History tells us general managers put a high value on assets personally acquired. So, when we populate the Oilers roster for 2026-27, it’s important to start with the ultimate trio (we’ll call them Nirvana) and then the group of players acquired by Stan Bowman with a good chance to play in the 2026-27 Oilers. I’m including Matt Savoie with Nirvana, because even though Bowman didn’t acquire him,, he is part of the foundation. Let’s call him Pat Smear.
So, we have 67 percent of the forwards, 57 percent of the defense and 50 percent of the goaltending covered. Next we need to add in those men who own full no-movement clauses and are unlikely to move this summer.
Now we have the roster coming together, leaving out Darnell Nurse (now actively in trade rumours) and Mattias Janmark (who may be on the outside this fall). Before we make trades or sign outside free agents, let’s add in two internal UFA’s worth keeping:
With Kapanen and Murpy signed, we are close to the opening night lineup, lacking only a right winger on the soft minutes line, a third-pairing defenseman and a backup goalie. Let’s go ahead and fill in the rest.
Here we see the Oilers land Jordan Kyrou for the third line (he could play higher but I like him crushing the soft parade); Ryan Shea joining the team and giving the third pairing a veteran to rely on (Brett Kulak is also an option, no idea if he would be interested in returning, so I went with Shea). I went with DiPietro as the backup goaltender because he would cost less and the cap relief would be necessary.
Bottom line: If Bowman has full control of the throttle, expect only a few new names on the roster this fall. The loud noises are there (Nurse out, Kyrou in) but the heavy work will come one year from now.
On the Lowdown today, Bagged Milk from Oilers Nation and Lou Korac (who covers the St. Louis Blues for NHL.com) will be our feature guests. Plenty of Oilers and Elks talk, we’ll preview the SCF too. Noon to 2pm, Sports 1440 and You Tube.
Absolutely no disrespect, but LeBrun wrote a couple of days ago straight from Moldaver (agent for both McDavid and Matthews) that neither of McDavid or Matthews had yet committed to stay for next year. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ You could see this massive front office movement as a reaction to that. I certainly welcome the major expansion to the analytics crew (and the gentle reassignment of Ken Holland people). It feels a lot like something you CAN do, in the moment, to show McDavid you’re doing something. But really there were a lot of good moves, today. Parkatti got bumped up and given a real analytics crew. Kalle Larsson’s influence has been huge and positive, and it’s good he’s been bumped up.
Connor is under contract 2 more seasons. He can request a trade but that would not happen quickly given the gravity and Bowman not being under immediate duress
If things normalize next season, as they should, it will be different. The coach they mildly complained about is gone. Despite criticisms Bowman has balanced the roster better we’ll see who he can keep. Expansion of off ice personnel. His contract to me was more about creating some breathing space and allowing Leon to get paid after being on a value contract for years
The Avs getting swept really puts perspective on things and should lower the temperature for the players. Crap happens, it sucks, but it happens
That Lindgren hit was one of the worst in a long time. You can see him crouch down, then launch upwards towards an oblivious Bouchard who had already watched the puck advance along the wall. It was predatory like the worst of Matt Cooke. It wasn’t one of those things that happen at high speed and can’t be helped. There was obvious forethought and follow through.
Where are the Habs fans tonight it appears that getting a couple of shots a period might work against Tampa-Buffalo not so much against Caroline. There’s only one other way to beat the Canes possession pressure besides your goalie standing on his head and that is Physicality.
So, I got bored and found out something….interesting?
I wanted to know what it would cost to have the 2024 Oilers that played in the playoffs on a team next year.
RNH-5.125 McD-12.5 Hyman-5.5
Holloway-7.75 Drai-14.0
Foegele-3.5 McLeod-5.0 Brown 3.0
Janmark-1.45 Carrick-1.0
Ekholm-4.0 Bouchard-10.5
Nurse-9.25 Ceci-4.5
Broberg-8.0
No Goalies
7-UFAs (Kane, Perry, Henrique, Kulak, Desharnais, Skinner, Pickard) 1-retired (Ryan)
Total (10/5/0) – $97,675,000 (includes $2.6M dead cap) $6,375,000 in cap space.
I’m curious where this ends up after this summer’s UFA signings but it’s interesting to note how almost but not quite cap compliant it could be.
Bowman was on with Bob tonight – he didn’t sound particularly alarmed about Bouch when asked and said he’d been in contact with him.
Bowman was on Oilers Now – lots of talk on the management stuff. Some good info on the people and the thoughts being the moves. Lots of info on their analytics.
Hockey Canada was in touch as soon as the hit happened and Bowman has also been texting with Bouch. He’s injured but Bowman says he is doing well – they are glad it’s May.
Seem like great moves. he pointed out that all the assistant GMs have run a team before. Salmelainen was GM of a Liiga team. Hill the Oil Kings, and Larsson Dubuque in the USHL.
all are pretty young too – Hill is 38, Salmelainen is 41, and Larsson is 44. Good to mix in some younger guys with current management.
I believe having a European based AGM is unique (Stauff thinks so) and I like the proactiveness of the org on this.
Sounds like Kalle Larsson is coveted around the league and promotion him and keeping him in the org is huge.
I hope they sign Maxim Berezkin in the next couple of weeks. What kind of contract will he be offered?
Can’t sign him until June 1.
He is subject to the ELC and I detailed those for one in response to you asking this question last week. Do you not check for responses when you ask questions that people take the time to answer?
Salmelainen lives in Finland?
And our hearts.
