This is the assumed opening night roster for the Edmonton Oilers in 2015-16 October. Jordan Eberle got hurt, I believe this was the season he sustained a late pre-season injury that kept him out for a few games. Leon Draisaitl would not make the team, but he and Darnell Nurse would be recalled from the Bakersfield Condors soon enough, and the push for Stanley in the McDavid era was underway! Please read this.
The Oilers had some great talent then, have some great talent now. The difference? The current group is aging with very little impact youth coming up behind. Fans can look to a new salary cap number ($104 million at the outer marker) with some hope.
However, we can assume the prices on free agents (and internal pending UFA’s) will be going way up. What is the current state of the cap? PuckPedia breaks it all down for us. Here’s what it looks like currently:
- $16.488 million cap room
- 15 of 23 roster spots filled
- Nine F’s: McDavid, Draisaitl, Hyman, Nuge, Frederic, Podkolzin, Janmark, Samanski, Savoie
- Five D’s: Bouchard, Nurse, Ekholm, Walman, Emberson
- One G: Tristan Jarry
- Four possible Condors: Ike Howard, Quinn Hutson, Viljami Marjala, Damien Carfagna
- One possible Russian: Maxim Berezkin
We can discuss Mattias Janmark making/not making the team, but this gives us a starting point. Maxim Berezkin looks like he’ll be here in the fall, and he can contribute offensively (more pass than shoot). He didn’t post big power-play numbers in the KHL, but he is a big man who can pass the puck. He may have more range than anticipated in this area.
There are five forward slots available. If the Oilers devote those openings to Howard, Berezkin, signing Kasperi Kapanen (at slightly less than Podkolzin), that should hit the cap for an additional $4.5 million or so (estimating Kapanen and Berezkin). The Oilers would need two additional forwards, with a trade for Jordan Kyrou the outer marker and adding Bobby McMann a more humble wish.
Connor Murphy and Spencer Stastney could be signed before free agency, let’s say that costs $6.5 million (I am absolutely uncertain what the new cap number will do for a veteran like Murphy). I’m not sure where this team is headed in net, but if the skater fixes $11 million total, that leaves about $4 million for the second goaltender if Stan Bowman wants to save some money for a player who shakes loose early in the season.
Money isn’t so tight the Oilers can’t make a big move, but the key names might be Howard, Berezkin and Damien Carfagna if the organization moves Nurse. As always, the cap sins of the past limit the future. I would love to see this team trade for Kyrou instead of signing another old free agent.
Edmonton Oilers prospect report: Graduations, exits and who to watch at the end of 2025-26
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7303059/2026/05/24/edmonton-oilers-prospect-report-2025-26/
Thanks LT. The puzzle pieces are starting to take shape…
None of this (what you write about in today’s prospect piece, today’s blog post) happens in a vacuum. I’m interested in comparables.
A few days ago you teased a comparison of Oilers 2015 v Habs 2022, but I’m not (yet) seeing that as a good comparison. Primarily because there is no star on the Habs 2022 roster with the gravitational impact on mgt and owner that McD had on Oilers mgt and owner.
Is the comparable SJS 2024 (Celebrini), CHI 2024 (Bedard), or potentially, TML 2026 (McKenna?) with Oilers 2015? Or Islanders 2025 (Schaefer; they’ve already started the coaching turnstile…)?
I was talking in terms of draft picks being used (Montreal) versus draft picks being dealt (Edmonton). The McDavid pick towers over all, but if the Oilers had used those picks in 2015 imo the last 11 years would have turned out differently. I didn’t address the McDavid absence because that wasn’t the point I was making.
If you wanted to frame it within the McDavid pick you could say:
Thanks LT.
I was trying to remember what Todd Nelson was like when he was here and found an article where Yakupov talks about him. Some great quotes re coaching that are relevant to the Knoblauch era.
I wish we would give Nelson a shot or had at some point. I had forgotten about how it took him like a month to unlock Yak when he had been toiling away under Eakins for a year and a half.
https://edmontonsun.com/2015/03/04/oilers-winger-nail-yakupov-sees-offence-revived-with-centre-derek-roy-head-coach-todd-nelson#
On Eakins era: ”When you don’t have support, and when you’re not feeling any trust from the coach… it’s pretty tough to play the game on the bench,” he said.
