When an NHL team is building toward a championship, the organization sometimes acquires players through unusual means. It seemed every time the Oilers of the 1980’s looked like a champion, Reijo Routsalainen would fall out of the sky like manna from heaven.
This has already happened at the low and middle points of the Oilers current NHL roster, and there are quality veterans signed to extreme value deals on this roster. Some of those men are delivering far more than their cap hits.
Recently, rumours have popped up about Mikko Rantanen being in play, either at the trade deadline or over the summer as a free agent. Andy Strickland from FanDuel connected Rantanen to the Oilers in free agency, officially unlocking the Wild Times Summer of Stan 2025.
Whenever I see the Oilers connected to a free agent this far in front of July 1, I start counting the number of draft picks Gary will make the team pay for tampering. The only real evidence I see is that Rantanen and Leon Draisaitl share the same agent, so I suspect Oilers management is innocent. A reminder Oilers management was also on the correct side of logic and reason when the league made up a rule to force Edmonton to trade a third-round pick to the Calgary Flames in the Milan Lucic trade. So, you never know with the NHL.
Let’s move past that situation and talk about Rantanen signed as a free agent by Stan Bowman and the Oilers in the summer of 2025. What kind of impact would he have? Massive. Just massive.
Bowman would need to offload Evander Kane (that may happen anyway, Edmonton needs healthy players), walk Jeff Skinner and use a giant dollop of the new cap dollars to secure Rantanen. Worth it. ALL worth it.
None of this has happened, but Friedman and Strickland have been right many times over the years. If your top line boasts McDavid-Hyman and your second line has Draisaitl-Rantanen, how good are you?
Stanley good.
The Lowdown returns to the radio today, starting at noon on Sports 1440. Rachel Doerrie, CTO of Betalytics and Host of Puck Social will join us at 12:40. Daniel Nugent-Bowman at The Athletic will pop in at 1:20. We’ll chat 4-Nations, rumours, deadline and more. Declan Krueger will have Declanations and Donovan Paulson will help us suss out where Vladdy Guerrero is going. I’m at Lowetide on twitter, in the comments section here and on the Sports 1440 text line at 1.833.401.1440 directly. We can be heard at sports1440.ca; iHeartRadio, Radioplayer Canada, it’s available post-show on apple and spotify, and we tweet it out on X.
NEWS: Savoie has joined the Oilers for practice (in addition to Derek Ryan).
Neither has been officially recalled.
I presume this means that Savoie WILL be recalled – the Condors play tomorrow and they aren’t going to have him miss AHL games for one practice and travelling back and forth.
Derek Ryan has been away from the Condors during the entire Four Nations Break – that was always the agreement, to give him the planned break that most NHLers had – I think he’ll rejoin the Condors shortly.
Where will coach play him (well, one thing at a time, lets see if he gets recalled on Friday – but the Condors are playing 5 in 8 days right now so I don’t think he’s in Edmonton to miss some games and then head back).
I just can’t see Rantanen becoming an Oiler. He probably wants 14 which would put the top 3 at 46-48 million. (Connor 16 -18) Add in Bouchard, 10 -12, and Nurse 9.25 and your top 5 get 60
I’ve been saying that the Oilers will call up a forward after the break. It might be Philp back up (or Hamblin who is on a heater) but it also could be Savoie, on merit.
Gregor things Savoie will get a re-call prior to the deadline.
Might as well do it this week, no?
For all that is good in this world Knoblauch, if Savoie gets a call up, play him more than 6-7 mins a game.
Does anyone know the OT rules for the final? I hope it’s 5 on 5 for at least a period and not this gimmicky 3 on 3 on bad ice. I get the time restraint rules but a gold medal final should be decided the old fashioned way.
Stanley Cup final rules.
NHL Hockey is a Strong Link game.
What that means is that ++Players create, and when they’re paired with one another they create at a disproportionate level.
My opinion is that if you add an elite player like Rantanen to McDavid, Draistail, & Bourchard you have a DOMINANT team for the 23 mins each game that these players play together.
If you can add Rantanen for $13M you do it. It presents the greatest likelihood that this team wins a cup. My guess is you can fill out the roster with $1.5M players to saw off the opposition when the stars are on the bench, but when they’re on … watch the F out!
