“By the way, Bob, I heard (Andrew) Ference is taking off his ‘C’,” Laraque said suddenly during the interview. “Who is going to be the captain in Edmonton?”
Stauffer: “Who told you that?”
“I heard that, well, on the vine that the coach in Edmonton was talking that he was going to have a new captain.”
“When did he discuss that, Georges?”
“We’re heard that a while ago in the media. They haven’t changed (captains)? They haven’t done anything? Is Ference still the captain?”
“Not officially,” Stauffer replied. “Just T.B.A. (to be announced) on the captaincy issue at this time, Georges. Let’s leave it at that for today…”
“No, but Bob I can pretty much announce to everybody who it’s going to be,” Laraque said. “I already know. In Montreal we know everything.”
“Who is it going to be?”
“It’s going to be Taylor Hall.”
“Oilers insider Georges Laraque out of Montreal, former Oilers player!” Stauffer piped up . “We shall see.”
“You know it, too. You work with the team. I know you can’t say it, you just can’t say anything, but you know yourself,” Laraques said.
Fast forward in that clip to about 13:50 unless you want to hear them ramble on about old Oilers stories and Montreal Canadiens news. The transcript is courtesy of David Staples’ post here.I like David’s work and his thoughts on this are bang on!
I’m going to preface this post by saying I think that Taylor Hall is an amazing talent and that the Edmonton Oilers are a better team with him than without him and I can’t discount how great of an athlete he is because to make it the NHL let alone be drafted no.1 he has to be an extraordinary human but there is no bloody way that this guy should even be considered as captain of the Edmonton Oilers.
For one, in my opinion, and there are very few players to the expection (Wendel Clark/Peter Forsberg) but I want the captain of my team to be someone who can stay healthy. A player can play like his ass is on fire hitting and bulldozing his way around the ice and still stay healthy but Taylor Hall cannot seem to find a way to stay healthy. Every damn year something crops up.
I want the captain of my team to show he’s willing to do what it takes and make whatever sacrifices that need to be made for the good of the team. When’s the last time you saw Hall jump in a scrum in defense of a teammate? When the guy does fight he gets hurt…
When’s the last time you seen him laid a hit that didn’t look like he had some sort of personal vendetta with that player? Do you remember the 2-on-1 last year he had with his “best friend” Jordan Eberle where Eberle didn’t get him the puck and he went to the bench bitching and moaning.
“Oh he’s just passionate BLH…” Screw that news too. That passion he has is not the same passion I’ve seen in the eyes of hockey players before him. When a player looked into the eyes of the aforementioned Wendel Clark, Peter Forsberg, or Mark Messier they were assured it was going to be a long night. Not so with Sir Taylor.
One example of Hall trying out some moves that might’ve worked on his ex-teammate in Windsor…
I think this hit was in his first year so you can’t fault him much here but it seems to have been a glimpse into the future for Hall.
The guy can’t seem to get it through his thick skull that he needs to be aware of his surroundings and I’m nearly 100% certain the rest of the league knows how to take Hall out of a game.
Now we could argue that all these injuries happened at the beginning of his career and he’s still a young player but the fact of the matter is this is his 6th season in the league and even watching him during the preseason this year, he’s still cutting to the middle with his head down.
We could also argue that maybe his playing style is why he gets injured all the time. If that’s the case CHANGE THE PLAYING STYLE!! This is incumbent upon the coaching and managerial staff to sort out. If Hall is unwilling to adapt to a different style of play that benefits not only him but his team and teammates, then I’m sorry, he’s got to go. The “me first” attitude has no place in a team game.
Look, he’s an elite LW but that’s only WHEN HE PLAYS!!! It is a fact and correct me if I’m wrong but a player is no help at all to his team if he is not playing.