There’s various reported happy talk about Bowman saying he’s ‘doing well.” No one has a clue how he’s doing. The dude just (apparently, because no injuries are ever acknowledged by NHL teams) got concussed in game one of the Anaheim series (Bowman denied it, but, well, so what), then got literally knocked out/concussed at the worlds. Obviously I hope this won’t affect his career, but there was no positive in what Bowman said. It was basically “Surely he’ll have recovered by training camp.” Ask Marc Savard about how that can turn out. Again, I hope Bouchard can “walk it off.” That was one of the dirtiest hits I’ve ever seen in international hockey, and I wish there were NHL consequences for Lindgren.
I’ve been on edge all day since seeing that Bouchard hit. Concussion’s are a game changer, yes it’s a good thing it’s summer, but depending on the severity, he may need much longer.
I had to google Ryan Lindgren. I rarely criticize someone’s looks, but his team pictures lead to believe he may not be right in the head.
Luckily he is in our division for the next three years and most of the games against Seattle are blowouts so he will get his fair share of retribution
Well hopefully we have a head coach that believes in retribution because it didn’t happen under K.K. I’m sick of seeing Connor-Leon get mauled it’s time to hire a coach that isn’t afraid of his own shadow. It’s time we started fighting back no more allowing Connor to protect Leon and vice-versa. There’s a list of players that would kill for that job they just need a coach that will back them.
What if Colorado is having second thoughts and offered Necas for Nurse?
That is intriguing.
i.e. Probably something like Necas for Nurse and Howard.
Like Necas, but that cap hit is too high. All contracts other than the big 3 have to be lower
I like Necas and would say 100 points this season makes him worth the cap hit but I can’t quite figure out what series of events would make Colorado think Rantanen wasn’t worth 12M but Necas is worth 11.5M?
Ego
Cap wrangling.
Rantanen signed an extension that kicked in a year before Necas did and of course the cap jumped.
The AVs needed cap space to make changes at centre.
Necas is also almost 3 years younger than Rantanen so has a longer runway.
Gino D’Acampo
The management changes have been announced. To noone’s surprise, Kalle Larsson has been promoted to AGM – player development an innovation.
Parkatti now Vice President, Analytics and Technology.
They’ve added Kirt Hill to the org as AGM, player procurement. He was POHO and GM of the Oil Kings.
Eight total promotions
How come you didn’t get promoted?
Don’t want to take the payout.
If Dallas Eakins has taught us anything, it’s that you can’t put a price on ‘chopping wood and carrying water.’
I wonder whose slogan that was before Eakins took ownership of it. It does kinda sound like a German saying. Didn’t Eakins meet with some NFL or NBA guru about the banning of doughnuts for everyone including the press.
Retention. Everyone gets a title and raises. I like it, but are they going to invest in a leading goalie department?
Bowman said yesterday’s announcement was 2-years in the making.
About half the teams in the league don’t have full goalie departments, the Oilers among them. I presume that is something they are working on but that is just a presumption.
On another note, bring back Corey Perry! 🙂
Debrusk* McDavid Savoie
Podkolzin Drai Kapanen
Howard RNH Hyman
Frederic Samanski Perry
Dach Berezkhin
*provided he can be acquired without many assets
Not a fan of DeBrusk. He’s scored at replacement level at 5v5 for the past 3 seasons, at this point he’s a net-front PP specialist that would have value to a team needing help in that area, however the Oilers don’t.
I agree.
DeBrusk scored 4 even-strength goals last season, which is the same number of even-strength goals Frederic scored last season.
IMO, the only circumstance where it would make sense for Edmonton to acquire DeBrusk would be if Frederic was going the other way.
DeBrusk is jalapeño, the Oilers need Ghost Peppers
i imagine he’d accept league minimum – would love to have him back
Perry is a free agent.
We all like Perry but he’s done for contenders. Did nothing these playoffs. A young team could use his leadership and maybe flip him at the deadline so he can have one last shot
May not be what others are focusing on, but the draft is coming up and I’ve been digging and found a few names I’m hoping EDM finds a way to grab.
RW Jonah Sivertson: big body but not yet filled out, excellent hockey IQ, great puck control and scores in many different ways; weakness is skating, though it improved a fair deal this year; Mark Stone-like. Very late birthday. Ranked between 56 and 91.
RD Luke Schairer: big, excellent skating puck moving D; lack of elite offensive tools but a very projectible two-way skillset. Ranked between 57 and 97.
LC Jean-Cristoph Lemieux: extremely high motor, feisty and some skill to go along with it; Pageau-like skillset. Late birthday. Ranked between 67 and 103 (could see him drop).
Also wouldn’t mind names like Beckett Hamilton (C/RW), Adam Goljer (RD), or a late round flier on someone like Louis-Felix Bourque (RW/C). Throw in a goalie like Henriquez, Trejbal, Sklenička or Ruzicka (though I know nothing about goalies…) and I’d be happy with the draft!
Parkatti promoted to VP by oilers
All the operational updates
It’s interesting that, while Kelly McCrimmon publicly stated that he takes to Cassidy and he understands, Cassidy said the situation is “very upsetting” – he wants to talk to the teams that have reached out and he wants to work. He’s a coach and he wants to get to work.
He U.S. free to resign atcany time.
However, he said today that would mean Vegas could and would stop paying him
Perhaps it’s time to bet on himself.
He has a no compete that stops him from working for anyone else regardless if he resigns or not, or else it would of already been done.
Wrong again….big surprise.
This has been discussed so many times. Cassidy has a non-compete that prevents him from working even if he quits.
I don’t think that has been explicitly confirmed. No one here has seen his contract.
Yes, he can but it does not voice the non-compete clause and all he’d be doing is giving up the money and he still wouldn’t be able to coach in the NHL without Vegas’ permission.
This has be known and this was expressed directly by Cassidy today.
Its impossible you didn’t know this and are now just ignoring facts and lying.