Agree all the way, if you have a chance to get Rantanen, go all in. He’s 6 4″ 215. 100 pt man. Has a 100 playoff points. Dynamic. Very rare player indeed
If Rantanen is being truthful about his ask and it not being 14 million, then it’s doable.
Kane, Jinner, Arvidsson all moved out. That’s the Rantanen sign right there.
If they bring in Gibson at a retained rate, move out Stinner and not raise him. Keep an affordable backup.
Savoie/McDavid/Hyman
Podkolzin/Draisaitl/Rantanen
Henrique/Nuge/Brown
Janmark/McCarron/Kapanen
Ekholm/Bouch
Nurse/Emberson
Kulak/Whoever prospect/cheap sign
Gibson
Pickard.
If they can get Rantanen at 12 or less then it will work.
I’d rather keep the local, younger, Conn Smythe winning* goalie even if it means he gets a raise.
* subject to change
I’d rather the team not overpay their goaltending, Skinners next contract will become an overpay unless he accepts 4mil or less.
Vejmelka, Lyon, Ridditch, Lankinen, Vladar, several others are all FA at season end. Lots of ways to rebuild the tending without overpaying a low tier starter.
Switch out Gibson with anybody else(money comparable) and that’s a roster that could give ‘er.
Exactly, doesn’t need to be Gibson.
If they can be as dominate as they are now with Skinner earning less then 3 million, they can be just as dominate with a different tender earning less then whatever Skinners next contract will become.
I completely agree DL
We should be grooming 2 goalies in the minors while we’re speak if Rodrique doesn’t have the goods then get someone who does. We don’t have the luxury of paying a Average Joe 6 million.There’s lots of Goalies you can get on value contracts it’s being able to identify and then getting 2-3 of these Goalies in the system. Once Bowman settles down I believe this happens.
Lots of evidence around the league you can succeed successfully without over paying your tenders(the Oilers currently) I hope Stan completely rebuilds the mostly goalie aspect of the organization. Rodrigue is most likely washed out by the looks of it. Bring in a group of fringe tenders with warts and see what can be cured.
Man, LT, you are getting my hopes way up. Don’t know if I can handle it at my age!!!
I won’t let myself think that for a second Mikko Rantanen will be signing with the Oilers. I know the cap is going up and up but at the same time, in addition to Drai signed for $14MM, Bouchard will be in the $10MM range and McDavid $16MM plus – add Nurse at $9.5MM and SKinner (or replacement) in the $5MM plus range in due course and, well……..
I’m sure there could be various fenagling of cap commitments on GM mode to fin him in but, realistically, I just don’t see it.
I look forward to the Bouchard extension, in due course (and that might be August – sigh).
I do wonder if Bouchard plays out this season without a major increase in production ( points of course). And then does not have near the playoff like last year ( let’s hope he is great) if they don’t try and bridge him with a 7 mill for 2 deal. Or they offer him a 8.5-9 deal for 8.
His Agent definitely has him betting on himself this season and thus far he is not having a year like last ( Thus far on points with 0 pp goals especially) .
He is tracking to be 66 ish points at his rate now. That would be 16 off last years total. That is a big chunk of points.
But his bet of not signing this past summer could come back to bite him in terms of a longterm contract over 9 ish mill.
Of course he could go nuclear in the last 30 ish and the playoffs, and that would change everything.
1 question is would an offer sheet worry the Oilers on Bouchard? Not sure a contending team would do that, but would a midland or lower team like a Chicago with tons of cash do that ( especially if they trade that 9 mill plus contract of Jones) ). What if they offer 13. ( this is just hypothetical of course) Would the Oilers take 4 1sts and go sign a Chycrun ( albeit a Lefty) who is having a great year.
Now of course as OP says they may just say screw it, he had a bit of an off year, let’s just give him 10/8. Hopefully he doesn’t come out and ask for 12 lol
I don’t think the Oilers would want a two-year bridge walking him right to UFA unless there was a major discount.
I don’t think that offer sheets are a realistic risk at this point as I presume that, if not signed by the deadline (which is very early in the off-season), Bouchard files for arb which shields from offer sheets.