“I’m not a bad player, but it’s hard to get your points when you play lower than 10 minutes like I did for one and a half years.
On Nelson: “Now I have support. It’s a different situation, different coach, different guys.”
“Nelly trusts the guys, the lines stay the same. We skate with each other, practise with each other and it’s much easier to do the little things in the game because everyone knows where you have go. Things are a lot better than we had in the past.”
“I’m still pretty young and I hope I’m going to be in this league for a long time. I want to play for the Edmonton Oilers. I want to work hard, especially for the guys who trust me and gave me support — MacT and Nelly — and we have a good group of players on the team.”
That was a wild time. They tossed Nelson for no reason, and didn’t re-sign Derek Roy who came in, scored 22P in 46G which was the third highest rate on the team and he ended up signing in Switzerland. And all that after Krueger unlocked Yakopov before immediately being fired for Eakins
Haha this was another quote from that article:
“I feel amazing now,” grinned Yakupov. “I was waiting for a centre for three years. It’s the first time I’ve had a really good centre and I’m really happy for it”
On Nelson: “He’s helped me a lot. I think he’s the guy who helped me the most.”
and then both are gone the season after. They had two good coaches in Krueger and Nelson and lost them both for no reason.
Bednar jumping ahead of Cassidy in the future bench boss rankings?
Watching the Avs self-destruct would be far more enjoyable if the Vegas Golden A-holes weren’t the beneficiaries. I am wishing for Carolina to get through as I think they have the best chance at stopping them.
100% – I am all for the Avs falling well short of expectations yet again but not like this.
I wanted Vegas out ASAP even before the Cassidy fiasco.
Carolina Vegas would be an awesome series and agree The Canes are the best bet to beat VGK. And I like cheering for Hall.
Vegas timed that dead cat bounce coaching change just right.
President’s Trophy winners going down in flames, in a massive 0-3 deficit now to VGK.
I am going to puke watching Vegas win another Cup.
The return of William Karlsson cannot be overstated as a factor.
He is not only a defensive ace but his insertion in the lineup allowed Vegas to put Mitch Marner on the wing where he belongs.
Marner has to be the leading Conn Smythe Trophy candidate thus far.
All that hyping up Colorado the whole season for nothin, huh.
What happened to Av’s “greatest centre depth in the league”? Karlsson has neutralized them all?
Evan Bouchard with one of the plays of the tournament. Great stick and defensive play on the PK and he proceeds to go end to end and set up ROR for an empty net SH goal.
Bouch end to end on the PK for a brilliant set up to ROR.
Quality NHL players understand he is an incredible D
I can see everyone’s eyes rolling but I’ll say it again… give Nurse a shot on LW. He is a great athlete, durable, can skate and always likes to join the rush. Maybe he can be the power forward we want and still be available for defence duties when injury/age take out Ekholm or Walman. You want Stastny as you 2 LD when injury bites?
Nurse will like hammering opposing D-men through the boards and might even learn a thing or two about how wise forwards exploit D man who are slow to recognize danger.
It worked for Big Buff in Chicago and more recently for Ian Scott in Anaheim. What is the risk?
I’m not on the “flush Nurse” camp. But you want — what — a $9M/year 3rd-line LW’er now?
He probably won’t be worth $9M whether LW or LD but he does have a skill set and I’m doubting that trading will result in team improvement, maybe try redeployment first. Also after you trade Nurse your LD depth disappears. Better hope Ekholm and Walman are good for full season and playoffs without injury. That is unlikely.
I agree. Hate the idea of trading Nurse unless they have a very good replacement for cheaper (that is not easy to find).
Ekholm is 36. Walman is injury prone and inconsistent. I am guessing Oilers management sees the massive risk in trading Nurse.
Just like Dustin buffolin a hybrid player. I cant understand why the league has not pushed this style of players. Look at baseball does it with ontani why doesnt the nhl evolve huh
Why not try him in net? How about just sliding him into the head coaching position?
Holland always had a short roster and was pushed right against the cap leaving us shorthanded all year. Bowman allows cap room to bring up players that are playing well and send players down if they aren’t ready. I’ve brought this up many times but look at Bowman MO in Chicago. Stan had a whole flock of big skilled forwards in the minors and they always received a call-up if they were playing well. Holland never did that if you were a prospect you rotted in Edmonton.
