> 28 yrs, 775K, 31 GP
-> Sv% 0.922, EV 0.923, HD 0.850
-> shots/g 27.1, HDSA/g 7.2, REB 7.0%
-hell of a season coming out party
-if cheap enough worth a gamble i’d say on a 2 year contract (if he siezes the net then can be extended 2028 season young enough potential to stabilize crease
– calgary just doesn’t have offense but not a bad defensive team likely hrlps numbers
Rittch 6’3″, 206 lbs
-> 33 yrs, 1.0 mil, 64 GP
-> Sv% 0.912, 0.921 EV, HD 0.818
-> sh/g 25.9, HDSA/g 6.2, REB 6.2%
-i just am not a huge fan and looks to be backing up pretty defensive team
Ingram 6’2″, 196 lbs
-> 29 yrs, 1.95 mil, 114 GP
-> SV% 0.908, EV 0.915, HD 0.811
-> sh/g 30.1, HDSA/g 8.8, REB 8.6%
– looks to be paddling against stronger end current. 1 of only 2 of the available older vets who was over 30 shots a game but a lot of the sub 900 guys were all in the 8.0 HDSA/G…pretty sure the difference in the pile of these guys and the just unders more a matter ofmore thrown to wolves the more i looked at it
TALBOT DISCLUDED AT 38 YRS OLD
List from there
Pickard 56 GP, 0.905
Anderson 62 GP, 0.904
Quick 74 GP, 0.904
Mzarek 134 GP, 0.902
Skinner 159 GP, 0.903
——-sub 0.900——
Forsberg, samsonov, kahkonen, reimer, fedotov, georgiev, comrie
There’s definitely about to be a pretty massive influx of young backups starting to happen soon. Seems like a changing of the guard is overdue between the aging outs and the almost but not good enough crew also near or past 30 years old.
The only one of the worth shortlisting thwt i rhought might be interesting if he ends up taking a showme contract
Mazarek 6’2″, 188 lbs
-> 34 yrs, 4.25 mil, 134 GP
-> SV% 0.902, EV 0.910, HD 0.795
-> sh/g 32.4, HDSA/G 9.4, REB 9.6%
Why? He looks like he is getting shelled noticably harder than the rest.
I mentiomed it on previous post but if i can get reasonanly as viable as ingram option at lower contract i’d strongly consider it. Like if they don’t cap string themselves up to point they have no option hut to either play guy who is better off resting or play with less than enough players for another season in a row having a full 23 man roster with 3 goalies is more spares than they’ve actually had. So not worse plan to snag a youg waiver goalie who may turnn out better than ingram or whomever for longer time period.
Like if ingram is going gor 3 or 4 million over 3+ seasons i don’t want to do lock in on that.
I think it’s better as 2 year deal then extend in 2028 for 3 years starting in 2029 knowing jarry off books eith confidence ingram or whomever is worth lomger term part of tandem.
Like i wamt them to try snd steal a younger guy this round and i’m not sold they need to lock ingram down really.
Don’t really see Cooley as a gamble – he’s a get. And even sweeter if it comes at the Flames’ expense.
I’d attempt to come in with something like Ungar, Levi, Cossa and a vet on a PTO.
At least one of those is going to hit. Maybe 2.
It turns out that neither Colorado or Minnesota know how to play team D. Also, Wallstedt apparently sucks, the Colorado PP have already given up a shortie and the Avs coughed up a 3-0 lead.
And it’s by far the most exciting hockey I’ve seen these playoffs
(side note: Louie and Harnarayan don’t deserve to call this series)
I REALLY don’t miss listening to Singh call games…..
I sure hope someone informs them that they should stop what they’re doing and “defend”. Would hate to see one of them get blown out badly next series when they face a team that doesn’t try to keep scoring and nerfs its talented players the way they’re supposed to…
I had no idea Colorado and Minnesota were AHL level teams…
(insert upside down smiley here)
Colorado was the best defensive team in the league during the regular season….by a lot.
I’m mocking the “defensive hockey is the only way” crowd…who have been wrong for decades and will continue to be so.
Got that.
Colorado can play anyway the opposition wants.
On a more serious note – They also defend by attacking – as any team attempting to win in a sport that is fundamentally about attacking and out-producing rather than avoiding mistakes, should do.
Exactly so.
Puck possession is everything.
Yes, and they have given up 5 goals in 2 periods. Not the way to win playoff games, apparenty… if you’re McDavid’s Oilers. Double standards.
Also, you are the king of using the smallest sample sizes and cherry picking stats to prove your point. I thought you’d approve 😉
There are several ways to win a hockey game but outscoring the opposition never fails.
Definitely. That’s generally how the Oilers won back to back WC titles and a shit ton more playoff games these past few years compared to the Avs. They’ve won their games in “several ways.”
We all know you’re contrary for the sake of it, but even you have to understand that you proved my point for me. You are one of the many obtuse ones who never gave the Oilers props for doing exactly this and then pretend outscoring a team by any means in order to win is some novel concept.
You’re really not the sharpest tool other shed…
Also, what are you going to do when Wallstedt’s S% is down to .850 by the end of the series (if he isn’t replaced by Gustavson first)?
Is the subset of math types obsessed with the idea of the “low percentage points shot” and its alleged lack of value watching the playoffs, I wonder?
The Oilers forwards are allergic to the front of the net and getting in from of shots from the point. The Oilers D do not wait for forwards to screen the goaltender to shoot, because the forwards do not screen the goaltender.
Switching to point shots and working rebounds is what won the series against VAN. It looked like they tried to do the same mid series against ANA but couldn’t capitalize.