Asking a guy to give up millions in salary (as suggested elsewhere) in an unprecedented situation, just so he can keep working in his chosen profession is pretty low. Vegas really needs to clarify why they feel ethically justified in taking this route (to the league, not to the public). Personally, if I’m Bettmann, I hate this sideshow happening around one of the finalists for the SCF, and want it over immediately.
He could give up the millions and he still wouldn’t be able to work in the league at this time.
It could it be he had some choice words for the boss after he was fired? Some folks hold grudges.
McCrimmon publicly stating that he thinks the Oilers are the leak.
Saw that. Anyone who believes that let me know…I have some swampland in the Florida Everglades to sell you.
When did he state that?
Oh, I see now, on Overdrive – thanks.
With Vegas so easily in the final and mcCrimmon looking like genius has me believing that he’s enjoying this whole scenario.
Seravelli doubling down and backing up his previous reporting on Bouch saying he knows with 100% certainty that he had concussion like symptoms at the very least.
Perhaps Frank should worry less about clicks when he’s implying the Oilers medical team doesn’t follow protocols.
Frank is reporting what he has been told and, in this case, from what he knows.
I am certain he’s not making this stuff up nor reporting it without surety of course.
Of note, Stauffer essentially confirmed with his express lack of deconfirmation.
I know you are just passing along what they discussed/reported. I am coming at this from the medical team’s perspective. An NHL team’s medical professionals all have certifications and designations and are held to high standards by not only the league, but their governing bodies (such as CATA for the Athletic Therapists), especially when it comes to concussion protocols. A player playing with a concussion, or returning too early from a concussion is putting their long term health at risk, and the medical team is responsible for that.
When members of the media start & keep putting stuff like that out there, even when the GM was asked and denied it, they are not considering the player, or the impact on other players, agents, the NHLPA etc., who may become wary of how well the Oilers take care of their players. They are also not considering the potential impact on the team’s medical staff when it is insinuated they knowingly allowed a player to play with a concussion.
Yes, all of this is true but its not the media’s job to consider those things and, in fact, its their job to report on the information.
What has been gained from the “information”?
Again, that’s not Frank’s job – his job is to do exactly what he did, report.
True, super glib comment, but true.
Claude Lemieux passes away at age 60.
Ooh my he was the definition of playoff player willing to do anything to win.
Just carried the torch recently. Yikes.
Geez, he just carried the torch in at the game a few days ago.
At least the fans got to say goodbye even without knowing it.
That is very sad ….
Aw man. One of my favorites. I thought he looked hale carrying the torch…
R.I.P.
RIP – ferocious competitor on the ice; gentleman off the ice.
Gone too soon.
Issac Howard is on this team unless traded and I think the chances of him traded are low as he has more value to the Oilers as a ready top six complimentary scorer on an ELC for two years than we would have in a trade.
He is ready to be part of the now and part of the future – Nuge and Hyman are aging in real time. At $5MM cap hits, they will hold value in the current cap era but will have reduced roles in offensive situations as the years go on.
Of note, Howard looked good today in depth mins but was out there with Tkachuk in the last couple mins when the US was down just 2 goals.
I’d say that Howard falls squarely into LT’s acquired by Stan category and is quite unlikely to be traded (aside from his obvious value). The Oilers in 2025-26 were 16Gs from the #1 spot so it’s reasonable to expect that Howard, Kapanen and better health will allow them to score relatively the same amount of goals.
If the cost of Kyrou is “Howard or nothing”, they may go in that direction but I’d suggest the team is better with Howard ready as a call-up than with whomever in the AHL is “next up” and they will not move him.
He was acquired by Jackson before Bowman was hired. I think the trade went down in early July.
of course Kyrou is “better than” Howard today but he’s not superstar and I think his name value is greater than his recent impact and he costs about 8 times as much on the cap.
It doesn’t make sense to acquire Kyrou. Even if Connor leaves they have a team to run with two elites on it. Kyrou is no different than Howard in style. He will likely decline soon, may be already, years left on 8M
If you move Nurse you deepen the roster not find another big cap hit. In one season he can be moved for sure
Howard has value his age-contract USA passport-Hobey Baker trophy along with his above average shooting abilities should have Eastern teams interested. If I had a weak PP Howard is the catch of the summer. Howard can be used to fetch a 2-way menace that’s a centre-winger that is good 5–5 while bringing ingredients we don’t have. If the plan is to staple Howard to the 4th line playing with Dach and Clattenburg who I know will open up ice for Ike but they will get all the garbage minutes. I don’t see Howard in the top 6 with the emergence of Savoie. My Iceman sweater will be placed in the closet after he’s dealt this summer.
So you want to trade him for Sam O’Reilly?
Yes I do think O’Reilly will be playing meaningful minutes for Tampa after Christmas at a position we’ve been chasing since Stoll.
Yeah – I want nothing to do with Kyrou or the acquisition cost to get him.
This is Stauffer’s recent man crush. No idea why the Oilers would even consider it.
I hope it’s not a real thing. Howard may have some growing pains, but Kyrou might be close to decline. I wonder if he has been injured so last season was off – to be avoided
So if you have both players equal opportunity, is Kyrou that much more productive. I bet by season’s end not much. SB needs to purge the org of the win now mind virus. Use the best most cap efficient players you can find. The Oilers haven’t on-boarded many outside players well in a while, what could possibly go wrong?
Bowman is not dealing with St.Louis after they did the unthinkable and offer sheeted 2 of our youngsters.
If Kyrou is done at 27, what is your prognosis for a 31 year old Draisaitl at a cap hit of $6 million more?
The contract between Kyrou-Howard is over 7 million difference for at least the next 2 years. Oilers aren’t going to change the PP personal the trading of Howard needs to be for a scruffy 5 on 5er that kills penalties and is on a value contract himself.
