Not sure why Reimer gets so much hate.
The alternative is worse I would say. When Koskinen is gone with his 4.5 million, you still have to pay a goaltender. You still have shit depth on the wings. It's about value for specific positions. A 2nd line LW is worth 3.5 million easy. A 1A/AB goalie is worth 2.2 million easy. Yes you're cap strapped for next season. You're going to be no matter what, you'll just have to pay on the free agent market, which is much worse, or rely on rookies to fill the lineup.
No question that those players are worth the salary but unless the Oilers shed some salary they just won't be able to afford it.
What the hell does that have to do with what I just said?
Honestly id agree with the trade with the counselling in it. Oilers would benefit greatly with him on the 2nd line rw possibly switching with Jp every now and again. I can see JP deal something like 4.25-4.5per for 4-5 yrs. Also with smiths contract is front loaded so if he retires after this year his 2nd yr doesnt count towards oilers cap. And with Keith's contract if he retires after this season his last yr is on chicago and oilers get an extra 3m in cap space as well. So i mean between smith and keith oilers could have a potential 10m extra in cap space for next season and if oilers say give zona 2 1sts and a cap dump and prospect for chychrun this year i can see a good possibility of both retiring especially if by chance oilers win the cup but they would have get their shit together and get a #1 tender.
I don’t think it would be a huge problem.
No way you put kane on the 3rd line. You trade yamo or put him on the third and trade kassian to an eastern team. But kane is a top 6 player and honestly is probably best suites to play with mcdavid or you have nuge centering hyman and kane on the 2nd. Depth can come but honestly goaltending is more of a priority over depth because a true #1 tender will keep you in a game and bring the team together with a few good looking saves. Idc what team you have infront you put someone like kosk in net and the team in front of you knows one of 2 things, either hes letting in one of the first 2 shots or hes goimg to have a decent game and knowing that the team is going to play like shit right at the start. Hence why oilers have lost 7 of their last 9. You have skinner in net and he provides way more stability than kosk ever will not only that the team doesnt play like shit right from the get go. At the end of the day they need to trade kosk once smith is back or send him down to the echl. If they think skinner is their #1 or the future let him get the experience he needs now.