It’s a tool in the box, there’s a time and a place to leverage that tactic.
Kadri doing what he does best – costing his team. Over chasing and tipping it past his tender in this instance.
From the WJHCs with Hall and Eberle, all the way to now.
He still has more Cups than McD.
Good for him. Still one of the most overrated players of the last decade.
So he’s definitely a better player… 👎
Not sure I understand where you are going with this….
What a pass by Hughes on Goal #2. Fantastic.
Make Cooper coach and whoever he wants as GM.
Yes. I don’t think he’s coming to work for JJ amd Biwman but who knows. I like Brett Peterson in Florida for GM
Bowman was part of a management team that won a gold medal.
I suspect he has more respect within the league than outside.
Kutcherov isn’t going to take this much longer
Pastrnak isn’t gonna take this much longer
Robertson isn’t gonna take this much longer
Crosby isn’t gonna take this much longer
So which teams have the space to capitalize?
Can’t comment on the others but I don’t think Crosby looks at it that way.
I see sarcasm is lost on some
Kucherov has played seven game 7s – zero points.
That can’t be, I have it on good authority that he’s a generational player.
Hmmm… will Cooper stay in Tampa?
4 straight first round losses.
OilersNation has been on Cooper to Edmonton for a bit now.
Tough to see but you never know.
Same coach McDavid gushed over???
Yes he really pumped up Tampas game but like OP says first round eliminations are concerning. Cooper was all smiles and world class in the handshake line…
For a fun read, check out Cooper’s coaching resume. Guy has won a championship at literally every single level of hockey he’s coached. Dude may actually be one of the best coaches in the history of any sport. Connor knows excellence when he sees it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Cooper
You don’t get sarcasm do you?
I love your posts! How’s that for sarcasm?
So witty. 🙄
More sarcasm! You’re really good at this. Hey, that was more sarcasm from me! So addictive. I totally get this now.
Yawn
Not the Olympics….
He seems to be a loyal person and has a great team at his disposal. Never seen a coach leave his contract early to join another team.
If it did happen, there would definitely be an investigation re tampering and we would definitely lose at least 3 picks
Hedman was out and TBay badly outshot Montreal and lost. I think Cooper will be alright. If the Lightning are dumb enough to let him go, there’s about 25 teams that would be happy to give him a long-term contract.
Hockey Gods smile on the Habs as they take 2-1 lead!
Shots? Who needs shots?
Obviously highly over rated!
Didn’t see the game but I noted the 29-9 shots! Don’t know if a team has ever won a playoff game with less than 10 shots.
MacLean said it was the first time in NHL playoff history
Habs tied with Tampa after two. Total of 4 Montreal shots after two periods!! Zero shots in the 2 nd. Going to have to find the net in the third if they want to have any chance of winning. Need one Canuck team to keep playing!!
Cooper starts PP2 after PP1 struggles – result, goal. can’t imagine KK doing this.
Are you sure we have a PP2????😁
Good point – could cobble together a unit of Podz, Savoie, Samanski, Ekholm / Walman and… I dunno, Kyriou?!?!
Your point is well-taken and gets to the core problem – there seems to be no creative thinking beyond the McDraiBouch magic beans
@TorontoMapleLeafs
We have named John Chayka the General Manager and Mats Sundin as Senior Executive
“Our earlier attempts at a management team went through several Preparations. Preparations A through G were a complete failure, but ladies and gentlemen, we finally have a working management team which we shall call……Preparation H!”
Digging in RFA bins lookimg at teams with not a ton of cap space.
New jersey might be my target to pot shot at. They rank 28th as far as cap available with 18/23 roster spots ~11.9 ish mill available.
Forwards:
Arseny Gritsyuk RW (925k)
Defense:
Simon Nemec RHD (920k)
Goalie:
1. Nico daws (jake allen id ufa but that is only 1.5 million and daws probably around that)
So daws in
16/23 roster w/ 9.6 million left
1st 2nd & 3rd is a 4.6- 7 mil and 2.3- 4.6 mil contract.
I might take a run at this pair if i was a gm.
ARSENY Is my #1 RFA i’d like to steal lmao.
….of course oilers don’t have their 1st rounder. But i’m just amazed more top teamd haven’t went this route over trade deadline to sort of retool wgile staying competitive.
NJ has reportedly been trying to move Nemec for a top 6 sniper.
Apparently howard can get cossa so maybe he might be cloee to getting them Nemec if that was the case (3/4 joking).
I’d definitely be working phones if nemec might be trade bait. That is right sort of acquistion.
He is but I expect the Devils will want a player with a track record.
I would suggest that bloggers and fans proposing a Howard for Cossa trade does not come close to meaning that Howard can actually get us Cossa.
That value just doesn’t line up even with the Wings have multiple very good goalie prospects.
Anaheim could be interesting to target Zelwegger on D. Have a lot of space but btoh Carlssons, Gauthier, and Mintyukov to sign.
I also think Maverick Bourque in Dallas could be interesting target as they are super tight
Zellweger may be worth taking a chance on. He’s built like a tank and is a plus plus skater. Excellent on puck recovery’s.
Him with regula could work. Or Murphy Not sure if the oil have the patience to try something like that.
Anaheim can easily sign all their free agents.
Zellweger is an RFA without arbitration rights.
Ya. I have no thoughts on how to get him or that he’d be available just that player type would be worth a look to me. Oilers are not likely looking for that though.
I’m not a fan of two none puck movers on the second pair. Nurse/ Murphy.
