I am truly baffled by what non-Oilers fans would have suggested. I confess I quit following these threads by about page 5 of the first one, but in my opinion people (myself included) have been saying for years that the Oilers need a top pairing defenceman, but not easy to sign one in free agency, and not easy to trade for one, so better to develop your own. Now that the Oilers have done that, do people think they should not have resigned him beyond his RFA years? I am pleased to have developed a defenceman that wants to stay in Edmonton and would have been livid if they let him walk next summer.
Not sure what the most likely other option would have been:
- sign him this summer, but for a shorter term..and less money? That seems unlikely, given the way the summer has gone.
- wait until part way into this season and sign him to an extension (taking the chance that he would have to be signed for even a higher cap hit).
- wait until the season is over, and negotiate with him next summer before free agency with the (hope?) that he has a bad season resulting in a lower cap hit (even though he has shown improvement every year).
- let him walk next summer and begin the search for a top pairing defenceman again. (anyone seen Groundhog day?).
In my opinion they chose the best option, and I am happy he has agreed to play his entire career in Edmonton.