I think this is a huge advantage for bowman over holland. It allows for players to surprise to the good side. Also bowman seems to have an extremely good ability to fill those surprise spots with little or no asset cost.
Also some players show better in the NHL over the AHL or a league overseas. The key now that Bowman gets his own picked coach is too find another 2 forwards 1D man and a goalie from the scrap heap. I like the fact he always gets add-ons that fly under the radar on his trades like Dach-Poulin-Stastny. Even though Jarventie moved on after not getting a fair shake from K.K I still liked the trade. I like the philosophy of bringing in hungry fresh meat to do some heavy lifting during the long regular season. Under Bowman Lavoie-Kesserling would have been handled differently during the critical years of development.
Bowman was right up against the cap this past year and the Oilers did not have near a full roster (and played with 17 skaters at least once) until big contracts went on LTIR opening up room to add multiple league min/ELC deal.
Call-ups came when LTIR allowed for it.
The above is not true as it relates to this past season.
Once they were undermanned with Stan and I believe they were on the road and an injury had happened. Are you saying Bowman and Holland have the same strategy when it comes to the Cap and Prospects?
I don’t believe they had a materially different strategy with cap space – they both started almost every season right up against (if not over) the cap. In Bowman’s first year, he saved some room at the very beginning of the season (even with Kane on LTIR) but at in to it right away. This past season he signed a veteran on opening night (I think it was opening night), in Roslovic.
Amidst all the chatter about Kyrou there is also plenty of speculation the Blues and Sharks might work out a trade that sees the Blues move up to 2nd in the draft.
Apparently STL is very interested in Ivar Stenburg, the brother of Otto who the Blues drafted 25th overall in 2023.
The Blues have 3 – 1st round picks in the draft…#11, #15 and the Colorado pick wherever that lands near the bottom of the first round.
Along with Kyrou, names mentioned are RD Adam Jiricek, RD Colton Parayko, Jimmy Snuggerud and, of course, some or all of those STL picks.
The Sharks could still pick a RD like Daxon Rudolph or Ryan Lin at #11 while adding Kyrou and whomever they might draft at #15 and #28 – #32.
Acquiring a veteran like Parayko might change the dynamics but the Sharks could use his veteran presence on a young blue line and would seem to be a savvy move for STL as they compete their re-load.
—————-
“Yes, we would — we can use the picks, we can use prospects, we can use players,” Armstrong said in March. “We’ll give it our best chance. But you also have to have someone that wants to move out of that pick, and that’s where the fly in the ointment sometimes comes in.”
The potential trade partner that sticks out is the San Jose Sharks, who have the No. 2 pick. Pronman has Gavin McKenna as the No. 1 prospect in this year’s draft and Ivar Stenberg, the younger brother of the Blues’ Otto Stenberg, as No. 2.
“I’m always open to listening to what’s out there,” Sharks general manager Mike Grier told reporters after the NHL Draft Lottery on May 5.”
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7273223/2026/05/18/st-louis-blues-2026-nhl-draft-trades-sharks-jets/
So. LA, Vancouver, Dallas…. Is St. Louis your team now?
Pretty certain, DDF’s favourite song is “Jump Around”.
The Blues are the team of interest in the summer. Three 1st round draft picks. And players potentially available to trade at all the key positions of interest. Binnington in goal. Parayko at D. Kyrou at RW. And Thomas at C.
The price of Thomas is astronomical. They will accept offers too good to refuse for Binnington and Parayko. Kyrou is who they really want to trade, but they are not going to give him away.
Buchnevich would also be available, but nobody is really asking for him.
And San Jose has exactly what they seem to want.
Some people have the capacity to focus on more than one thing.
That’s amazing. You literally build a catalogue of the top ten teams and trace their every move, using this fluctuating pool as an anchor to which you compare the Oilers to on a daily basis on a fan blog comments section.