I will not be surprised if Walman gets traded instead of Nurse if he won’t waive, on June 30
1 day window it appears with no trade protection. Contracts expire June 30, his new NMC kicks in July 1
Gotta stop trading players at their lowest value. Kulak would have been a help these playoffs. Stecher too, for that matter.
Wonder what they need to add to move Walman? Many disagree but I’d be fine with a nurse-Murphy pairing the next few years
Great post. I don’t see LD consisting of the 3 that finished this season. They need to free up some salary.
I find it interesting when players of McDavid and Leon’s quality point out that the whole organization needs to be better.
I find it extremely frustrating when an organization doesn’t take the time to do proper, accountable competitions for hires. Bringing people in based on networking, word of mouth, etc. without actually evaluating them based on the job at hand is beyond mind boggling.
I have been on a few hiring panels recently where we should have hired a different candidate because they would have been better at the job, but the hiring manager went a different way due to other reasons.
Neither of those people stuck around and, to be honest, they weren’t well suited for that role. They are good workers, but that’s not where their skills lie.
I was frustrated when they hired Holland without running a competition, but at least he had the role previously. Jeff Jackson, Knoblauch, Coffey… It boggles the mind.
i don’t think the Oilers should sit out July 1. I think they should be smart about what they add. Identify some middle six forwards like McCann and Jenner and target them. Trading one of Nurse or Walman seems a smart bet to add either a top 4 right handed defenseman or a middle six forward – retain on Nurse if you need to.
There’s nothing available for goaltenders in FA so sign Ingram and hope Jarry gets his game back. I know he’s giving off Jack Campbell vibes but Jarry has a much better and longer track record than Campbell did.
Samanski and Howard will be contributors next year. Maybe Jarventie or Hutson makes it, too.
There’s a lot of good pieces in place. They don’t need a ton of changes. Just don’t July 1 like it’s 2024.
Extremely unpopular opinion.
I disagree a bit.
Oilers need a 3rd & 4th line.
Marchment & Jenner should be a priority.
A 3rd line of Marchment – Jenner – Podkolzin would be an extremely difficult line to play against.
McMann should also be a priority
Dickenson would be an ideal 4th line centre between Kapanen & Dach/Janmark
Gustavsson should be priority #1
Oilers need a legitimate top 6 player.
I don’t care how you build your team, but it can’t include 5 players making over %50 of your cap.
Something serious has to happen.
You can’t afford marchment jenner and dickinson.
Looking at remaining teams in playoffs:
Averages
1st line 25.2 mil (26.4% of cap)
2nd line 17.2 mil (18.0%)
3rd line 9.9 mil (10.4%)
4th line 4.1 million (4.3%)
1st pair 14.8 mil (15.5%)
2nd pair 9.4 mil (9.8%)
3rd pair 3.3 mil (3.5%)
So 3rd/4th line ~13.6 mil this season
Last contracts:
Marchment 4.75 mil
Jenner 3.75 mil
Dickinson 4.25 million
=12.75 million sooo 850k left over for your other 3 bottom 6 players?
It’s really easy when you don’t care about cap hits for players. You can say go after anyone but they need to be the right player for the right price.
Jenner, McCann, Marchment, Gustavsson, Dickonson as 4C – that is ALOT of cap space.
I presume you move a high paid LD in this scenario so one also needs to add a top 4D.
https://oilersnation.com/news/its-time-for-edmonton-oilers-make-coaching-change-kris-knoblauch
Another gem by NHL_Sid, who has a knack for finding some items that help support the eye test. His piece on Skinner’s Jekyll and Hyde stretches was damning.
Interesting that he speculates a bit here (and notes this), but in similar ways to the concerns that many have had on this blog with the coaching staff.
Highlights are
Jeff Jackson and Stan Bowman took a chainsaw to the roster. Holland was frustratingly slow, and he made mistakes, but he net built. He did not destroy.
In the article, he is critical of the GM, like we have been (by extension of your argument, that slow build of talent favoured KK’s 2023-25 teams over Woody’s earlier iterations).
But he also points out that there is no way that anyone can honestly say that Chiarelli’s rosters had better depth than this season’s team. And as bad as those years’ depth were, they still managed higher GF% without McDavid or Drasiaitl than this season.
That speaks to the issues with deployment of the “bottom 6” (either not enough TOI 5v5, not enough time engaged in game, constant change of lines, not getting line composition correctly)
He doesn’t even mention the issue of McDavid’s line being outscored – although does so indirectly when he refers to the year over year decline in 5v5 goal share and xGF% for the team as a whole, which was putrid this year.
On woody.
He may be the perfect fit now. He’s incredibly smart which could be part of him getting canned. Comes off as super arrogant.
However he has a ton of experience working with different coaches before and after his oiler time. His time away may have been extremely valuable learning time.
Maybe he’s learned, but there were problems with the structure and tactics, even if they scored more then
He’s an Assistant Coach.
Not all ACs should be HCs.
Maybe true of KK as well
That’s how I read this article. It was not a plea to poach Woody back. It was demonstrating the many ways in which the coaching may be underperforming
It wasn’t so much an endorsement of Woodcroft for a return. However, it is fair to compare the 2 most recent coaches from teams that were most similar in composition, and point out that KK’s overall results (e.g. back to back SCF) were obviously better, but those teams had advantages
What’s appalling is this. One of the richest owners in the NHL. One of the most dedicated and rabid fan bases.
Why did they not surround McDavid and Drai with a world-class organization?
Between the Chia, Bowman, and to an extent Holland misadventures, can anyone look at the Management group, including the ecosystem around them, scouting, development, etc., and say “top notch?”