Oh this is fun. I love apples vs oranges. Next compare a 31 year old Jaromir Jagr to a 27 year old Jason Spezza!
This is why I don’t block your posts. The random nonsense posts and comparisons can only come from your unique mind. It was a joy reading this.
He’s 28 and ‘approaching’ an age where regular players can start decline. And he’s a decent not great top 6 who made his name as a scorer. A perimeter scorer who fell off last season
Drai is not a good comparable. When you have a scorer in house for cheap with as much or more talent, where’s the benefit now and ahead? The Blues are trying to sell high and upgrade their 2nd they used on him
Which by the way is what they should do. Ideally the Oilers are moving older players out for younger talent. It’s either that or age out and cross your fingers on another rebuild
The Oilers only got one stud player out of winning four 1OVs. Hall was very good but took years to get his shit together. Nuge is a good top 6 but you of course are hoping for a franchise type player. You never know what the draft has to give if there is no generational
Nobody saw Schaefer coming
If you are referring to Howard, I think you may be mixing him up with Savoie.
Bowman was hired July of 24, Howard was traded for in July of 25.
Yep I was wondering what he was going on about. OP usually doesn’t slip-up like this.
I had the wrong year – I was mistaken.
Apologies and thank you.
Bowman was hired in summer of 2024, Howard was acquired in summer of 2025. You’re thinking of Savoie.
Kyrou definitely is lower on the “cap efficiency” scale than Howard. Particularly if the Oilers don’t award him a mass of PP time. Thank being said, they seem to be big game hunting again which is often a mistake.
I was thinking of Howard I just mixed up which year Bowman was hired – wasn’t thinking probably. Apologies and thank you.
That was one nasty hit on Bouchard this morning, jeebus. Take Lindgren’s number for next season.
Usually I’m not for vengeance, but that concussion looked similar to some that have derailed careers.
Just landed in Toronto and saw this post and then took a look.
Holy hell that was brutal.
Even worse if the unconfirmed (and officially denied) concussion against the Ducks did happen.
Prone on the ice with his arms up like that, hate seeing it
— how long you in Toronto ? I assume downtown with your firm. Would be fun to meet up for a coffee…
Fly out Sunday morning.
Truth be told there is about zero time or else I would love to meet for a coffee.
Its national partners meetings and the agenda is over-packed through Sunday morning.
Firm even said not to try and set up client meetings as there won’t be time and they are right. Very annoying as I do syndicated lending work and most of the big banks base their syndications out of Toronto.
With that said, I do plan on skipping the Friday night dinner so I could potentially meet late tomorrow afternoon?
Staying at the Royal York.
Why are any Oiler players in the World Championships to begin with? I get it’s a working vacation for them and the wife but they’ve just had 2 shortest summers in NHL history. They should be golfing and relaxing. Why were these players advised not to go. I was thinking this a few days ago a nobody is going to try to make a name for himself.
Why, for various reasons that are meaningful to each individual?
I believe that Nurse and his family are having an awesome time in Zurich from their public posts.
Perhaps Bouchard wanted to play and perhaps we wants to show Hockey Canada his commitment?
Who are you to say what anyone else “should be doing”?
Plus Norris, for Bouch. A chance to show who he is away from McD.
Not every player comes back from being rocked Crosby like. This could easily be the start of the end for Bouchard. Nurse and Bouchard should be thinking of the Oilers first we are no longer in the Ryan Smyth era where making the playoffs is an anomaly. With the amount of money and hockey responsibility these two are expected of I would not be happy if my player went overseas blew out his knee all for a free holiday.
That is quite the obligation you put on these players.
If only they would look to someone like Crosby for an example of if one should be willing to play in these tournaments….. oh, wait.
I knew you would enjoy the Crosby reference. Crosby knows father time is coming at him head-on. I believe he wants get in as much hockey as he can before he hangs them up. As for Bouchard another hit like that he could be joining the Lindros brothers in a what if career.
and Bouchard wants to play for Canada at the Four Nations and Olympics.
I’m travelling today so have only seen the still pic. Looks like Bouch was not watching and got hit straight on. Don Cherry must have been yelling at the TV keep your head up. If you don’t and watch the play only meatheads like that will have a go. It’s always been this way, have to learn to survive first
I don’t think the free trip means anything given how rich these guys are. All the Oilers want to play hockey, for their countries, and for Nurse Bouch work on the rep
That was a very big illegal hit.
Hopefully Bouchard doesn’t have any long last effects.
That was a dirty BS hit.
I find it comical that anyone believes the Oilers will/can trade Darnel Nurse.
This is absolute fantasy.
History has shown that Nurse will not accept a trade, specifically to a team that’s going backwards not forwards.
What happens if you do trade Nurse?
First, you’ll most likely have to retain salary.
Then, you have to find a top 4 Dman to replace him, not an easy thing to do.
In the end, you’re at the same or out of pocket for more than Nurse is currently.
Oilers have better assets to trade than Nurse for far better returns, the Oilers GM’s are passive and cowards.
You have Walman as his replacement already
That’s hilarious
Are you this negative in real life? I know pessimism is your thing, but might be a good idea to go get some fresh air and vitamin D.
Why? By pointing out the obvious is somehow detrimental to you? I think you need the fresh air mate.
Oilers fans have said for years “$2.75M for Kulak is too much, an expensive #5Dman is a luxury they can’t afford” so I’m finding it interesting how the narrative is now “we can’t lose Nurse, who will play the third pairing?”
I think Nurse stays but there is a reason we’re hearing things. The Oilers don’t play things close to the chest. If we’re hearing things, it’s usually because they’re possible. Nurse may leave because he has more control now than next summer.