I would expect a deal before the arb hearing but that would give Bouchard leverage as, I believe, in arb, 2-years of stats are useable an his PPG last season is real.
Might as well get Ray Bourque and Tretiak while we’re at it.
Did the math in a previous post a while ago. It’s doable. You feel the pain for 1 year then it opens up enough.
Mcdavid has 1 more year in the summer you add Rantanen so the cost certainly makes it negligible. Drai up, Bouch at 10, Rantanen at 12.5 with Kane/Skinner out still leaves you with around a million or two for an Emberson extension and depth ala Scory, Kap, Brown. If the choice is Rantanen or Emberson, I like the kid but sorry, get ready to learn Duckenese Ty.
It’d be a great year to be a prospect breaking into the league at minimum dough next year in that scenario (knock knock Savoie/Philp).
Oilers practice today – this is exciting to me – feels like a few days away from the start of the season but, moreso, its the start of the stretch drive.
5 game roadie coming up!
I wouldn’t think Ek or Arvy will be at practice today.
I’m looking for maybe a bit of an Arvy heater coming up – he played well in games 1 and 3 for Finland (didn’t see much of the game with Finland).
Forget Rantanen. Wait another year and sign Kaprizov. He’s a legit river-pusher.
Washington is home to a brace of Russian/Belarussian players and prospects.
Kaprizov hits free agency just as Ovechkin and his $9.5 million cap hit come off the books.
With that and TJ Oshie ($5.75M) John Carlson ($8M) TVR ($3M) as well as the cap penalty for Kuznetsov ($3.9M) aging out, the Capitals will be awash in cap space.
With the cap rising, PuckPedia has them with $64.4M in available cap space in 26/27.
“Washington is home to a brace of Russian/Belarussian players and prospects.”
How many Russian/Belarussian players does Washington have compared to other teams?
3 on the current roster.
6 prospects.
And compared to other teams?
Maybe look up the definition of “a brace”?
I think Bennett might have a bigger effect than Rantanen would on the team, even if he would score less. He’ll also be half the cap hit presumably
They need more players that have jam and drive the scoring areas always. The Oilers as they are keep reverting to playing outside without consistent traffic to support playing that less effective way
Rantanen may see his output decline as an Oiler, maybe not with Connor but then you’re in the same pickle the Avs were, a very expensive player that only warrants the contract when with one player
Bennett and Frederic for me. I like Kane but it may be time to move on given his age and mileage
Quinn Hughes on his way to Boston to replace McAvoy in the US lineup.
Where is this reported
Frank Seravalli
@frank_seravalli
So much in-flux this morning. I was told one hour ago that they couldn’t add anyone.
Mike Sullivan now says Quinn Hughes is en route to join USA as an injury replacement.
Elliotte Friedman
Sullivan: “I would anticipate Auston Matthews being available for the championship game.”
The Tkachuk brothers are also expected to play
Hughes can’t hit, but he is a great Skater and passer, but remember in the 7 game series against Edmonton, Kane beat him down with hard hits as did others and he was taken right out of the last 4 games. Hit him hard. As for Tkachuk’s and Matthews , pretty much knew they were resting. And Brady rested after the ramming of the post
Americans are feeling the vibe they’re taking this game serious. All I see from team Canada so far is lip service.
apparently the mighty Quinn cannot play unless another d man for the us is injured…
Just listening to the FAN Hockey Show.
Both hosts…Mike Futa and Matt Marchese expect the US will find a way to get Hughes into the lineup.
Sullivan to Kreider. “Chris, ask not what your country can do for you, but what fake flu you can catch to help your country.”
Time for someone to channel their inner Tanya Harding?
Yes, why would Bettman expect Team USA to follow the rules? Cough, cough!
I believe he cannot play unless there is another injury and any of the current 6 cannot play.
Per Friedman
Flu is running rampant through both teams.
Hughes will be in the line-up the U.S.A wants this game badly.
100% chance he plays after the chicanery Canada pulled with Makar.
When in Rome.
Speaking of James Neal, his 2M comes off the books this year.
I am trying to figure how the Oilers can afford Rantenan. Not worried as much about McD as we will shed Henrique (3M), Arvi (4M) Kane (5M) and Ek (6M) by the time that contract comes due. Not to mention cap jumps. But more so thinking about next year and signing Bouchard.