Imagine a team with a Drai and McDavid with even fractional management excellence of a team like Carolina, Florida, Tampa, etc.
Let’s have a rational look at your comparisons here.
Acting like these other teams have been fantastic as management teams is a little bit of rose coloured glasses because they aren’t the Oilers.
2015 $71,400,000
2016 $73,000,000
2017 $75,000,000
2018 $79,500,000
2019 $81,500,000
2020 $81,500,000
2021 $81,500,000
2022 $82,500,000
2023 $83,500,000
2024 $88,000,000
2025 $95,500,000
2015 to now
Carolina
Has never won the conference finals.
Poor signings
Eddie Lack 2x$2.25 (3.15% of cap = $3.08 today) October 3 2015
Scott Darling 4x$4.15 (5.55% of cap = $5.3 today) May 5 2017
Calvin De Haan
4x$4.55 (5.72% of cap = $5.46 today) July 3 2018
Ryan Dzingel
2x$3.375 (4.14% of cap = $3.94 today) July 12 2019
Jake Gardiner
4x$4.05 (4.97% of cap = $4.75 today) Sept 19 2019
Jesperi Kotkaniemi
1x$6.1 (7.48% of cap = $7.14 today) August 28 2021
Poor Trades/offer sheets
3rd (2015) and 7th (2016) to Vancouver for Eddie Lack June 27 2015
Anton Khudobin to Ducks for James Wisniewski June 27 2015
Offer sheet: Jesper Kotkaniemi from Canadiens for 1st (2022) and 3rd (2022) August 28 2017
Lost to Waivers
Gustov Forsling by Panther January 9 2021
Lost in expansion draft
Morgan Geekie to Seattle July 21 2021
Florida Panthers
Poor signings
Not really any.
Poor trades/offer sheets
Zach Hyman and 7th (2017) to Leafs for Greg Mckegg June 19 2015
Dave Bolland & Lawson Crouse to Coyotes for 3rd (2017) & 2018 conditional pick August 25 2016
Reilly Smith to Vegas for 4th (2018) June 21 2017
Jared McCann & Nick Bjugstad to Penguins for Riley Sheahan, Derrick Brassard, 2nd (2019) and 2x4th (2019)
Colton Scevior & Mike Matheson to Penguins for Patric Hornqvist September 24 2020 (could maybe argue this one)
Ty Smilianic, 1st (2023) & 4th (2022) to Canadians for Ben Chariot March 16 2022
Frank Vatrano to the Ranger for a 4th (2022) March 16 2022
Lost to Expansion Draft
Jonathan Marchessault to Golden Knights June 21 2017
Tampa
Poor signings
Dan Girardi 2x$3 (3.77% of cap = $3.6 today) July 1 2017
Tanner Jeannot 2x$2.67 (3.2% of cap =$3.06 today) July 15 2023
Poor trades/offer sheets
JT Miller to Canucks for Marek Mazanec, 3rd (2019), conditional 1st (2020) June 22 2019
1st (2021) & 3rd (2022) to Blue Jackets for Brian Lashoff April 19 2021
Cal Foote, 3rd (2023), 4th (2023), 5th (2023), 2nd (2024) & 1st (2025) to Predators for Tanner Jeannot February 23 2023
Vladislav Namestnikov to sharks for Michael Eyssimont March 1 2023
Let leave by free agency
Carter Verhaeghe to Panthers October 9 2020
Jonathan Marchessault to Florida Panthers July 1 2016
It’s true. John Chambers had done a post recently talking about all of the “talent loss,” and my initial response was going to be that literally every team has bled talent over a decade if you look it up – dwelling on Hall and Eberle 10 years later doesn’t really reflect the other changes that have been made.
There are many ways to build a team and its probably most pertinent to look at the recent +/- that have had heavy impacts on the team’s contention these past few years
E.g.
+: procuring talent from Europe/NCAA
Trades for Ekholm, Walman, Stastney
Trade for Podkolzin followed by great contract
Waiver claim on Kapanen
UFA Hyman
Trade for Kane at right time
Connor Brown contract renewal
Skinner value in context of Campbell contract
Ingram pick-up with Utah retention
Pickard contract for 2024-2025
Klingberg pickup
Kane pickup
?:
McLeod for Savoie (loss short term, unclear long-term)
O’Reilly for Howard
Dach/Dickinson/Murphy trades (likely a negative, but elements were OK and ?future contract)
Walman contract (bad start, I remain optimistic it is more + than – long-term)
Ekholm contract extension (remain optimistic)
-: too many 1st/2nd rounders for non-impact players at deadline when other teams have fared far better
Broberg/Holloway loss (with their money pissed away on Arvidsson, Henrique, Skinner)
Nurse contract
Frederic contract
Mangiapane contract
Campbell contract/buyout
Trade for Jarry at peak rather than nadir, trade of Kulak at nadir rather than peak
I am probably missing a ton, but to say the team “bled talent,” it is being black and white when the conversation should be more nuanced.
This also applies to when people say “Nurse’s contract singlehandedly prevented this team from winning a cup” – that is so silly. Every team has a overpriced contract, a mistake, etc. that they would like back, even the Cup winners.