Nurse’s NMC becomes a 10-team No-Trade on June 1, 2027. Is one more season on the Oilers worth playing on a team you don’t get to pick?
Nurse will play on the third pairing? Who says?
Found on the internet…
My apologies, I didn’t mean Nurse would be/was third pairing. I meant the question is “who will play third pairing” after trading Nurse because we “only” have Ekholm ($4M) and Walman ($7M).
It’s a weird conversation because we’re probably going to add Murphy (or another RHD) and have Bouchard. “Who takes Nurse’s minutes?” is essentially “Who plays third pairing” as the LHD minutes are currently split among Nurse/Ekholm/Walman and one of them is theoretically “third pair” at 4,7 or 9.25M when Kulak’s $2.75M was “too much” for a #5 D-Man.
They have too much D cap. Health aside they are preparing to dump that cap hit. Might have to wait a season. They can trade Nurse next summer so I don’t think they move Walman now to clear cap. If they get a new coach in with enough time for input maybe they prefer Nurse who knows?
Where did I say Nurse was a third pairing Dman?
I wasn’t replying to you. Maybe take a second before responding and be a little less defensive.
You can’t lose Nurse because he has a NMC, try and keep up.
— I’d be curious what others think Darnell is the gap between what he’s paid and what it should be (a million, 2 million ?)
— 31 years old rarely misses games,
—good for 30-40 points
—logs a lot of minutes
—rarely partnered with a healthy complement D —cash costs of 8mm this year going down to 7 going forward
— a draft and develop part of a core.
— had a down year
— lousy goaltending
— Whatever the repackaged roster looks without him I’m skeptical that getting rid of Nurse net creates significant surplus “war”
— better goaltending, more suitable partner, better coaching systems better use of his strengths and mitigation of his weaknesses
— regardless he isn’t being moved this year
You’re not trading Nurse.
Full Stop.
Nurse is good enough for the Worlds, he’s obviously seen as a solid D. I don’t think that coaching has been effective at the player level. That is why we haven’t seen much different in how the players perform. It seems Woody had a better system for offense, KK tightened up the D play some, but I don’t think found the right balance. It seems there wasn’t enough done to organize the team based on comments we heard
Leon is probably the only forward that doesn’t really need to develop his two way game, he just needs to be invested. Maybe Connor. If Murphy comes back he’s solid in his game. To take a step to me the new coach needs to have a good system for the key players, and the coaches need to help most of them grow in weak areas and learn the plan
If Nurse can stabilize, finally, into a solid defender that doesn’t lose the plot very often, and contributes his points I don’t think the contract is now what it was before. His durability is a key thing, and his presence adds a lot of toughness even if he’s not doing it a lot, but most guys his age don’t get into it like they once did. Still the league knows what he can do if he wants to
The flat cap affected the cap strategy not only for the Oilers. Nurse Nuge Hyman should have been less of the cap as they hit this age and less of a deal if moving down the roster. If between the coaches and Nurse he doesn’t do better with consistency and especially if he can’t keep his level in playoffs, if Murphy is back, for me 6 would be the upper marker
If he makes the summer as an Oiler another big cap jump should mostly take the cap hit out of the equation moving him. The D is too expensive if no one is moved. A 2RD is needed and there is no ELC to cover that. It seems Nurse is gone some point given the smoke, Bowman will balance it by using his young forwards for next season
If, if, if … with Mr Starfish it has been a steady stream of excuses. If he gets a better RHD partner to stabilize him (never mind he was getting paid as a top 5 D-man in the league). If the coaching staff implements a system the shelters him better.
He’s 31 now … IF Nurse was going to figure it out, he would have done so by now.
Four straight playoffs, his play from the regular season has fallen off a cliff in the playoffs, and he’s become borderline unplayable.
I’ve said it for years … he has all the tools, but no toolbox. He just can’t process the game fast enough to keep up in the playoffs, when the intensity and speed ratchet up.
He’s 31 now … he is what he is at this point, and his play is only going to deteriorate as he ages; once his athleticism goes, he’s not even going to be playable on the third pairing.
IF there is an avenue to move him, then you do it.
Holland’s biggest mistake was not telling his agent to shove it when he asked for 9+ million, and walk away.
I think they should move him if they are prepared for it well. But it isn’t impossible he contributes more in the right circumstances like coaching the starfish and shit skate angles out
Holland set up the big pay. He could have signed Nurse well under 8, his camp
was ready to go, enabled a market jump and waited until after he did it. Holland expressed many times he wanted to pay vet guys, completely not getting a capped league
Have to say, you’ve done a great job of assessing Nurse as an asset (even if you’ve ignored his negatives).
His play with Murphy in the playoffs this year is closer to what I tend to expect from him, unfortunately his results tend to be (slightly more) down than up. Playing through injury and carrying rookies or vets who are over their heads is a big ask. His market value has to be dinged given his need for a counterweight partner to play rocking chair defense.
His AAV is good for 3rd highest LHD in the league, and that matters, though the pressure is finally subsiding with the rising cap. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, one of the cardinal sins by the outgoing ChiaPete was to extend Koskinen (to a cap hit he had no comps to justify) prior to Darnell. Nobody would be complaining about Nurse (likely for the duration of the extension) if he had been locked up to a $6-7M contract for 8 years.
Would have saved Holland’s bridge and eventually premature long term extension coming off a career year. Nurse’s AAV as a % of cap went from 4% to 7% to 11% from Chia’s bridge, through to Holland’s two deals.
I think it’s probably fair to anchor Nurse’s value at an AVV around $7M. Instead of Josi and Werenski being the closest salary comps, it puts him in the neighbourhood of guys like Skjei, Rielly, Hanifin, and Gavrikov. Without a doubt, that change in framing changes the discussion/reputation.