If they can get a competent goalie for 3 million (Ingram) then sign McMann at 4mill x 5 and Marchment at 5 mill x 4. That leaves room for Dach, Howard, Stastney and Regula/Carfagna to fill out the roster. I’d be ok starting the year like that and look for an upgrade on defense at the deadline
Savoie McDavid Hyman
Howard Draisaitl Podz
Marchment RNH McMann
Dach Samanski Frederic
Janmark
Ekholm Bouchard
Nurse Walman
Stastney Emberson
Regula
Ingram
Jarry
Those bottom two lines could wreak havoc out there and still have the chops to score some goals. Would make the team way more miserable to play against which was sorely lacking this past season.
Nah, they’re going to want to get the D & goaltending sorted out ASAP .
I’m worried those salaries for McMann and Marchment will be $6 and $7 respectively, soaring cap and desperate teams in a poor UFA market.
Hope I’m wrong!
Walman doesn’t do well on his off side
He has in the past though – with SJ and in the 2024 playoffs.
Not this past season.
I don’t think Walman was healthy for much of the year and his play showed it. Jake is a much better D than the one we saw last year.
100%
Walman and klingberg played the most minutes together of all D pairings oilers played in 2024 playoffs…..pretty sure he wasn’t playing the rught side in majority of his minutes
Your are right.
It was last season where he played 150 minutes with Nurse and they crushed it – CRUSHED it!
For starters I see Bowman re-signing Murphy, Dickinson & Dach. All three want to be Oilers, all three have personality, all three are functional within the roster, all three are good in the room. That in itself boosts the number of forwards to 11 & the defense now sits with 6. Janmark will be surgically repaired and in a contract year, I’m thinking he will be much improved making an impact defensively and on the PK, I really don’t think Kapanen will be back. Howard & Berezkin will add to a loaded forward group especially if they go after either of Kyrou or McMann but I think they will be more focused on moving out at least one of three mallard contracts (Nurse, Jarry, Frederic) and looking to upgrading the blueline, and also the goaltending, which could go a long way to improving the PK. I guess the new coach will be pivotal moving forward. I really can’t see Bowman screwing this up.
Kapanen looked very good in the playoffs with Drai and Pod. He will be cheaper than Dickinson who doesn’t bring any offence and is blocking Samanski
I see Dickinson replacing Rico & Samanski as the regular 4c. Plus I can see Janmark who is also a playoff performer replacing Kapanen.
Howard & Berezkin are going to be in the rotation too. I don’t see a Kyrou or McMann coming to Edmonton either. Their forwards are good it’s the D & goaltending that needs revamping.
.
Kapanen is not a top 6 player, he shows up in spurts. His first full season in the NHL he scored 20 goals and had 44 points. He has 13 goals and 30 points in 98 games across 2 seasons.
He is a more useful Ty Rattie or Brendan Perlini. This team needs proven scoring wingers for the top 6, like McMann (with 97 & Savoie) and Marchment (with 29 & Hyman).
Kappy showed up more than others did this playoffs, good for him, I hope he gets a nice contract somewhere else because of it. If this team wants to do better, they need to get more productive wingers for their 2 elite centers.
When has this franchise ever done this?
I think its going to be a much quieter off-season, in particular if they get their coach.
You could be right on the re-signs but I think Dickinson will price himself out – its tough to go over $3MM given his lack of production in recent year.
I think Kap is a good fit here and they will try and work something out – I think Kap has matured as a player over the last year and likely off the ice with being a father – hopefully he realizes the fit here is worth foregoing an extra $500K-$750K in free agency.
I don’t see them acquiring an $8MM player like Kyrou and I don’t see them signing a player for $6MM plus (Bobby M.).
Part of that is because I don’t see them trading any of those contracts: Nurse, Jarry or Frederic.
There’s a need for Dickinson he’s a great fit at 3c. If they can get both Dickinson & Murphy for 2 x $4M or less they’ll be good.
Is he a great fit or is he a defensive specialist? His offence has been non-existent for a while – can we pay $4MM for 4 years for further regression years?
Kapanen _is_ the cheap depth you’re looking for.
So long as he stays cheap.
I wouldn’t be all that high on Berezkin playing on the NHL squad
Maybe mid season if all goes well, but very unlikely to start the season.
How many times have we seen this with players who haven’t played in the N. American game.
It’s real don’t count on him, He’ll need time
Reports have his foot speed as good, and he has played well over the past three seasons. If the Oilers had a Corey Perry or a Dylan Holloway, I could see it. We need to keep in mind what Berezkin is: big, strong, a hitter, a winner of corner battles and a fine passer. That’s a lot.