If you go back to the start of the mcdavid era, I feel the amount of talent lost for bothing is actually pretty extreme. Not all of it lies with the GM, but…
The infamous Reinhardt trade
Eberle was essentially traded down to a bag of pucks (Ryan Spooner)
Hall trade 1-for-1 for Larsson
Klefbom retiring mid-career, Larsson gone in the expansion draft, Sekera never recovering after his knee injury (aka 3 legit top 4 D men just poof, gone)
Trading for Keith with no retention, so that Seth Jones could be signed for 9 million, thus driving up Nurse’s contract to the same number (not a talent bleed per se, but has certainly handcuffed management for many moons now)
Kesselring for Bjugstad and Bro/Holloway offersheets (aka 2 more top 4 D men plus a top 6 forward gone for nothing)
Stetcher gone for nothing
I am missing many others, aince this was all the top of my head. But yes, we have added a lot of talent through other acquisitions, but we HAD to just to run in place given how many mid-career players we lost to injury, circumstance and incompetence. If even half of these don’t happen, we either have a deeper, more cost-effective team, or more 1st/2nd round picks matriculating instead of a barren prospect cupboard.
Thanks
Thanks
Thanks
If you are looking for an example of managerial excellence I think Montreals current group would be the gold standard. Have Gordon and Hughes made a single mistake since they took over?
Right now, they’re batting 1.000
So looking at 5 mil x5 for Dickinson. 4.5 mil x 4 for Murphy. 3 year 2.5 for Kapanen, 2 year 2.5 for Ingram. I know the players want to stay here but I don’t see that as a good move forward
5 for Dickie? hell no
Dickinson evaluation is way too rich. Did he even help the PK pre injury?
4×4 for Murphy seems reasonable, especially if they are actively shopping Nurse
Signing Dickinson to be anything more than a fourth line center is very likely to end up like Henrique. Henrique gave the oil a discount and still ended up a restrictive contract. (2×2) max.
If Murphy can be signed to the kulak type contract (3×2) or (2.5 mil x 3) it’s likely to be ok. 4×4 or something like that is very likely to turn out badly.
There is no reason to give those durations to any of those guys except Ingram.
Two years at most for any of those guys. With a rising cap, one pays for immediate performance only for non-core players. No retirement contracts for non-core players.
There is no reason, other than a bunch of GMs with piles of money and a rapidly rising cap. Once again July 1 is gonna be a shocker
There’s no reason? Have you seen our GM. Not only are they gonna get term but they gonna get ntc
Signing Dickinson for 5 years is insane and grounds for immediate firing.
Is the emnity towards the Skinner/Jarry trade based purely on the Oil acquiring the worse contract? If yes, that’s defensible.
However if it’s based on play, it’s worth considering that Skinner was pathetic for the Pens this past playoffs and quickly lost the net to Silov. If we’re hoping for regression to the mean, Jarry is the far more likely candidate to return to his prior form as a solid goaltender as opposed to Skinner who has always been streaky/inconsistent.
It was the classic case of giving two players a fresh start. In the absence of other options, it was a fairly low event and worthwhile risk imo. Skinner is simply not a viable starter in this league. Neither is Jarry right now but at least he has a history of being able to be that going for him. Much like Frederic, it’s on the Oilers coaches to help these players find their form again.
They mishandled Frederic from the get go by trying to make him a first line winger, and then they kept playing him at center even as he proved he wasn’t comfortable there. They should have put him on the wing, given him a consistent line, said to him something along the lines of, “Hulk smash” and let him find his game.
I don’t think Jarry is done, he can return to form. The best thing they could do for him is play with a sense of urgency on defense so he can get his confidence back. Tough to do that when you’re faced with high danger shots from poor coverage or odd man rushes from poor decision making in the neutral zone.
They do need a new coaching staff.
I don’t disagree Frederic was mishandled at all. He was mishandled because they traded assets for an injured third line winger, at best, right before a cup run. Then you signed him to a ridiculous 8 year contract. They had to try and prove it wasn’t a dumb move, they were unsuccessful.
Such a bizarre decision on that contract. He was clearly not the same player after the injury and rather than being prudent with a shorter term, they go all in, convinced he’s the second coming of Cam Neely.
This is the Oilers brass in a nutshell. They don’t just strike out swinging for the fences. They do it when a bunt single would have won the game.
Data driven teams avoid boat anchors like the plague. The Oilers actively chase them.
This is my concern with the organization. They seem to make these mistakes too often. I’m biased because I’m only really paying attention to this team, but damn they seem to make moves that go against logic.
Tampa Bay has completely rebuilt their team into championship contender form twice in the time the Oilers have been trying to do it once. Unlike the Oil, even when the Lightning make a mistake with a player, like they did with Jennault, they find a way to cut bait and move on. The Oilers ride their mistakes right into the ground.
Agreed, but Tampa just lost to the Habs. I think the Habs are much better than the Oilers, but Tampa isn’t the Ducks either.
The core guys to both Lightning builds are Kucherov, Point, Hedman, and Vasilevsky. Some of those guys are getting long in the tooth now so they’re a bit of a cautionary tale as to what could happen with the Oil’s core aging out.
That said, TBay has gone from Stamkos, Palat, Killorn, and McDonagh to Hagel, Guentzel, Cirelli, and Raddysh so they’ve done a really good job reloading around their core imo
Fwiw I thinks the Habs are a very good young team. I think they have as good a shot as anyone this year. They are sneaky deep with young skill throughout the lineup.
I also wonder what they are thinking with the D prospects, college guys and Euros they are signing. It would be nice to develop some 3rd pair guys that could hopefully move up down the road. Per Puckpedia:
Leppanen 6′ 183
Carfagna 6’185
Cibulka 6′ 170
I will be surprised if one of these guys is going to help achieving the stated goal. Perhaps they are looking at the Avs, who while Manson is out are playing 1 D that is over 200, it will be interesting to see how they go against better teams. Unless these Condors are as good as the Avs smaller D, they don’t seem to fit the NHL D group as it is, unless it’s going to change a bunch
If there is a way to trade Nurse and magically not retain. Do they need to sign another Left dman?