Play him with Murphy let Darnell lose Murphy can be the rock. The short season Nurse had before the big contract was not luck it’s repeatable with the right partner. Nurse actually has a good shot blocker side that goalies will say is the toughest area to make a save. Nurse can skate well above average the new coach will hopefully have him doing what he does best. Would also love to see Nurse get more PP-1.5-2 time. Whether you like him or not the right coach will unlock Nurse and get some fans off his back.
Nurse’s cash owed is an avg of $7.4M per season for 4 seasons or $7.2M per season for the last 3. Trading Nurse isn’t impossible. There are 55 NHL players with cap hits of $8M or more and with 3-8 years left on their contract. A lot of them are not “producing” in line with their “value”. Most of them haven’t gone to the finals twice either.
There are also many, many players making less that are overpaid as well.
Will he be traded? I don’t think so. Could he be? Yeah.
Impossible until it ain’t.
I don’t think it’s nothing, from the player’s perspective, that this is Doc’s only chance to select a destination outright before becoming a FA.
That said I tend to agree with LT that, for Nurse, the upcoming season is likely another prime opportunity for chasing Stanley with his buds. Why give that up?
— I don’t think it impossible to to trade him this year
— I don’t think it will happen
— I don’t think he’s as bad as being expressed and he had a down year and there are many other things to improve this team significantly without trading him.
— As a thought experiment would a Walman for Nurse trade straight up would there have to be salary retention?
There seems to be some smoke around both Nurse and Morgan Reilly.
The media has been down on Reilly (like Marner), but I see a guy who still averages 40 points, well above Nurse who had just 24 last year. Reilly has always been the better offensive player and is still relied on to be that team’s best defender. He would be a #3-4 on the Oilers.
A bit older. A bit cheaper. A bit better?
Cheaper and better I have time for. And the buyout is actually manageable too.
I’m not sold that he’s “better”.
Nurse veto a trade to the Maple Leafs already.
Mid-season is different than off-season.
Mid-season is difficult with family and the Oilers were playoff-bound while TML was not. Toronto has a bright future with the #1 pick, he may accept moving now.
Many of those points due to PP time that Nurse doesn’t get and Riley wouldn’t get as an Oiler. Riley had 5 more 5 on 5 points than Nurse this year and, in many years, Nurse had more 5 on 5 points.
Moving Nurse should be about getting a more reliable D who can pass better. Points don’t matter
That doesn’t seem remotely plausible without major positive assets going out plus moving out Nurse.
The biggest tell to how the summer and future roster building is going to go is Nurse. There is so much going for him to get significant value back – 6’4 great skating D that eats minutes and puts up 30+ EV points are very rare. He gets paid a TON but that literally doesn’t matter if there’s tons of surplus cap out there and not many ways to spend it on July 1. That is the narrative to sell to teams desperate for a top 4 upgrade and want to hold up in the playoffs when teams with smaller D got pushed out.
*by all these arguments, the Oilers should also value him similarly but ideally could trade him for a Kyrou type and pick up a Zellweger to replace him who should be able to grow into a top 4 D.
To me Zellweger would replace Walman. I wouldn’t want both
Yes, the cap hit certainly matters – an acquiring team is taking on a 4-year commitment
Perhaps I shouldn’t have said literally doesn’t matter but I do think you are overlooking the point I was trying to make.
The cap hit doesn’t matter IF there is surplus cap out there and not many ways to spend it on July 1. Yes, obviously there is 3 more years to think about after this year, but both you and I know the cap is going up a lot each year and the $9.25M gets relatively smaller and smaller
I understand the point and I still disagree – I don’t think many management teams are looking to take on bad contracts, and give assets to do so, even of they have cap space – in particular if the bad contract has term on it. I think teams would want Nurse but not at $9.5MM, not even if they are in a good cap situation. Retain him down to $7.5MM and there could be a deal out there, retain lower and the Oilers may got some decent to good assets.
I guess you’d have to ask yourself that in a world where Dickinson is rumoured to go 5 x $5.5M, what you think Nurse would go for if he were a UFA? 8 yrs x $8M? Now, if you can shorten it to 4 years, you don’t think teams would step up to do 4 x $9.25M?
I’m not the biggest Nurse fan by any means, but Oilers fans definitely value other players on other teams by their counting stats. 2024/25 Nurse was 23rd in EV points and 28th in ES TOI. He doesn’t get injured and is an amazing skater that is likely to age well.
Like I’ve said before, narrative around a player is definitely a thing that can drive value. Good management teams can control the good and bad to leverage good value while the poor ones trade low and buy high.
I don’t think Dickinson will get $5.5MM despite a bit of rumour on that.
Nope, I dont’ think a team gives Nurse $9.25MM X 4 – not at all. I think he could get in the $7MM range and I think I’m far from a Nurse hater.
Only 10 d-men in the league made $9.25MM or more and, of course, that number is going to rise but, while Nurse was once in the top 15-20 d-men in the league, he’s fallen well down that list and he’s over-capped, even with the cap where it is.
Bruce Cassidy wants to work.
Last offseason we didn’t hear anything about a Kulak extension so he was on the outs and doubt they have interest in bringing him back
He will want to cash in on this contract, he was underpaid the last few years. I hope he gets the Ceci deal from someone not us
I think it was fairly well established that last year was likely his last as an Oiler as he’ll probably be in the $5MM plus range on his next deal.
Expectations: Jake Debrusk, and Cossa.
Stan is not gonna be able to get a Kyrou.
Why Debrusk and for what price? Why not Bourque, P Kane, Mikeheyev (PK) or even Roslovic?