He sounds like Podkolzin!
Having Podz to help out with his adjustment to the NHL will be enormous. Podz skill coach could also be a factor.
Podz 2.0 would be a helluva find.
Bowman likes his forwards big and skilled. The going after Connor-Leon days will be less this year as we add some skilled muscle to our forward group. Last year the opposition dictated the flow of the game. Stan obviously recognized this and it’s not going to happen this year.
I’m not sure everyone is acknowledging that this is a drafted player with pedigree, not an undrafted free agent mid-career.
Oh my, Stastney is a no-brainer re-sign but his QO is apx $866K and I can see him getting around $1MM-$1.15MM if he gives 2 years.
I don’t think Murphy will need anything close to $5.5MM and I wouldn’t go there. MAYBE he can get that on the market but I think he will sign in the $4.5MM range. He’s talked, more than once, about wanting to re-sign here and noting that money is not primary for him as he’s already made oodles more than he could possibly have imagined in his career.
Murphy is the one I think gives the Oilers are slight discount to market.
—————
Is there any $4MM goalie that is anything close to a sure thing? Most goalies, other than the elite 4-6 goalies, can swing wildly from season to season (and even elite goalies can have meh seasons if their team in front isn’t good).
Jarry will be as good as any $4MM goalie acquired if the team plays with the required structure in front of him. Add Cossa as 1B and lets go.
The problem in estimating Murphy is we are looking through the old lens. The cap increase doesn’t change everything but it does change some things.
I don’t disagree but I anticipate a discount to market for the Oilers from Murphy – based off his words.
An upgrade on Stastney would be nice.
He can defend but doesn’t move the puck well.
Murphys poor puck moving and poor skating is two very good reasons to not sign him. His ability to defend (break cycles and block shots and clear the net) are reasons to sign him.
I value puck moving more so I wouldn’t be in favour of signing especially if paired with nurse.
Fair but, at the end of the day, I value outscoring and he helped in that regard in the regular season and in the playoffs – add on his PK and I think his offence is a bit under-rated – he killed us in the playoffs back in 2020 and produced a bit this playoffs.
Desharnais! Though he will be more expensive
Stastney is probably better.
Stastney is a #7D at best. He is the bar the Bakersfield guys have to jump over. It should not be too hard.
He comes in battling Regula for 7D (at this point, presuming Murphy signed and no-one moved out, which I think is the most likely scenario on D) – I’m fine with that.
I love this!
”money is not primary for him as he’s already made oodles more than he could possibly have imagined in his career.”
On the topic of a Jarry & Cossa 1A/1B tandem, I am concerned about bringing in a 23 year old goalie with 1 NHL game of experience to be mentored by a goalie coming off the worse statistical season an Oiler goalie has had in a long time. Jarry will be looking to have a bounce back year but he is getting older. We are hoping a new coaching team will bring about better structure in front of both of them. Every scenario is risky as you mentioned, but I am more concerned with an inexperienced goalie being rushed (again) and not being able to give him the support he needs should things continue to go sideways with Jarry.
Very fair, and I don’t disagree vis-a-vis the risk but, as we all acknowledge, there is no reasonable goalie add that doesn’t come with a real degree of risk. I the team plays similar to how they did this past season, only Sorokin and a couple others could shine it up enough.
They could add UPL and he will likely suck behind that structure.
I swing for the low acquisition cost and low cap hit and a player that has not had the struggles at the NHL level yet – I mean, we KNOW that UPL and can crap, we KNOW that Merzlikins can be crap, etc., etc.
I’m looking at the long term also. You want to bring in a rookie goalie and be able to support him so he can become the goalie of the future. It’s not just a risk to the team, it’s also a risk to a young goalie’s confidence if things don’t work out. We’ll see how it plays out.
I would suggest Howard is a lock, both based on pedigree, great development and readiness, clear spot (Roslovic replacement), value contract and, of course, words of the general manager at the end of the season.
Berezkin will likely be here in camp and, while I would not pencil him in to the opening night lineup, he’s a real prospect with a clear chance to be plug and play in the middle six. He is a bit of a wild-card as he may just not be an NHL player but there is a real chance here.