Hall is ELITE offensively… The Oilers need him to stay healthy
Another thing that creeps into my mind that would make me feel uneasy about Todd McLellan handing Hall the captaincy is that #4 gets benched a lot more frequently than the average superstar NHL left winger. Sure, in the past, a lot of that had to do with Eakins or previous coaches but he was just benched by Todd McLellan on the 25th in a damned preseason game… A PRESEASON GAME!! That’s not a great way to impress the coaching staff or the managerial staff…
From McLellan’s comments in that clip, it’s obvious that he believes in Hall but he knows that Taylor’s got some things he needs to work on. Hall’s mental game is in dire need of an overhaul.
BETTER OPTIONS
Matt Hendricks is a far better option than Andrew Ference and Taylor Hall. He works his ass off, he fights, he’s in the lineup on a consistent basis and he exhibits the attributes that a Captain should. Even at his age (34) he’s still an effective NHLer which is something that can’t be said for Andrew Ference. He’s also affordable at $1.85M until 2017 and which point the ‘C’ could be handed over to Connor McDavid or Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is a better candidate if the Oilers are looking long-term. He comes from the Joe Sakic line of leaders. He leads by example. He’s been a healthy player for the most part in his young career and he never seems to do wrong. He plays a 200ft game and he can be counted on in all situations.
No Captain might also be a better choice. Todd McLellan stripped both Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau, two veteran NHL superstars, and went without a captain in his time in San Jose. So perhaps 3 alternate captains would work but then again why take the ‘C’ from Ference or have him vacate it and not name anybody? Perhaps this is only a possibility if Andrew Ference is dealt.
For all the Hall-ogists out there. Below’s a lovely clip of what he can do when he’s on his game!
I hope you enjoyed the post or at least came out of it with another point of view. I don’t hate the guy, I just see no room for him on the leadership train. There are better players out there to fill that role. Let this guy concentrate on scoring goals and becoming the best Oiler he can be.
Thanks for reading and let me know your feelings in the comments below.
This week is a very special week as we’re procured the services of some ridiculously talented writers:
Rob Soria (@Oil_Drop) – You might know Mr.Soria from The Hockey Writers or OurHometown.ca where he covers the Edmonton Oilers. He also guests on Lowetide’s radio show from time to time when there’s about Genie Bouchard. Ha! Just kidding! Rob is one of a kind and we’re absolutely stoked to have him with us today.
Sean Tierney (@SeanTierneyTSS) – Mr.Tierney is all over the place. You can find his work on Today’s Slapshot, My NHL Trade Rumors and Jets Nation. He’s held previous positions at Bleacher Report, Fansided, and The Hockey Writers. He’s a man with a brain for the game and we’re privileged to be in his presence today.
Madison Moroz (@madi39) – Here we have the cousin to Oilers prospect Mitch Moroz… Not really but I knew it was on your mind anyhow. Actually if you participate within the Oilers community on Facebook you might know Mr.Moroz’s group, Edmonton Oilers True Fans. They’re a bunch of rowdies over there but they know their team and if you can hold your own they’ll welcome you with open arms. He also runs an Oilers fansite called “The Pressboxx“.
Corey Mitchell (@corn_cwm) – We all know Mr.Mitchell from previous Sunday Night Pints and from his sick work covering the Oilers prospects this summer! He’s a Beer League Heroes regular and we love having him!
So let’s get right to it shall we?
1. Are You Concerned With the Term and Price Point of Oscar Klefbom’s New Contract?
RS: Not in the least. I have been on the Oscar Klefbom bandwagon from the moment the Oilers drafted him and nothing I have seen from him has changed my mind. For me he was a lock to be a top four blueliner with the outside chance of developing into a No. 2 in the right situation…and that still appears to be the case.
To be fair, the talented Swede has done absolutely nothing to date that warrants him making the $4.167 million he is rumoured to have signed for but that is how things work into today’s National Hockey League. With that said, in two years’ time this deal will be a steal of a deal for Edmonton. A perfect fit for both sides.
ST: Short answer, yes. Long answer, maybe.
As Jeff Veillette said, no NHL skater has ever played as few games and scored as few points as Klefbom prior to securing a seven-year contract. It’s a long-term gamble on a 22-year-old defenseman who has yet to show a lot at the NHL level.
