Free agent frenzy is running wild in Edmonton right now. The Oilers have agreed to terms with defender Mark Fayne on a four-year deal and forward Benoit Pouliot to a five-year deal. The Oilers will be paying Pouliot $4 M per season and Fayne around $3.6 M per year.
Both moves fill needs, as Edmonton badly needed another NHL defender and a top-nine left winger. Pouliot has proven he can play a top-nine role the last few years, and gives Edmonton scoring depth and solid size. He’s not a home-run, and the contract is a bit large, but he is a good player and adds a lot to the Oilers line-up.
Fayne is a guy that doesn’t fill the top-pairing hole, but is a solid defender that is a terrific possession player. He comes in at a pretty fair contract as well, which is a big win for the Oilers. In addition to being a solid possession player and a good shut-down defender, Fayne has the ability to move the puck a bit as well.
Neither player is a home-run addition, but both are solid players and should help improve the Oilers moving forward. The Oilers Rig profiled both of these players in the off-season targets series, you can check out our look at them here:
Fayne: http://www.theoilersrig.com/2014/06/season-targets-mark-fayne/
Pouliot: http://www.theoilersrig.com/2014/06/season-targets-benoit-pouliot/
Doubt the Oilers are done. Two holes filled, more to come I’d suspect. Stay with the Rig throughout the day.
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