Berezkin will almost assuredly by at
I think they re-sign Kap unless the player asks for too much for too long. I think he wants to stay, he’s married, he has a new kid, he fits with this team, he’s playing his best hockey in years, etc., etc. Keeping the to $2.25MM or under for 3 years max (prefer 2) would be great.
I don’t imagine Hutson on the team and I think Carfagna has a chance but likely a call-up option.
Lets not discount a Regula but he can’t play above 3RD and that’s Emberson right now and he can’t play 2RD yet, I don’t think.
Trade Jarry for Kotkaneimi. Both teams buyout the players in June.
The actual buyout cost of Jarry is less than $2 million
The actual buyout cost of Kotkaneimi is just less than $7 million.
Cap saving buying out Kotkaneimi is around $4 million.
Cap saving buying out Jarry is around $1 million. But Jarry’s cap hit is roughing equivalent to what Kotkaneimi’s currently is if Kotkaneimi was not bought out.
The Oilers gain $4 million in cap space, and the cost in actual dollars is just under $7 million.
The Canes cap situation is basically unaffected for the next two years, but the actual cost in dollars is under $2 million.
The Canes save $5 million actual dollars doing this (buyout out Jarry vs buying out Kotkaniemi. They are not particularly cap constrained in the next two years.
There must be other players in the league in need of a buyout where there would be actual financial advantage in actual dollars for the other team to buyout Jarry with the Oilers buying out their player, but with the cap advantage of the buyout shifting to the OIlers.
My bad.
The Puckpedia buyout calculator is misleading. It is not include the signing bonuses in the total buyout payout.
There is $5.5 million in signing bonuses still due to Jarry, so dollar wise it is actually a wash in actual dollars from the Carolina perspective.
How about playing better structure in front of Jarry and have him provide .900+ tending, as he is apt to do?
For all the hoohah about his salary, this costs the team nothing and gets them a good-enough goalie. We may, if he builds the confidence, get to see a goalie who is actually better than good-enough. I’m hoping team leadership sees this as a priority and plays accordingly.
You are willing to bet McDavid’s future on Tristan Jarry’s performance? Okay.
Posted this morning on other thread but player i think i woukd be targettimg for a 3 year deal in thst range would be anthoby mantha.
Guy is a high danger scoring beast.
Like highest 5×5 HD GOAL total of his career was 32 between WSH and VGK…with 8 of those comimg in 18 games he played with VGK after deadline.
He appears a bit high shooting percentage last year but same token he was buck up to near career high as far as HDCF by natural stat. Which mskes sense as he was back complimenting high end elite top 6 centers.
I’ve thought he seemed like a good fit for awhile now and he just is bouncing around.
Like huge
6’4″ 240 lbs
Plus skating max 22.86 mph last year (70th peecentile 20-22 mph bursts)
Comfortable playing either wing (left handed) last year by shot map looks likely he was lining up on left but like heavy high danger chances
Plus plus plus level shot speed
Last 4 seasons his rates 5v5
2.9 GF/60
2.45 GA/60
54% GF/70
54% xGF/60
56.5% HDCF
50% OZS (mainly on the fly not starting in defensive end.
Got paid 2.85 mil x1 yr by pitt. This contract made me scratch my head at magnispane and frederic’s honestly. But fair enough as he missed most of cslgary season and had ACL surgery but
If gettable -> I’d put him on mcdavids LW with hyman (or maybr savoie depending which one makes a 3rd line that is decent) in a soft as ice as you can tilted offensively but his speed did not drop from before to after like beast that can wheel.
— by the way I’m kind of in your boat in terms of this being the last year I’m all in from your post yesterday.
— Partly because still have shrapnel as a little kid when Gretz was sold and 12 months from now without a cup it’s going to awful IMO
— if there wasn’t lowetide and this community I’d have tapped out years ago ….
— after the lock out and then having moved to the UK for 5 years hockey was out of my system. I can’t remember how/when I discovered this great community. It allows me to be a “grown up fan) and heel it up when it’s my prerogative to do so …
I generally like the mantha target but only as a Roslavic type signing. 1.5 mil one year.
I don’t believe the oilers need to chase any players. I prefer the route of finding depressed assets through trade or signing.
LT example of kyrou.