Because it’s Stan.
I suspect you are right now, it’s the path of least resistance. Debrusk could work if he can score 5v5 but that’s not a sure thing. What would happen with RNHs game if we took him off the PP. Maybe less minutes there could help him 5v5?
Yeah, I don’t trust Bowman either. I can see him overpaying for DeBrusk who, as a PP specialist, isn’t worth $5.5M annually to the Oilers.
hat tip to LT for the Nirvana references!
what are the chances of AIC next?
LT just casually throwing his Nirvana knowledge arount with the Pat Smear reference!
They won’t be able to move Nurse this summer. if it happens, it will happen next year. Last dance for Connor and friends. If no success, then big moves next summer.
This summer is about adding a top 6 winger (i am on the Kyrou train as well) and getting a higher end young goalie (Cossa as well). I like Stauffer’s view of it. because it doesn’t involve them dealing one of Connor’s best friends who also has a full no movement clause in Nurse. If he made $7 million, we would like him. Nurse and Murphy is a solid 2nd pair. He is staying. We need to accept it.
Howard, 2nd this year or our first next year, plus one other prospect (Whatever D they want or whatever non nhl player they want). Does that get Kyrou?? Because getting Kyrou means no Dickason.
So the question is would you rather have:
Kyrou and Nuge as 3C and Jarry and Cossa at G
or
Howard and Dickson as 3C, with Jarry and Ingram at G
No way the Blues move Kyrou for Howard (a B prospect) and a second and the Oilers don’t have a first round pick next year.
If you can move him, then you absolutely move him and improve your team. If you sit around until next year you will most likely be moving Mcdavid
Kyrou and Nuge would be fine until things get tight and physical. Both avoid most of that and find the perimeter easily. Cossa is not an NHL goalie, he’s a prospect losing out to others in his org, so #2
Howard will be about 1/8th the cap allocation of Kyrou the next couple of years.
Not saying Howard is as good as Kyrou but he had the same amount of goals as Savoie and only 9 more points and I presume MUCH more PP1 time.
I know it was a down year but he’s pretty much an offence only player and, if the Oilers are acquiring him, it needs to be at “distressed prices” and this is not it, in my opinion.
Not sure what you’ve used to acquire Kyrou.
STL has been adamant they want to move up in the draft and the Blues have no need for Nurse with Broberg, Cam Fowler (at $3 million less than Nurse at 2LD) and Theo Lindstein at 3LD.
There’s plenty of speculation that San Jose is willing to entertain the possibility of moving the second overall pick and could do so by acquiring Kyrou, the 11th overall pick and possibly Colton Parayko and Adam Jiricek from the Blues.
That clears about $15 million in cap space for the Blues while San Jose satisfies a dire need for D with Parayko and whomever they draft at #11 as well as adding a dynamic winger to play with Celebrini and allowing Will Smith to slide down to play with Michael Misa.
San Jose can easily accommodate the increased cap hits and would have vastly improved their D with one major swing at the draft.
The Blues, meanwhile, could use the second overall pick to select RD Chase Reid or Keaton Verhoff to serve as a long term solution in their retool to replace Parayko at #1RD.
My buddy is a St. Louis Blues fan and season ticket holder. He says Kyrou will not go to the hard areas. I’m not sure about that but he sees a lot of games in person. If true that won’t help us out come playoff time.
Perhaps a three-way deal would be the solution. For me, Kyrou is a great fit for Edmonton and the Blues are open to dealing him. Sending Nurse to (say) San Jose for young assets and then completing a deal with St. Louis would seem to be in the realm of possible.
That wouldn’t satisfy St. Louis’ desire to move up in the draft nor the Sharks need for RD.
With Dimitri Orlov at 1LD, Nurse would be blocking Sam Dickinson at 2LD.
Under those circumstances the Sharks might just as well hang on to the #2 pick and select the top RD themselves.
Why would Nurse accept that deal? He won’t.
How do we know Nurse wouldn’t warm to surf, sun and the next McD?
Yeah St Lou will want a first plus for Kyrou i think. They got that for Faulk and Schenn and Kyrou is a better asset than both IMO
Lots of speculation the Blues are laser focused on Ivar Stenburg who is deemed to be the most NHL ready player in the draft and would be an immediate replacement for Kyrou with huge upside.
Not coincidentally, the Blues picked his brother Otto with the 25th pick in the 2023 draft. The 20 year old played 32 games for the Blues in the most recent season.
From all the narrative in STL, he is almost the exact same asset as Nurse is. A valuable asset that the team/fans have turned on due to being owed a large chunk of money for a long time and seemingly underperforming their contract. Kyrou was even healthy scratched which never happened to Nurse.
If were viewing Nurse the same way, he should also go for a 1st plus too as a 20+ minute a night huge, great skating D that puts up 30+ EV points a year
While Kyrou had a down year, let’s not forget he has three straight seasons where he scored 30+ goals on a poor Blues team.
How many do you think he would score with Celebrini setting him up?
Kyrou is a heckuva player, I agree.
Nurse over the same time period averaged 9G 27A 36P +13 with 23 minutes played
Looking at stats only, those are also quite good especially when factoring quality of competition and wearing an A
In a bidding situation the Oilers don’t have to move Nurse to fit Kyrou. They could offer Howard and the 28 1st. Then it’s up to what other teams are offering and what the Blues prefer.
The Blues have been very clear…they want to move up in THIS draft.
First 2 years from now is magic beans delayed.
