I’m sure the Oilers would love to make 2-3 moves but have to be realistic about their cap situation. It’s already been explained in one of these threads that moving LTIR deals doesn’t do anything for them cap wise and they really can’t accrue any cap space. Because they have such little options to create cap space they don‘t have much margin for error and so they need to make sure the move they do make has the most significant impact and the area of greatest need is a sure fire mid pairing defender, based on Edmundson’s play he would be a huge gamble in that role. Even if he was meant to be a second or third move, what are they going to do? Acquire him just so they can put Kulak, who’s formed a great third pairing with Barrie, in the press box with his deal that he just signed? It doesn’t make sense. Plus they have Broberg who’s been playing very well and Desharnais who‘s been impressive in a very short span and looks to have some of the same qualities as Edmundson. The Oilers have a logjam on the lower end of their defensive roster, their need is someone who can reliably play above these players, they don’t need to add to the logjam.
At this point Puljujarvi is either going to be giving away or he’s going to be a throw in to balance cap in a deal for a defender. If you want to know what Armia’s value is look at the Kassian to Arizona deal, at 3.4M with 2 more years left you’re looking at paying a 2nd and a 3rd to get rid of that contract.
OK, so some fans say moving the LTIR contracts don't matter and this is considered fact? Come on man.. fans just don't know the cap that well.
What about Weber on LTIR before the Habs last year and then Price on LTIR after the season started. You would think we would not be able to accrue cap space right? False. Price's contract is higher so we did accrue cap space.
How does this apply to the Oilers? It's not the same yes but I do believe that the Oilers could possibly accrue cap space if a package of Puljuarvi, Smith, and Klefbom are traded ASAP while Kane is on LTIR for a month or two. How much space? Your guess is as good as mine but you believe it doesn't create cap space. I don't think that is fact one way or another bud. But you can pretend that fans on HF boards in a popular bandwagon reveals factual information if you wish.
Oilers have $91.6M of cap hits.
* $6.367M is with Smith and Klefbom (placed on LTIR before the season I believe)
* $9.4M of this is Smith, Klefbom, and Puljujarvi
* $5.125M of that is Kane
$91.6M - $9.4M (Smith, Klefbom, and Puljuarvi) = $82.24M. That would put them below the cap so then if Kane is still on LTIR for a month or two, I do believe that accrues cap space. Probably around $1M - $2M range. This is simple guessing on my part but if true, it's a much better situation than you are in now. Riding the rest of the season with a 20 or 21 man roster is very risky. If anybody goes on IR (not LTIR) and you have to call somebody up, it chews into cap space even more and you might not be able to even ice a 20 man roster.
Edmundson at full cap hit still don't fit (I believe but not sure). At 50% and for 50% of a season, his cap hit is $875k.