To my eye there’s two options. Jamie Oleksiak and Mario Ferraro. Could either work with Bouch? Allowing Ekholm to play with Murphy. I think you could get both Murphy and Oleksiak at Nurses cap hit.
It boils down to how much risk the Oil want to accept in return. Take back a player with similar warts and they may not need to retain. If they want a proven commodity, not only will they likely need to retain but they’d also have to sweeten with picks and/or prospects.
Despite the warts we see with Nurse on the reg, he does have a reputation around the league as a team leader and culture driver with good work habits and the physicality to stick up for his teammates.
With that in mind, I would see teams like Columbus, Toronto, and Vancouver, that are actively looking to reset their cultures as prime trade partners for the Oil.
The Oil need to sell Nurse as a team leader and solid citizen to move his boat anchor contract.
The more I looked at it, the less it appealed to me. You can’t remove those minutes without a solid replacement. Especially tough with the Ufa market.
Stop trying to trade Nurse, it’s never going to happen as long as McDavid is an Oiler.
If that’s true, than Connor would have noone but himself to blame for not winning the Cup here. It was confirmed at the time of Nurse signing his 9.5M per contract that McDavid was consulted beforehand and endorsed the deal. This is why you don’t let players influence the roster/cap decisions. That contract has been a core contributor in hampering the roster depth since the day it was signed.
I’m not trying to trade Nurse. I don’t work for the Oilers. Stan Bowman is the GM.
There’s been some speculation so I’m trying to consider what they would do after.
Many fans like to do things like this, throw ideas out there, then discuss.
It never fails that some self appointed authority of all things comes along to tell others what they should or shouldn’t do.
It’s impossible to tell at this point what Bowman ‘can’ do, except maybe tinker a bit. There are a couple of considerations I have that I hope are on management’s radar
The Pacific is getting big, and the two up and comers Ducks and Sharks are. The Mammoth have some smaller F but their D is mostly good sized, and I don’t see them as at the same future threat level. The Knights and Stars are big
If they do trade Nurse, they need to find a pretty good experienced LD to back up when Ekholm and Walman miss games, which is very likely. Carfagna has shown ability, but a pairing of him and Emberson I think would have a hard time in the playoffs
It doesn’t make sense to me to use under sized players if they don’t have some special ability. Stastney didn’t seem that impressive to me. Emberson can hold his own, but I think he needs a partner that can bring more physicality, breaking cycles and clearing or protecting the net
Up front I’m ok with Savoie and Howard, but IH needs to produce and not be a liability or there’s no point. I agree with BRUS that it’s time to consider if they should keep all of the aging wingers. They probably have value at those contracts cap hits. I would prefer to get something for them while it’s there. Maybe Stan gives it one more season
Look at Colorado roster, then look at the Wilds roster & ask yourself honestly where Savoie or Howard fit in.
Then ask yourself if Vegas or The Panthers wouldn’t hesitate to trade Bouchard if it both balanced the team and gave them a proven players to make the team better.
both teams actually traded great players for balance, more than a few times.
Oilers don’t lack trade chips, prospects and draft picks.
The Oilers lack the balls & initiative to make trades that are controversial & bold.
They have for sure. I think Bowman was not wanting to come in hot, disrupt the group. So he gave everyone a chance to prove themselves. As in starting the season with Stu and Pick, who had poor playoff stats twice. When it wasn’t looking good he made a change, right or wrong but he did it
This early exit I think gives him carte blanche to make changes. Not sure he will, but there are rumblings in the media like Pagniotta’s
There is not a GM, coach or goalie that our fans won’t want out of here by sundown.
Was it batman that said “you either due the hero, or live long enough to become the villain?”
That was Harvey Dent.
Upgrades, man.
If the team runs it back with all 3 of those, I am not confident in their ability to go far. Better injury luck is a major player, but a good GM is always looking to improve
Hey I get it. I also want to upgrade our coach. And our goalie. GM I am ok with right now… But, it IS only a matter of time till we hate the new guys.
Also, fun fact, KK has had the 10th longest active tenure of all 32 teams. Some of those 9 above have won cups. So at least rest assured it’s not just Edmontonians that are fickle.
Cassidy and Torts are actually similar to Woodcroft and KK. Cassidy’s team was playing the right way but there were factors that limited the overall result, which Torts has benefited from. I would take Cassidy over KK all day, and I wouldn’t particularly care what the players thought about it. I also wouldn’t delay.
You try to get better players, you get better coaches when you can. There is no doubt Cassidy is right now a better coach. He apparently doesn’t kill offense I read, and per NHL_SIDS piece linked above KK does. If Connor isn’t happy, that would be the first thing to fix. They need to play better structurally, and they also need to be able to produce or they will buy out mentally. Which might have happened this season
Totally. And if Connor wants to win and he is still endorsing KK, then there needs to be conversation about this. As we speak there is a coach with a better resume available. No stone should be left unturned. McDavid will have to lie in that bed if he makes it.
I would take Cassidy in a heartbeat.
The Oilers had back to back rookie coaches on a cup contending team.
Pasta wants to win, Draisaitl is one of his best buds. Swayman is leaps and bounds better then the Oilers situation.
Howard, Nurse, Samanski, Jarry, Draft Picks, whatever else they want from the Condors.