For me the oil have the best vets in the league in their prime I think surrounding them with youth is the way to go. Then fill in gaps at the deadline.
Players like kyrou with prime years left or players that are blocked or depressed or unknown. Kesslering, zellweger, Laba.
He had 33 goals and 64 points last season, he could get quadruple your amount.
No doubt he will. I wouldn’t want the oilers to pay it.
His contract this year was basically a “show me” contract coming back from surgery and he certainly had a great regular season with the Pens, and was their nomination for the Masterton. Not sure what happened in the playoffs but he did not score (he wasn’t alone in that) and now has a history of 20 playoff games with no goals and 7 assists which is disappointing. His contract demands may be too pricy for the Oilers (expected $25.5m over 4 years per AFP Analytics). Anthony Mantha expected to test NHL free agency after posting a career-high 33 goals with Penguins | RMNB
Yeah. I just think he’s one of more interesting/higher potential right type of fit for our top 6 that very well might not get higher end dollars or many offers with any real term.
He was fun to watch in the Pens games I saw. He was also noticeable and a lot was made about his bounce back year, so I think he will probably cash in on July 1st with a 3-4 year deal. I agree he would be a good fit.
I’ll admit i’ve wanted him for awhile. Intriguing player. That big with speed and acoring touch.
Berezkin panning out as a top 9 forward would be a great development. Him, Howard and Samanski could all be value deals filling important holes on the roster for cheap. I have a feeling if we are going to spend somewhere, it is likely to try and get a decent 2RD.
— based on Oiler precedent : Tomasak says hi most recently, it’s prudent to assign next to nil to him playing the NHL
— it’s just not the oilers way. Moreover he’s likely nowhere near a NHL player. It just doesn’t happen
(What Gordoil said above : lol!). Don’t fall in love with shiny new things requiring lots of projecting and way long historical precedent against.
Berezkin is a better skater and a better all-around hockey player than Tomasek. They are not comparables, other than they are both RHS forwards from Europe who aren’t high-end skaters. Tomasek needs time and space, Berezkin creates his own.
Much of Tomasek’s scoring totals are generated from the periphery. He tried to be a net front player in the NHL, but that was a square peg, round hole situation. He was not a good fit for this team and the experienced hockey minds should have recognized that before the signing.
— I rarely eat hats. They dont taste good. Also embarrassing
— quite confident my hat collection safe.
— else he pots 15 and is a meaningful middle 6
I see him starting on the 4th line with the potential to work his way up. I don’t see him as 15 goal scorer in his first season, as I don’t expect he will see a lot of minutes or time with the elites. I do think 10 is could plausible if he plays 70 games and averages 10 minutes or more.
He is much more of playmaker and a grinder and this could work well on a 4th line as he gets his feet wet in North America.
He very well could “not be an NHL player” in the realm of Tomasek but:
1) Berezkin does have higher pedigree as a drafted player;
2) Berezkin has had some real success in a very good league that’s tough to produce in (KHL is a better and tougher to score league than either the SHL or the Czech league)
3) Berezkin is 24, not pushing 30.
This is not an undrafted free agent – this was a draft and wait player.
Do you think that’s Murphy?
Not sure there is much out there available. Kesselring perhaps.
I’m aware I’m sailing the high winds alone on my blue barrel raft but I’m doing what I must to trade Nurse in a package for Pasta before I’m entertaining Kyrou.
So, adding McDavid or Drai to the package?
Username checks out
— Looking at list : Nuge Drai McD as Cs Bouch Nurse on D as total seems light in terms of # draft and development players.
— Can’t argue McDrai not foundational
— I suppose you could argue Savoie so that’s 6 on roster that grew up an Oiler.
— I don’t know. Roster next year needs to be priced to perfection when you look at this.
— where are our value contracts (who tend to be guys that draft and develop under control)?
McDavid is a value deal, so that helps enormously. I think Podkolzin qualifies, Savoie, Emberson. Need more, but Howard should be one, and there will be an opportunity to grab a Jack Roslovic late in free agency (there is every year).
Value contracts for next season:
McDavid
Hyman
Podz
Savoie
Howard
Bouchard
Ekholm
Emberson
I would argue that each of Jones and, in particular, Dach will have a chance to outperform their contracts (Jones may not sign with the Oilers though) and Berezkin a total wild card.