Depends who’s available. If Pastrnak is available and Bouchard on his own can get it done, I would hope the Oilers entertain that trade. Do another trade for Erik Karlsson at 50%
if Bouch does move on, this team is going to need a very good right handed, puck moving D, who at the very least, can play top 4 minutes, top pairing minutes would be ideal.
This summer is about the following, in order of importance/my preference.
1) Extend McDavid, hoping for 15 or less, but would pay up to 17, probably more if they had to.
2) Fix goaltending, obviously in the NHL, and in the AHL/system. I like Michael Diepietro for the AHL/to fight in camp against Picks and Stu and whoever else we get. Ideally they need a guy who is better than Stu, and will be the 1A to Stu's 1B, if he is still here. They should look at new goaltending scouts, coaches, everything. Look at other team's goalie depth, try and steal 1 or 2 from elsewhere. I don't feel there is anyone in the Oiler's system, at least, no one who is close.
3)Figure out RFAs before July 1, not after. The pending RFAs are...
Bouch, Emberson, Regula, Philip, and a few others from Bako.
The decision wiht Bouchard is huge and the most important. Emberson is also a pretty interesting contract this summer.
4)Figure out if you want to resign any of the UFAs, and sign them, so you are ready and have a good plan for day 1 of free agency.
Fredric, Perry, C. Brown, Kapanen, Klingberg, J. Skinner.
I could see all of them NOT coming back, we will see what Fredric looks like, but not a whole lot of guys here who be here in the fall, imo.
5)Look high and low, in Europe, US college hockey, CIS Canadian hockey, major junior, other team's depth list of guys who might available for free or cheap. This team will need to find some, cheap, and effective replacements to fill holes over the next few years, while the majority of cap $$$ goes to the big boys, need as many 1 million-ish, effective players to fill holes all over the line up.
Hopefully this upcoming summer is a short one again, due to a long postseason ru, hopefully with one more win, followed by a better summer by Oilers management, make that, A MUCH BETTER summer.
as of now, I have this penciled in...
UP FRONT
EMPTY - 97 - 18
91 - 29 - Savoie
93 - 19 - 36
33 - 13 - 92
extras Forwards...
Philp (maybe)
Hamblin (maybe)
* Fredric - TBD, if he fits well, maybe they resign him, we will see.
BACK END
14-2
25-96
27-49
extra D...
The 51
Goalies
#1 - EMPTY
#2 - 74
NET depth...
EMPTY
30
Feel the D looks pretty solid, so it's at least one top 6 winger, who can actually score. find a starting goalie, and some more depth for the organization. It's gonna be a very important summer for the Oilers, I sure hope Stan Bowman doesn't let us down.