Alright, so the season is lost and the crazies have come out. On a few different sites I have read how the Oilers are going to try and take advantage of teams in cap trouble this summer, and while a good idea in theory, the facts are the Oilers aren’t really going to be in a position to take advantage this summer. Let’s just look at the numbers.
Hoping that Draisaitl and Nurse actually are allowed to develop in the AHL next year, plus players like Hamilton, Pakarinen, Marincin and Pitlick start in the AHL, the Oilers have $46.994M committed to 13 players. That leaves around $22m in available cap space to round out roster, if the cap stays the same.
The guys signed for next year make up a roster of:
Hall(6.0)/RNH(6.0)/Eberle(6.0)
Pouliot(4.0)/???/???
???/???/Purcell(4.5)
Hendricks(1.85)/Gordon(3.0)/Klinkhammer(0.725)
(Gazdic is an extra)
Klefbom(1.244)/???
Nikitin(4.5)/???
Ference(3.25)/Fayne(3.625)
Starting Keeper: ???
Scrivens(2.3)
That makes up a cap total of $46.994M for this lineup, a lineup that has just as many holes as the team has right now, but there are a few players that need to be signed.
The RFA list includes:
-Yakupov
-Lander
-Fraser
-Schultz
-Aulie
-Marincin
The UFA list includes:
-Roy
-Fasth
-Bachman
As the UFA’s go, I think the only one we will see back here will be Roy. Yakupov got the vote of confidence from MacT, so the guy who has helped his game has to stay. He might be a small forward, but he plays a position we need and is a veteran presence. We won’t be able to get him at a value contract of around $1 M like he’s on right now, because the honest truth is UFA’s will only sign here if we overpay. That’s what happens when the team sucks so long.
While I think a good team would get him for the $2 M range, to keep him the Oilers are going to have to pay more. Let’s say $2.75 M on a one or two year contract. The perfect veteran compliment player who could bridge the gap until Draisaitl is ready for full time, plus the chemistry he has with Yak is undeniable.
Which brings us to the 1st Overall Russian sniper himself. Yakupov’s career has been so up and down, I just don’t see a long term deal wanted from either side. A short term bridge deal will be good for Yak to show he’s worth a big contract, while the team gets a lower contract on a shorter term that could be moved if needed. So let’s say he get’s a bridge deal in the range of $3.0 M over two years. The team and player are both happy. That fills up the second line of your roster.
Anton Lander, while only in a short stint, has finally shown promise. As far as I’m concerned, he’s earned himself a one year deal. We will say in the range of the Klinkhammer deal at $725,000. He has shown a little bit of skill and is decent in his own end, so let’s say he will at least get the chance to fight for a spot on the “3rd” line. I say that in quotations because the Gordon line really acts as a energy tough minutes third line. Hendricks and Gordon also get a fair amount of PK time as well.
Next up would be the enigma that is Justin Schultz, another guy who has stepped up his game since the coaching change. He’s going to be the best defender in the NHL according to MacT! All joking aside, he is going to get himself a contract. The team is high on him, and while many would disagree, he is a part of this team moving forward. He’s an offensive right handed guy who can put up points, those kinds of guys don’t just grow on trees. Hopefully the team is smart enough to give him a bridge deal. It won’t be as cheap as a Yakupov deal since he was given $3.675 M this last year, and they will probably have to give him a raise to make him happy. Most won’t like it, but he will get second pairing numbers, probably in the range of $4.25 M on a one year deal again.
Keith Aulie could be re-signed as well as a fill in player like this year. While not the strongest skater he is one mean son of a bitch, an element that can be an asset, if only for a small number of games. The same kind of role that Gazdic plays up front so to speak. An extra player who can get into the lineup a provided added toughness is needed from time to time and when an injury occurs, well with soft minutes of course. Same goes for a guy like Fraser, Fraser is the perfect kind of extra roster player. He might only be a fringe NHL’er but does have enough skill to go anywhere in the lineup when needed.
Back to the point, I haven’t forgot about our pick in this years draft. I’m HOPING it’s Eichel or McDavid. Also after giving contracts to our free agents, next year’s roster would look something along the line of:
Hall(6.0)/RNH(6.0)/Eberle(6.0)
Pouliot(4.0)/Roy(2.75)/Yakupov(3.0)
1st Pick(0.925)/Lander(0.725)/Purcell(4.5)
Hendricks(1.85)/Gordon(3.0)/Klinkhammer(0.725)
Klefbom(1.244)/Schultz(4.25)
Nikitin(4.5)/???
Ference(3.25)/Fayne(3.625)
???
Scrivens(2.3)
That leaves $10.356 M in cap space to fill two roster spots. That’s not bad right? WRONG! If the Oilers do try and get a decent upgrade on the back end, that’s going cost a bit of money. Best case scenario, let’s say they do sign a certain guy *cough* Sek *cough* era *cough* It’s going to cost them. Once again the absolute best case, about $6.0 M. That only leaves $4.356 M to get a staring keeper.
You might be able to sway Niemi with that kind of money, but is he really a major upgrade? Ever so slightly, but yes he would be. Then the Oilers are capped out. Even worse is UFA’s always get multi year deals.
Can the otherworldly contribution of hockey gods Sekera and Niemi propel the Oilers to Playoff stardom for the first time in a decade?
Thank you so much for reading. Don’t forget to add everyone from @theoilersrig on twitter. Especially me of coarse @sharkyzeee. Have a great day!
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