Savoie/McDavid/Hyman
Podkolzin/Draisaitl/Pasta
Nuge/Dickinson/Kapanen
Dach/Micheals/Frederic
Ekholm/Bouch
Walman/Murphy
Stastney/Emberson
Regula
Swayman
Ingram
Plan the parade.
This team doesn’t make it past Dallas, let alone Colorado or the Wild.
Nurse isn’t going anywhere, stop using him as a trade piece.
Who wouldn’t want Pastrnak and Swayman? That would be an incredible upgrade.
Swayman’s GSAE/60 (Moneypuck) in the regular season was +0.534, between Wedgewood and Thompson (3rd in the league for all goalies >20 GP).
Last season seemed to be more of an aberration for him and was likely related to the late start/contract dispute.
Swayman, Hyman, Walman – I would love to collect the whole set
Boston would never trade either willingly, much less for a pile of scraps and asking them to eat Jarry and Nurse’s contracts would be more unpalatable.
Should we also trade for Hedman?
We also have Samanski, so that’s good.
So what did you get for Nurse?
Cap space & goal suppression
125 000 in cap space cause he’s in the Bake. Or perhaps his contract prohibits even that.
NMC – prohibits that.
Absolutely nothing,because he blocks any ridiculous trade Oilers fans can drum up.
Nurse is untradable.
This team eeds to look in the mitror and realize what they are. Which is a top heavy team that is at its best whe the rest of the team supports the higher end players. That support is in the form of PK, rough aggressive play, wearing down the other team, and open it up for the big guys to do their thing. Let’s quit pretending here.
There is zero point in bringing on scorers if not gonna get top6/pp time. Otherwise, they come, their confidence plummets, they die on the vine, amd everyone hates on them in playoffs.
With the ice time the big guys take up, why even bother pretending theres interest in 3 scoring lines.
This team needs a bot6 of honey badgers. Basically 2x4th lines because that what the bot6 is anyway. Key qualities are size, speed, aggressiveness and preferably able to PK. Scoring ability not required, but maybe sprinkle it in.
It shouldn’t be that hard to find these hungry players. Look at ANA 4th line as an example. Wallflowers need not apply. Pricks preferred. Short term, show me contracts.
Fredeic does not qualify for the above. Im not sure Dach has the footspeed either.
They cannot have both howard and savoie on this team. Id also like to see walman or nurse gone. Neither have the brains to match their skillset.
I hate looking in the mitror,
Makes me feel old
Organization is in very serious trouble. Really can’t have another offseason of Stan doing Stan things. But expecting 12 mil of ourcap space to go to Dickinson Murphy and Ingram contracts
They really need Savoi, Samanski and one other winger to hit the big time next season. And a return to form for Hyman, RNH and Walman (and to a lesser extent Frederic). The long offseason should help the older & injured guys.
The key there is Walman, in my opinion.
Hyman was great for most of the time he played, he just didn’t play enough.
LT may be mostly proposing the right thing, but that is a recipe for McDavid asking for a trade after next season.
Enough damage has been done to the roster by Jackson and Bowman that passivity and time are not really options in accelerated McDavid time. A bolder higher risk strategy will more likely be pursued. The precise nature of a bolder higher risk strategy is not clear, because one does not know who exactly will be available.
I am not sure a solution in the accelerated McDavid timeframe exists. I think Jackson and Bowman have snookered themselves (and the Oilers and us).
I sense doom.
I disagree wholeheartedly.
What the Oilers lack is a GM who doesn’t give a shit what the fans or media think and is willing to lay his balls on the line & make a trade that’s both controversial and makes the Oilers instantly better.
Loyalty is a massive problem with fans, media and the organization.
Oilers can swing this roster around in a few moves but the backlash and the possibility of the GM upsetting McDavid is making the GM make incremental moves.
McCrimmon and Zito would flip this roster around, so why can’t Oilers GM’s do it?
Is the 2026\27 season now-or-never time for Regula?
Even LT who professes that he likes the prospect doesn’t have Regula as his #7D.
I truly think that Regula can play nightly in the NHL but the problem is where does he play on this team. Whether they re-sign Murphy or not, they have Emberson locked in to 3RD and neither Emberson nor Regula can/should play 2RD. Part of the issue with Regula’s season was trying to to shoe-horn him in to 2RD with a struggling Nurse.
Kyrou would be an interesting winger for McDavid. Hyman would have to flip back to the left side. I think it would work. But the Oilers do not have the assets to get him.
I think the priority for the Blues in a Kyrou trade is a proven mid-twenties middle six centre. Or a top tier prospect centre.
Kyrou for Shane Wright modulo stuff is what I think is going to happen.
The enigmatic Kapanen works with Draisaitl and Podkolzin. I think the enigmatic Kyrou would work with McDavid and Hyman. Kyrou does have elite skill. He can transport the puck, he can pass and play give-n-go and he can shoot, although he never shoots enough.
The Oilers just do not have any assets the Blues would be interested in. It would have to be a three-way deal.
Reports indicate the top priority for the Blues is a young RD with top pairing potential.
David Reinbacher from the Canadiens has been mentioned along with a first round pick.
That is Adam Jiricek. And the Blues have three 1st round draft picks this year.
He might be but still very young.
Hey, wait a minute.
Didn’t we already give them Broberg and Holloway?
I really like LT’s lineup. Leaving room for growth if young players is important.
I’d look at taking some risk on d. If muph is signed him and Ekholm could take some games off. Leaving room for some young growth.
Maybe adding a young d to push the others. Olen zellweger with regula might be fun pair.