Still, some scouting reports say that he has massive shutdown potential with a hint of offensive ability long-term. The money Klefbom’s earning isn’t big (AAV of $4.167 mil) especially considering that the average NHL salary is ~$2.6 million.
This deal is a huge leap of faith and this will definitely leave an imprint on Peter Chiarelli’s tenure in Edmonton. But – and this is a considerable-sized but – if Klembom does develop as expected and salaries rise as expected, the Oilers may have secured a serviceable top-four defender for a reasonable price…for much too long.
MM: No, I’m not concerned with the term or the price. When it popped up in the news that the oilers were looking to extend him I wanted it to be max years and at around 4 million. He may have limited game experience but we all know he has shined in those games and has developed properly. I’m much more comfortable with the oilers doing it this way then giving him a bridge contract and then we have a potential subban situation, where he could ask for 6?7? Maybe more per year.
This deal is going to be a steal by the Oilers in a few years when he’s still one of the best on the team. This just shows you how much Chiarelli values him and wants him here long term and that he is a vital part of this core. Come two years into this deal, Chia is going to look like a genius. I couldn’t be more excited for this deal.
CM: There is nothing wrong with that Klefbom contract. I’ve seen lots of people concerned with the term vs his time in the NHL. I don’t see what the issue is. In my mind, if you give him a bridge contract, and he continues to trend the way Oilers management obviously feels like he is, you’re looking at probably $6 million+ for that next contract two years down the road. Lock him up now, for long term, and great value. In 3 years, we’ll be laughing at how cheap we have Klefbom for. Great move.
2. Is Leon Draisaitl a Lock to Start the Year With the Edmonon Oilers?
RS: I am actually currently working on a piece for the Hockey Writers on this very subject. It is no secret I was on the fence about the Oilers taking Draisaitl over Sam Bennett with the third overall pick of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft but was ultimately won over by his overall skill set and size.
While that all still holds true, I am not so sure that playing third line minutes in Edmonton is better for his development than seeing major time in the AHL. If we are talking about the kid being used in top six role and as a featured piece on the man advantage that would be one thing but that does not appear to be the case.
It is no surprise that Todd McLellan decided to put him on a line with Anton Lander and Nail Yakupov to start training camp but again, does that setup make sense for a 19-year old to excel in? I have my doubts but Edmonton’s lack of scoring depth on their bottom two lines is fairly apparent. The opportunity is there but Leon is in no way shape or form a lock to make this club.
ST: The Oilers have 13 centremen in camp and leftwinglock.com projects the top-four centres to be Nugent-Hopkins, McDavid, Lander, and Letestu. While the Nuge and McDavid aren’t going anywhere, Lander and Letestu are very moveable pieces – it’s easy to imagine either of these two sliding to the wing to make room for Draisaitl to start the year with the Oilers. So far in camp, Todd McLellan is talking about Draisaitl, Lander, and Nail Yakupov as “a unit with potential” so I expect that the big German will get a chance in the NHL this season.
MM: I think he is and that’s just judging by Todd Mclellan’s words after day 1 of camp where he spoke highly of that third line of Lander, Leon, and Yak. It’s going to be crowded but I think he’s done enough to improve himself that he’s going to be a lock to start the year in the NHL for sure. Sounds like he is either going to play Centre or Wing but that doesn’t matter necessarily, as there is a lot of confidence coming in that he can play either position. He looks improved in every aspect of his game as he worked on his shot and his skating ability.
CM: This summer, I would have said no. I’ve been touting all along that I think Draisaitl should play AHL hockey before getting another shot with the big club. Todd McLellan seems to think differently. He seems legit excited about the prospect of Drats playing with Lander and Yakupov, which has me intrigued by that thought as well. The one thing that may put a wrench in those plans, that many people seem to be forgetting, is the deal Rob Klinkhammer signed last year. If you’re the Oilers, do you risk losing a depth player like that to waivers to see if Drats is ready? Or do you try to make a deal with Klinkhammer for a draft pick before the beginning of the season?