Bouchard is due a what, 6M raise, to make it 10M? (I have no clue – I think I saw some suggesting this before)
Rantenan wants what, 14M?
Salary cap = 88, will increase by 8M to 96M
We are at the cap, but will shed 2M for Neal. So without thinking about expiring contracts we will have 10M. After Bouchards raise we have 4M. Skinner will be gone (3M), he needs to be replaced, lets say we replace him with Rant. We now have 7M. (still short by 7). I can’t figure where thats coming from. So ya, I’m gonna say we don’t sign Rant in the summer, unless we are letting Bouchard walk. NOT a good idea.
As an aside, puckpedia uses a boat anchor to symbolize a no move clause. I think thats kind of funny.
Rantanen is not worth 14 mill. He looks nowhere near an 8 million player since his trade. Oilers would be nuts to pay that. They could go after a really good #4 Dman Pionk would be a really good grab for 7 -7.5 possibly if the Peg don’t resign him , and a solid
Guy like Bennet for 7-7.5
Trade Bouchard at the trade deadline for Rantanen and immediately sign him at 12 million x 7.
…probably not eh?
MacKinnon floats all boats.
In Colorado Rantanen did NOT push the river without MacKinnon. He’s well below 50% in most stats w/o 29 over the past 2.5 seasons.
Just to further complicate things, yes Neal’s Buyout ($1.92M cap) is off the books. BUT Campbell BO cap increases by $1.2M next year (from $1.1M to $2.3M). So Oilers really only gain 700k.
Rantanen is a pipe dream. Stan would need to trade Kane AND somehow get Nuge to waive his NMC and trade him as well (which would NOT go over well with the team and fans)
Didn’t notice that about Campbells buyout. Dang.
Also didnt figure in Drai’s raise. There is like no space.
Maybe I’m wrong but if Kane is traded or goes on LTIR again for the year, that’s 5 mil, Henrique is 3 mil. Trade out Ardvisson and there is 12 million more or less
Rantanen was not good in the 2 games I watched in this tourney.
I see Macavoy is out for Thursday’s game. That will hurt the States for sure. He was a beast on McDavid and in general that 1st game.
As for Rantanen, I wonder with his bad start if Carolina flips him. ( some chatter about that from some heads. Not sure if it has any legs). I can’t see the Oilers in on that, but you never know. He hasn’t been good since he was traded really. Big guy and thought he would have busted out in this tourney. He didnt
No clue what position or players or player the Oil get at the deadline. Kane is like getting a guy, as long as he is 100% I think he will be a huge help.
But I still wish Savoie would be in the lineup this weekend for a look see.
Watching a couple of the Swedes games Arvidson looked good, especially last night. Hope he comes back and goes on a heater.
Going to be a fun couple weeks to deadline day.
Go Canada Go
Prospectricity!
Akey & Wakely, Attorneys at Law missed out on yesterday’s matinee fun as their match was postponed by Mother Nature’s shenanigans. As such, it shall be played tonight instead @ 5 p.m. Whitelaw time.
A 3rd to the flames cause Neal scored close ro 20.
A third for hiring a fired TMac.
A third for hiring a fired Chia (aint that one a kicknin the nuts).
Did any other team have to drop a third in short time that rule existed, or was it just oilers?
lol, no shit.
It was a second for Chiarelli, who had literally already been fired. Oilers saved the Bruins his owed salary AND had to send them a second for the privilege.
TMc status was a little less crystallized as he had not been fired but his time with the Sharks was clearly winding down. IIRC they officially “agreed to part company” or similar, & the Sharks got the executive compensation when Old Flat Top was hired by the Oilers.
Of the 7 draft picks to change hands under that brief, wrong-headed policy, 2 came from the Oilers & 2 from Ottawa. Their crime was trying to improve their struggling franchises.
Side note: the Sens were the same team that Boston poached Chiarelli from in the first place. No compensation for that, natch.
Thanks for that!
And he had 11 more than Lucic. Neal needed 10 more than Looch and Neal to score 21.
I maintain the NHL didn’t like how cute Holland got with the trade and when given the opportunity disincentivized others from putting very specific conditions again.