In about a week and a half, the calendar will turn to July 1st. For the NHL, that’s a significant date because it is the official start of a new league year. It’s also the start of free agency in the NHL.
The Edmonton Oilers don’t have a ton of quality free agents that need to be re-signed, but GM Peter Chiarelli and company certainly have a number of decisions to make with this roster between now and July 1st. Who stays and who goes from the current pending UFA and RFA class? Let’s look.
UFA’s:
RW Adam Cracknell: The Oilers claimed the grinder off waivers on trade deadline day to serve as a fill-in option to close out the season. After watching him for a handful of games, it is tough to see Cracknell as anything more than a fill-in. He’s a replacement level player and didn’t do enough to separate himself from the young depth options. Verdict: Not re-signed.
D Eric Gryba: Before the deadline, word began to circulate that the sides were talking contract. To this point, nothing has been inked and there has been no smoke surrounding these negotiations. Gryba did a good job as a third-pairing shut-down defender, but it’s hard to see him as anything else. Considering the contract Boston just gave Kevan Miller, Gryba is likely out of Peter Chiarelli’s price range. Verdict: Likely a plan C or D option if team strikes out elsewhere.
D Adam Pardy: Another fill-in option added off waivers at the deadline. Pardy filled in quite well, but he’s a slower player and is very limited. Like Cracknell, he’s a replacement level player, but could serve as a cheap number seven defender next season. I’d consider him for depth if I were the Oilers. Verdict: Likely not re-signed.
D Nikita Nikitin: This was Craig MacTavish’s second worst move (behind trading Petry) as GM of the Oilers. Nikitin was a disaster in his two-year stint with the Oilers and ended up playing most of the 2015-16 season in the AHL. The latest word surrounding him is that he is bound for the KHL. Verdict: Not re-signed.
F Ryan Hamilton: He won’t be taking up a spot on the 50-man list, but Hamilton will be back in Bakersfield next season. The veteran is signed to an AHL contract and will continue to serve as a leader on the farm. Verdict: Signed to two-year AHL contract.
F Andrew Miller: He was loaned to the Charlotte Checkers mid-season and is a pending UFA. There’s almost no chance that Edmonton brings the former Yale center back. Verdict: Not re-signed.
D Brad Hunt: Skill-set is a little redundant with Joey LaLeggia in the system now. Clearly not a prospect for the NHL team, either. Likely moved down the line to make room for prospects in Bakersfield. Verdict: Not re-signed.
RFA’s:
F Luke Gazdic: The enforcer didn’t see much time in the Oiler lineup this past season, in fact, he spent some time down on the farm. The enforcer is a dying breed in hockey and I can’t see the Oilers spending a roster spot on one in 2016-17. Verdict: Not qualified and allowed to become a UFA.
F Iiro Pakarinen: The gritty Finn has all the tools to be an NHL player, but simply could not score enough this past season. That said, Todd McLellan likes him, he is likely to be a cheap option, and he still has potential. I still think he can provide value as a fourth liner or a depth option. Verdict: Re-signed and on the big club in 2016-17.
D Adam Clendening: A right-shot D that can move the puck and post some offense. On the surface, this should be a no-brainer, right? Clendening has a speed issue, however, and isn’t overly solid in his own end. He’s a depth option and likely a 6/7/8 defender. That said, he’s young enough to still develop as a player. This one will be close. Verdict: Re-signed to a one-year deal.
D David Musil: Musil didn’t get a look in the NHL this past season and his path appears blocked from here. The Oilers have a plethora of left-shooting defenders who play a stay-at-home game. I can see Musil being used as a trade throw-in this off-season. Verdict: Re-signed but used as trade bait.
F Kale Kessy: Kessy was acquired by former GM Steve Tambellini to be the power forward that Edmonton so badly craved. In the end, he struggled to perform at the AHL level and is now a non-factor as a prospect. Verdict: Not re-signed.
Just a quick closing note, the Oilers have re-signed two RFA’s already, F Tyler Pitlick and D Jordan Oesterle. These were the team’s first decisions, but obviously they won’t be the last as Peter Chiarelli looks to put this organization together.
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