3. Is Andrew Ference the Right Man to Captain the Edmonton Oilers This Year?
RS: If the plan is for Edmonton to have a better showing in the overall standings, the chances of the veteran rearguard seeing regular duty in 2015-16 are likely not very good. As a No. 6/No. 7 defenceman Ference could still be a useful piece but on a team as young as this one, that player cannot be the captain.
Could he still wear an “A” on his jersey? He most certainly could but that should be the extent of it. I have always been a fan of Taylor Hall becoming the next captain of this club but was in absolutely no rush to see that change take place.
That all changed when this organization had Connor McDavid fall into their lap. In my mind, there is no question that No. 97 will be handed the “C” in due time so giving it to one of the other kids makes no sense whatsoever.
As per usual, there are not very many quality veterans on the Oilers roster and because of it picking a short-term captain could prove to be a challenge. Would never have suggested this before but perhaps looking at a guy like Benoit Pouliot would make some sense.
ST: In the short run, Andrew Ference is the right choice to remain captain. For proof of the problems that come with stripping the captaincy, just look at the public feuding that continues between Joe Thornton and GM Doug Wilson in San Jose. It’s an ugly situation. Unless the Oilers know that Ference is on his way out of town, the captaincy should stick with him.
Long term, this is Taylor Hall’s team. The Oilers should continue grooming Hall for the role while phasing Ference out over the course of the year. The Oilers are still in the building phase and there’s no need to saddle the team with an off-ice distraction while the vibes around the team are so positive.
MM: This is a tough one, because he’s kinda everything you look for in a leader for a good young group of guys but I have a feeling he’s not going to be a regular in the lineup this year unfortunately, so it’ll be hard to have him captaining from the press box. I think he’s done a heck of a job so far of being the captain and its already been talked about with him, Mclellan and Chiarelli, so I imagine a changing of the guard is on its way.
I don’t believe he’s the right man anymore and it should be passed off to the Nuge, who quickly gained the respect of the room and the boys. I compare him to a young Yzerman in that he’s a bit of a quiet leader but when he speaks everyone listens and respects what he’s gotta say. Hall is another choice, but sometimes his emotions get the best of him. I have no doubt he’s matured and maybe if he can show that then I’d be more than happy with slapping the “C” on him.
CM: I’ve never been a fan of Ference as the captain of this team. He came in, having never played a game for the Oilers, and got the C based on his shared interest in physical activity with then coach Eakins. The other side of it is, I’ve never been a big fan of stripping guys of the C after they’ve already had it for a few years. That being said, McLellan is not afraid to do that by any means, stripping both Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton of the C during his time in San Jose. If he does decide to pull the C off of Ference, my guess is a leadership by committee plan this season, with possible 6 alternate captains.
4. What is Your Favorite Album of All-Time?
RS: Easily the most difficult question of the bunch and while I do listen to a wide variety of music, there is only one correct answer to this question.
John Coltrane – Love Supreme
ST: Okay, after debating a few choices (Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Californication” was a dynamite return after a long hiatus and Rage Against The Machine’s “Evil Empire” is still an all-time favourite) I have to go with Weezer’s “Pinkerton.”
The album was a huge flop commercially but it’s become a cult classic since then. My band used to cover all sorts of the tracks and “Why Bother?” “The Good Life,” and “El Scorcho” are still some of my favourite songs ever.
MM: Hmmmm my favourite album is a tough choice, because i truly listen to everything. I’d have to go Britney Spears first album…. Haha I’m only kidding. But it would definitely have to be Daft Punks Alive 2007 tour album, something I never get old of. A close second though is Dr Dre’s most recent album of Compton, it was magic.
CM: Hands down for me is the Black Album. There aren’t very many that can compare to the quintessential Metallica record.
A big thank you to Rob Soria, Sean Tierney, Madison Moroz and Corey Mitchell for making themselves available for us! I know that they’re uber busy and for them to do the Sunday Night Pint means a lot to us!
