His NMC turns into a M-NTC on February 28, 2025. And that 'position of extreme weakness' would be no different than the position the Oilers were in dealing Barrie to the Preds in the Ekholm trade.
I initially thought as much, but with the Kane LTI situation, I think it's likelier we see a Ceci trade in the next few days.
Generally I imagine teams defer to their own players. Their toi is similar at Vinnie 15:44 and Brown 14:45 on a non playoff team. Desharnais was a solid role guy on the Oil PK who showed growth in his game as an age 28 peak years player. The NHLEdge comps between them: NHL EDGE Puck and Player Tracking Statistics - Comparisons
That's the thing though. The Oilers don't have the cap flexibility. They're still going into LTI. And as it stands, they're a cap team.
The Oilers signed Stecher and Josh Brown this summer. There is no reality where Nurse gets moved.
Nurse isn't going anywhere. Ceci will be the one moving for an upgrade. I think the Oilers walk from both and had already prepped themselves to do so with the FA signings and trades done by Jackson. We have a few players that could step into the 4th line to replace Holloway, and we already have Stetcher for the 3rd pairing RHD. We haven't even considered tryouts yet either. There will be an opportunity for some players to come in that haven't signed that will be willing to play for cheap (hello Barrie, welcome back), and make a run for the cup.
- Oil secure scarce young prime year talent to extend winning window
- Oilers create huge budget issue with cap compliance and unknown duration of Kane's LTIR.
- Oil compromise sustaining winning window with only Savoie as NHL ready top six talent
- Likely succession plan in place for Ekholm in 2-3 years. D-men swap roster spots extending Ekholm's impact through longer window.
Overdue love for your avatar by the way. haha.
While I think they could have been a bit more aware and proactive I don’t know if it’s completely fair to say they got caught with their pants down. It’s pretty standard procedure for GM’s to leave their non arb rfa’s to later in the summer as they work out their roster or work to create cap space and mostly gm’s have observed that unspoken tradition because they understand they’re all living in glass houses. Even Armstrong has been in a tight spot with rfa’s in the last and I’m sure he’d probably feel a little differently if the shoe was on the other foot. It kind of reminds me of racing when a guy at the back of the field starts racing a guy who’s fighting for the lead and is lapping the mid packer. It’s poor taste to race against a guy who’s fighting for the win just because you want to finish a spot or two higher, just stay out of the way because eventually you’ll be that guy and people remember.
Yes, you're committing that cap to Broberg and Holloway. That's a forgone conclusion. But how much are you spending trying to replace the projected roles they were earmarked to fill moving forward? Which players of that skillset are we targeting in either market and which additional assets are we parting with to make that a reality?
Gotta. Thanks again.
It's standard procedure until it isn't though. This is the first real bump year post covid so the risk element was heightened. Fact it was talked about pre-free agency by the GM who laid the stink bomb was enough to raise antennas.
I'm still not that psyched about the prospect of a third line Evander Kane, nor do I think we're much farther ahead with Kulak seeing his minutes reduced for much of last season.
I think we have to leave spots open for training cano. I think Jarventie will surprise and we will make it to the TDL with our current defence just fine all while battling for 1st in the division
You get 6m salary room too. It’s hard when players don’t want to play on your team. Luckily alot of players do want to come to Edmonton.