Stauffer is carrying the water on his show, as usual. You can’t listen for 5 minutes without him talking about distressed assets and Cossa. Kyrou and Cossa. I would love to see them get another Evander Kane type
And a Vinny Desharnais type
Kane and Desharnais ARE both UFAs this year… Just saying
Kane seems like he burned another bridge based on the tidbits I’ve heard. Not necessarily obliterated but charred to the extent it’s not going to happen. Desharnais would suit me fine if the price is right
Des doesn’t suit the Oilers. Remember how he struggled in playoffs? His style is based on reach, and reaching in was getting him called too much. He’s also not very mobile and Bowman wants a puck moving D in his own words, and what the Cup Hawks had
I think Vinny is a viable, low-cost third pair guy, who has been a stellar PK guy, and was well liked by the team. While I don’t think they need to go hard after any guy to play bottom pairing minutes, I think he’s a good choice for at least during the season, maybe beyond, depending on who the coach will be.
I don’t disagree. Maybe Connor Murphy will fit the bill but only if they actually sign him. I’d like another tree back there for the playoffs
I also would like more size on third pair. But not semi puck optional, has to be able to handle a hard forecheck, most teams will use that against us
Apart from that one time Arvi passed him like a house on the side of the road, I thought Vinnie was dead solid til they hit the Cats. Cats’ pace, speed, depth on the forecheck just too much. Vinnie part of that record breaking penalty kill beforehand however.
All in the past. I think Oil got peak Vinnie for two runs, and while I expect he remains a regular season stalwart, you don’t win the ultimate prize with him in your top six I don’t think.
That’s how I see it
Kane isn’t the player he was but I would still have interest. He was dissatisfied with bottom 6 before though and that’s the position he would have with the Oilers, also I’d want a value contract. Doubt there is a fit but if he is still in shape, humble and wants another crack with Oil Country I’d happily have him back.
Desharnais is cool but I wonder why he didn’t stick with other teams. I liked him when he was here plenty and would take a look but we only one 7D slot and Emberson is our 3RD, would we move out Statsney to take Desharnais? Doubtful. If he’s going to the Bake as a call up, sure great.
Kesselring is probably available. I’d like another opportunity with him.
What about a slightly used Vinny Desharnais to replace your missing Vinny Desharnais? 😁
The Oilers have Emberson for 3RD and his goal against rates were great this past seaon and he should be used more on the PK and he’s excellent value for cap hit
Where would Vinny play if 3RD is taken.
I am very intrigued by Kesslering – we all know I was high on him when he was a Condor and was NOT happy when the Bjugstad trade went down.
I’m just not sure if he can fill 2RD as, again, 3RD is filled with a great option. I haven’t seen Kesselring very much at the NHL level and don’t know if he’s a legit 2RD or 3rd pairing guy?
He had a good looking season with Utah by PuckIq but last season struggled. I don’t see a fit
Looks like Evan Bouchard may have been badly concussed on a hit to the head by Ryan Lindgren in the World’s. Hope he’s ok.
Yeah it was predatory and Bouch was out cold briefly. Glad he has the entire summer to recover now at least.
Oh dear. Best vibes from us to Evan.
Jeez, this is awful. Wish the best and doesn’t become more susceptible to concussions later on
The main concern with concussions is basically not getting multiple in short succession, allowing each to fully recover, so him having the whole summer ahead bodes very well for his recovery going forward.
Absolutely that is the #1 concern but repeat concussions even if spaced out by 6+ months definitely can compound in effect either by worsening severity or more easily obtained
Bouch and the Dul have to start taking self protection more seriously. There are things that happen, and there is knowing who is on the ice and not getting in a position to get hurt, turning off hits. It’s typical for top players to do that so they can keep playing, as in always
Bouchard is actually very good at avoiding hits.
He is, but this is significant injury 2 in a couple of months. Bouch isn’t alone, but teams and or players go after the talent. Makar was affected again. For me rolling the dice that they can stay healthy is too reliant on luck. I would being trying to mitigate somehow
Ideally he doesn’t play at the Worlds. I thought it unusual that so many Oilers went over, this is a team running on fumes, at least at the Bouchard/Nurse end.
I didn’t think it was unusual. With the exception of Samanski, none of the players were chosen for the Olympics, so a chance to compete for country. Also, perhaps a way to wash out the bad taste of how the season ended? And for Bouchard, the bad taste of the Norris miss —and to show his stuff away from McD.
I would have thought Worlds a safe place to play; sad for Bouch that he got hurt. Head injuries are strange, and profound, especially for cerebral athletes, like him. This is, literally, about unplugging the controller. May his summer be gentle, and his fall, too.
14-0 goals at the worlds. Wow! “Only” 6 points in 7 games but his on-ice work proved his value.
He was on the ice for one goal against, on the PK – and he also made the play of the tournament to set up a SH goal, so he was even on the PK as well.
The guy just gets better and better.
The injury is upsetting. How it happened, borderline criminal.
I imagine the attraction is a change of scenery the chance to change the channel emotionally (even if still hockeying).
My guess is that Bouchard/Nurse went over so that they can get consideration for the next best-on-best tournament. There is a (real or perceived) preference for players that have played for Canada at the World Championships.
Definitely for Bouchard (I would think) but I presume even Nurse himself knows he’s essentially got no chance for the 2028 World Cup nor 2030 Olympics. For Nurse, he’s taken the entire family with him and I think they are having a great time – and Nurse is playing great.
Lots of these guys just like playing hockey and the Worlds seems like a great tournament to play in and it often gets turned in to a family trip. Nurse has the wife and kids with him – amazing family trip to Zurich and area, I’m sure.
Bouch could have given the F you to Hockey Canada but maybe he saw it as an opportunity to up his status for the 2028 World Cup of Hockey and 2030 Olympics?
I was a bit surprised with Ek, in particular given his treatment by Sweden and their prior national coach. He was one that I thought it probably made more sense to rest.