And Thank YOU for reading! Please let us know your thoughts on the topics today in the comments section below!
If you’re looking for some sick hoodies for this fall then look no further than the Beer League Heroes Merch Shop! Dig the 16-bit McDavid design floating around or maybe you’re a Yak fan? Put them on a hoodie or long sleeve and support your favorite team with pride!
Oilers fans have a long history of watching this team develop real NHL defensemen only to let them walk as free agents or traded prior to UFA status taking effect. Today, more than any other day so far I have seen the changing of the tide. Proof that someone other than MacT and Lowe are in charge and making the decisions. Let’s face it, previous management had a proven track record of developing solid defenders that while they may not have been top pairing guys were still legitimate NHL defensemen and then trading them away.
The first three that come to mind for me are Tom Gilbert, Jeff Petry and Marty Marincin. Three quality players, well Marty had some issues but was still a damn sight better than Nikitin or Ference in my opinion. That brings us to today and the joyous occasion that has us reminiscing of players gone too soon. Today Peter Chiarelli made the smart decision and locked up one of the best up and coming defensemen in the league. Oscar Klefbom in my eyes is a huge part of the Oilers defense moving forward and today the Oilers proved they think the same way as I do.
The number I have heard is 4.167 per season. That is a pretty decent number but there are a lot of folks on twitter that are trashing this team for signing Oscar long-term. Well really there are those bitching about the term and there are those bitching about the dollar value. Of course all the hate that I have seen comes from those outside the organization and fan base. I haven’t really seen anyone from the MSM or fans say anything remotely negative about the deal.
Really, I don’t see how anyone can say anything negative about it now. He is a lock to be in our top four for the next eight years. He is still only 22 years old and has a ton of developing left to do so he is only going to get better! He may never be a top guy like Doughty or Keith but he will be a top pairing defenseman, likely by the end of this season. Visions of a top pairing of Darnell Nurse and Oscar make me giddy with anticipation. We are not that far away from that happening folks!
What do you think? Is this a good signing? Too long of a term? Too much money? Let us know what you think. Leave a comment below or follow me on twitter and we can converse there, @justoil78. Thanks for reading.
The hype this summer is all surrounding the future of the Oilers, Connor McDavid, and rightly so. This is wonderful news to all other prospects coming in to training camp because the attention is going to be squarely focused on Connor. This will alleviate some of the stress that will come with trying to impress coaches and management during the young stars tournament and camp. One player that will look to make a big impression and secure a roster spot in his first professional season is Darnell Nurse. What to do with Darnell? That is the question of the day. Our very own Corey Mitchell has a great write-up on Nurse and his potential. If you want to take a look it’s here. He is writing a great series on the Edmonton prospects so be sure to check that out.
There is a lot to like about Darnell. He’s a good two-way defenseman. He’s big and very mobile for a kid his size. He has great positioning and is rarely beaten one on one. He has the ability to join the rush when needed and possesses good offensive instincts. He seems to really enjoy a physical game and brings a noticeable mean streak with him. He’s not afraid to mix it up when needed and is ready to come to the defense of teammates.
The question is what will he be when he reaches his prime? He definitely has the potential to be a true number one defender in the NHL for a long time but who knows when or if that will ever happen. The tea leaves are hard to read but there is some indication that he can get there. The kid is definitely trending in the right direction.
He played huge minutes for his junior team and was vital to the gold medal effort by the World Junior squad this past year. He played 25 minutes a night in all situations and faced the best players that the other teams had. In the playoffs his coach tried to get Darnell on the ice every time that McDavid was out there and he was the only player that seemed to be able to contain him in any way. Now don’t get me wrong Connor still dominated the series but Nurse didn’t look horribly overmatched like the rest of his team.
This coming season coach McLellan will have some very difficult decisions to make before the final cuts are made. Darnell is likely already a better option on the left side than either Nikitin or Ference but the experience factor is not something that I think Todd will easily discount. He will have to be significantly better in camp and the pre-season if he hopes to be on the opening night roster. What to do with Darnell?
