Not unfair, considering how much the cap is projected to rise. The dude has his warts, but he’s indispensable come playoff time for the Oilers. Legitimately just as valuable as Ekholm if not more so. They just have different jobs.
Not necessarily. The way the Oilers contracts are structured they'll have ~60 million in cap space when McDavid is slated to hit UFA, even with a longterm Bouchard extension. Kane's contract is up the same year, same with Ekholm, Walman, Skinner, Arvidsson, Henrique. The cash will be there for McDavid regardless of what happens with Bouchard.
I’d add Ekholm to that list as well, tbh. Hard to find a D like him. And in terms of everyone else being replaceable, on an individual basis, sure, but the overall depth they have now is really the difference between now and the early years of McDrai, and allows them to excel the way they have in their roles. The key thing is if they can actually replace the “replaceable” guys. Especially the bottom-six. We’re seeing in this series first hand how valuable it is to have capable and serviceable bottom-six depth.
I love Ekholm to death, and he's crazy valuable to us, but we're 7-3 so far in the playoffs overall without him playing a minute. Walman, I believe, is the longterm replacement for him and he's done his job admirably.
Oilers will need Ekholm if we are facing Dallas. You move Stuart Skinner, Emberson to make room way before letting Ekholm go.
It’s early. The playoffs are a grind. I know he’s slated to return, but let’s say there’s a bump in the road and he’s ruled out for the season.
I think the need for Ekholm is a bit overstated. Yes, he's great and a perfect fit for Bouchard and was an incredible mentor for him as he came up. This year was a bit of a step back for Bouch, but I'm confident he uses it to motivate himself to be better next year (unless we win the cup, in which case he can have a summer off and get fat for all I care). I think Bouchard becomes a consistent, elite defender able to carry a pair as long as his partner is reliable.
There's a higher chance of Makar coming to the Oilers than McDavid leaving for Toronto
Like I said, you’re going to see the need for Ek real quick if he’s not back or not 100% as soon as next round, if the Oilers get there. We’ll see what happens.
I mean, maybe. Hes a top pairing guy, any team would miss that, but the D has overall played well thus far. And if they dont continue that, there is nothing we can do about it this year. The original guy you quoted was talking about Walman as a longterm replacement for Ek and so am I, but maybe more the whole D core replacing his current roles he fills, by committee.
I didnt specify Toronto, but yes, they would be in the top 5 potentials.
Makes no difference to me. He isnt coming to the Avs and better for the league to be marketed in a bigger market.Go write it in your diary with the rest of your fantasies.
It obviously does make a difference to you or you wouldn't be spending so much time talking about it.
I prefer talking about the NHL as a whole than simply my team and McDavid is kindof a big deal. Going to be a monster story soon until he re-signs.It obviously does make a difference to you or you wouldn't be spending so much time talking about it.
Because it keeps the Oilers Stanley Cup challenging roster together rather than giving them the cap flexibility to "potentially" improve it.
This logic is the same as people who want to trade Larkin for the 1.04 because "it could be Larkin".
MCD is leaving.. bouch sucks and will put us in draft lottery contention after MCD leaves and the stars will smoke us.
Eh, you saw how the rangers worked around the Goodrow and Trouba situation. I don't think it's as big of a deal as people make it out to be, won't be easy by any means but it's not some impossible feat.