Darnell Nurse posted a 70% goal share at 5v5 in the recently terminated series. Bouchard was at 37%. But this playoff performance gets Nurse traded? There’s an argument to be made that he was good. Not certain I would make that argument but Coffey seems to like him. Who is running the forensic audit on this team? Jackson, Bowman, or Coffey? My money is on Coffey and it would not surprise me if Coffey was one who pushed for the Skinner trade.
I have been saying that Nurse may have been the team’s best d-man in the playoffs this year.
Of course, moving him is not based on this year’s playoffs but due to his play over the last number of seasons relative to his cap hit.
Moving him would be very very hard – he has negative value unless retained on and, if he is willing to waive, I figure its to a small handful of teams reducing negotiation power.
It’s tough for me to imagine Owen Michaels anywhere but a full time Condor next season, I believe he’s a Quinn Hutson level older prospect which is really a tweener. I hope he proves me wrong.
I agree with the goaltending, generally, think Ingram at apx $2.5MM is a value deal and Jarry is simply going to be here. I think he’ll be much better but the goaltending as a tandem and overall will go as the skaters in front of them go. Jarry was .909 in Pit and .858 in Edmonton. I think he’s a legit .900 plus tender, as he’s been most years in his career.
Jarry will be here until he gets lit up again, and then he will block the development of the prospect goaltenders in Bakersfield.
Jarry cost Crosby multiple playoff appearances, and he was horrid in a first round exit in 2021.
That last sentence is so very exaggerated its almost not responding to.
I mean, which of those years where Jarry was over league average did he costs the Penguins a playoff spot?
I don’t think they Oilers will “sit out” July 1st but I don’t think there will be substantial adds, even in the $4MM range as we’ve seen the past few years.
I know the likes of Pagnotta says the Oilers will be making big waves this off-season, intimating a Nurse trade, etc., but Bowman said, just yesterday, the team will change a bit but not that much and I am personally fine with that.
This team played average this past season but I do think they are a better than average team – it was a blah year and they will re-set with over 5 months off before their next game.
The team got younger and some young players took big steps and at least one (Howard) will likely do so next year.
Sorry, LT, did I miss the part where you explained how we acquired Jordan Kyrou?
Is Jordon Kyrou worth 8.1M for the next 5 years? Or would this be another bad contract?
Trading Nurse for another bad contract is probably the only way he gets moved.
— I value LTs “opinion” a lot. Often there are tells
— who knows: it’s an interesting situation for the organization: everyone in coaching and management, next season is their nadir IMO
— Only a Cup appearance a vindication of whatever is done and whoever is making those decisions
This might be blasphemy, but if there is a deal out there, I think the GM has to consider moving RNH.
The GM certainly needs a have a firm grasp on what happened to his play as the season wore on
Would you choose Dickinson over RNH as 3C?
Probably. I don’t really trust RNH as a full time centre.
Yes and Dickinson has more bite
The knock on Dickinson is that not only does he not score, he’s rarely even a threat to score. I don’t think RNH would score much as 3C either, but at least he has scoring ability.
I don’t love Nuge at 3C for the whole season/playoffs.
i was thinking the oilers go to free agency with a player type
Mcmann; Marchment; Bunting; then Kane if he has no interst and would go cheap. Dickinson if he is willing for less or Jenner; both been injured lately.
might have to keep Jarry and bring back picks because Ingram might want more ..
At what price would you bring back (my answers in brackets):
-Dickinson (2×2)
-Kapanen (2.5 x 2)
-Murphy (3.75 x 2)
I can’t see Murph taking that the way D salaries are going. This is also probably his last chance to cash.
Agreed.
He’s already cashed in or contract over $17MM and over $20MM and made $43MM in his career.
He’s already mentioned (before the playoffs) that he’s made a ton of cash and, while I don’t think he’s going to take a huge/massive discount to market, I do think he’ll take a bit less to stay.
By bringing back Murphy are you suggesting that the same 6 dmen are back? I don’t think that group of 6 have enough puck moving skills.
I am not sure how I would construct the D. I am just saying, in a vacuum, that is the most I would pay.
I wouldn’t go higher than $3MM for Dickinson and am not even sure $3MM does it, let alone $2MM,
Market for Murphy is probably $5MM plus (look at what Ceci got) but I think he will stay for less, maybe in the $4.5MM range but likely 3-4 years.
If the Oilers want to grab a goalie with one of their late picks, they could do worse than Patriks Plumins.
Who, you are asking?
According to this write-up from Scott Wheeler following the recent World U18’s, he basically carried Latvia to its first ever medal game in that tourney. Plumins was also named the top goalie after putting up a 1.62 GAA and 94.6 SV%. Good size too at 6’3″, 200+ lbs.
Latvians are my favorite goalies
LT do you believe that the lineup that you projected could compete for Lord Stanley’s Cup?
It would depend on the development of Jarventie and you would need one of Stastney/Carfagna to take a step in real time. I don’t know about the goaltending, honestly. I just can’t throw a name out there, though. I don’t see anyone who might both be available and represents a clear upgrade.
I don’t hate that roster for opening night. Would definitely need to add a high end dman before the playoffs.
DiPietro still intrigues me, and Montembeault is probably available.
Neither one is a sure upgrade on what we have but as someone who is not impressed by what we have, I would gamble they will be improvements.
Both are on inexpensive contracts that expire 2027 (UFA).
Montembeault is earning really money, like Jarry.
3.15 vs 5.375. The latter has crossed into a higher tier of pay. If Montembeault rebounds he will make more money but that’s a good problem to have. If Jarry doesn’t rebound it is an anchor.
you still have nice lettuce! Bowman is going to change the goalies, because deck chairs is a real thing in Edmonton.