In my honest opinion leaving him off the opening night roster isn’t the worst thing in the world and will show that the coaching staff greatly value experience. I think that Todd and company will choose to send Darnell down to Bakersfield to start the season. He will go down to the AHL for a spell and hone his game as a top pairing defender in a very good league.
Just because I think that the kid will start the season on the farm team by no means does that mean that he will finish there. He will likely be the first call up on the left side, and will see significant time in the NHL this season. Mt prediction is that he is on the active roster by the end of November and will then make it impossible for the team to send him back.
Is Darnell destined to be our number one defenseman? Will he start the year in Edmonton or Bakersfield? Time will tell but I want to know what you all think. Come on Beer Leaguers let me hear it. The comments section is just waiting to be blown up with your responses. All we ask is that you keep it in good taste. If the comment section isn’t your thing then you can let me know on Twitter, @cooke_rob, I welcome all to join in the discussion.
On a side note I am proud to finally announce that my very own online store is ready for its official launch! Before I get into things too much I want to thank my good friend the Beer League Hero for the use of his design and the inspiration to start the store in the first place! I’ve added several of my own designs and used them to make a wide variety of items for all you great folks to purchase!
These three items and many more are available now! We’ve got shirts, hoodies, jackets, coffee mugs, cell phone cases, beer mugs, shot glasses, hats and more. New items are being added all the time! Check out Cooke Designs if you want to see more or if you absolutely must have the bottle opener Beer League Heroes shirt. (pictured above) Yes it is a legit bottle opener! How cool is that! Take a look and come back next week when I will run the first contest of the season and give away some free swag!
There has been a lot of talk about the Oilers using their upcoming buyout window to buyout the contract(s) of Nikitin, Purcell, and/or Ference. The logical explanation for buying out a contract would be to make room for the addition of a defenceman either via trade (Seabrook perhaps) or through free agency (Franson or Ehrhoff). Personally, I believe Franson makes the most sense for the Oilers. He would fill the role that Justin Schultz is in now more effectively than Schultz, and would be cheaper and cost no assets to acquire, unlike Brent Seabrook. While Ehrhoff would also be a decent, and likely even less expensive option, Franson adds depth to the weakest organizational position, right-handed defencemen.
I took a look at how the Oilers could potentially add Franson, on a 6 year, $30m contract ($5m AAV) without using a buyout, and also did some armchair GMing to determine the cap implications for the next few seasons:
[table id=11 /]
In this scenario, instead of buying out Nikitin’s contract, I have him being buried in the minors, freeing $0.950m in cap space and resulting in $3.550m in buried cap hit. The additional $0.050m in buried cap space is from Anders Nilsson’s contract. I believe that Scrivens will beat out Nilsson for the backup job. Chances are, if Nilsson was sent to the AHL, he and the Oilers would just agree to mutually terminate his contract, allowing him to return to Europe, or he would be loaned to a team in Europe, allowing the Oilers to retain his rights. I have Andrew Miller making the team because I don’t think he would clear waivers and I thought he played very well in his limited time here last season. Another very important thing to note is that Draisaitl, Reinhart, and Nurse are all in the AHL. Of course, I doubt that any of them will spend all season in Bakersfield, but in this case this will be a development year for all 3 for most of the season. The addition of Franson reduces the need to bring Nurse or Reinhart into the NHL too quickly. The “Maximum” amount referenced in the table refers to the cap hit that would exist if all bonuses were achieved. In this scenario, we would see a $0.988m overage carried into next season:
[table id=12 /]
In this case, I only listed the bonuses that fit under the bonus cushion as “bonuses” in the final cap calculation. The rest, approximately $4.234m worth of performance bonuses are included in the “Cap Hit” to show that the Oilers would not be above the upper limit. Current salary cap projections have the cap staying about the same due to the low Canadian Dollar, so we’ll assume the cap remains at $71.4m. This means that the Oilers would be carrying a $1.988m bonus overage into the 2017-18 season, at most.
Let’s take a look at some of the roster moves that lead to this roster for 2016-17. Amongst forwards, I have Teddy Purcell, Rob Klinkhammer, and Andrew Miller leaving via free agency, and Lauri Korpikoski being buried in the minors. Essentially, Draisaitl replaces Purcell, Slepyshev replaces Korpikoski, Pakarinen replaces Klinkhammer, and an additional forward, from either within or outside the organization replaces Miller. On defence, Ference is bought out of the final year of his deal, Nikitin and Gryba walk as UFAs, and the Oilers either trade or let Justin Schultz walk. Klefbom is re-signed to a long term deal at $4.5m a season, while Reinhart, Nurse, and a defensive prospect, I have Oesterle, join the big club. In goal, Scrivens walks as a free agent and is replaced by Brossoit on a 1 year bridge deal. Cam Talbot is re-signed to a 4 year, $5m AAV deal.
In the 2017 offseason, I figure that the Oilers will have some tough roster decisions to make, with the large bonus overage and several key re-signings coming up such as McDavid and Nurse. I came up with this for the 2017-18 season, using a projected salary cap of $73m:
[table id=13 /]
First off, the two major moves are trading Nail Yakupov and Mark Fayne. Mark Fayne would be traded because with the development of our young defencemen, he would no longer fit. It is the last year of his deal so the team should be able to find a taker. I chose to trade Yakupov because he is a RFA at this point and I don’t believe the Oilers would be able to re-sign him to a reasonable amount. The desired return would include a young right-handed defenceman to play on the third pairing with Reinhart.
For some of the more minor moves, I have Draisaitl signing a bridge deal similar to Ryan Johansen’s. Anton Lander re-signs to a deal around 3-4 years with a $3m AAV. Pakarinen re-signs to a bridge deal and Yakimov joins the team full time on a small one-year deal. Hendricks walks as an UFA. On defence, Reinhart is re-signed to a long term deal. It’s difficult to project his AAV until we know what he can provide to the team but I have put it at $4m. Laurent Brossoit is re-signed to a $2m AAV bridge deal for a couple seasons. This roster carries a $0.386m overage.
Finally, into 2018-19, where we’ll predict a $76m salary cap:
[table id=14 /]
Here the last year of Benoit Pouliot’s deal is traded as well as Cam Talbot, who is replaced by Laurent Brossoit. McDavid and Nurse are both re-signed to long term deals. Yakimov and Slepyshev are re-signed to bridge deals, and the Oilers are left over with $810k in cap space.
Now of course, the chances of everything I have said happening to the exact are very, very low. There are a lot of things we are relying on to happen here. We assume that Draisaitl, Nurse, and Reinhart all pan out, which is likely to happen, but we also assume that Pakarinen, Yakimov, Slepyshev, etc. become useful NHL players. While this scenario outlined what would happen in the seasons following the Oilers just signing Franson or obtaining another defenceman at similar value, a similar thing would likely happen if Nikitin had been bought out and replaced. Unless the cap increases significantly, if the Oilers do decide to add another defenceman to the team, there will have to be players traded to make room.
As for the quality of the team itself, here is a possible lineup for the 2018-19 season:
This looks to be a very good team. That first line could be absolutely deadly, and there is an excellent defensive core, assuming all players develop to their potential.
One last thing that’s important to mention is the contracts for all of these players. It’s difficult to predict some of these contracts. Even for Franson himself, I have him signing for $5m, but he may want more. There are many bridge deals that could come back to haunt the team, but ultimately, if the Oilers want to achieve the most depth possible they may have to look an less expensive bridge deals as a way to open cap space.
Thanks for reading. Also, if you haven’t seen them yet, the “8-Bit Heroes” shirts are now available at Nation Gear. Thanks to our partners at Oilersnation.com for these awesome shirts.
We also have a bunch of new shirts available at the Beer League Heroes Store, so be sure to check those out as well.
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