After the Seattle Draft

Team: 2021-22 Edmonton Oilers

Initial Creation Date: Jun. 30, 2020

Published: Jun. 30, 2020

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

This is based on the cap remaining flat for 2021-22 as well. The top-6 here is identical to many projections for 2020-21, if Holland signs Athanasiou and Puljujarvi to 2-year deals this summer we could ride this top six for the foreseeable future. I created a 3rd line that would take the hard defensive matchups, d-zone draws and PK work. This will allow Tippett to run a high-skill "kid line" as the 4th, giving them the easiest and most sheltered minutes.

The defense looks basically the same, we lost Jones (3LD) to Seattle and I've moved Bouchard into the top-6. I'm projecting that this will be his 2nd year in the NHL and 3rd year as a pro, so I think he'll be ready for 2nd pairing minutes next to Klefbom. If Larsson loses his top-4 place or sees his utility decline due to injury, I think he gets a smaller contract than he did previous when NJ had high hopes of him becoming a top-pairing guy (the offense never arrived). I think he'd be a great mentor for the young LHD (Samorukov in 2021-22, Broberg the following year), but if he won't re-sign for fairly cheap he can walk and I'll replace him with Kemp who I think will be able to step into a 3rd pairing role a year from now, or Berglund who probably can right now. So there are cheaper options available, don't get hung up on the Larsson contract.

I know Holland won't project Konovalov into the lineup like I am, but I think he'll be able to step into a 1B role right away. By the time the 2021 training camp rolls around he'll have been a starter in the KHL (the 2nd best league in the world) for 3 seasons, I don't think - like many fans - that he'll need a year in the AHL (a step down) before playing in the NHL with a mentor like Koskinen - who although Finish, played for years in the KHL also. And if he does need a couple of months in the AHL, Cory Schneider can be the backup during that time.

People here love to hate Neal, but he's still an NHLer based on his stats (CF, xGF, etc) despite the fact he played with a broken toe this year, and he can help on the PP. That PP net-front guy was what NJ brought Simmonds in to do and he didn't do it very well, so I think they would have some interest in Neal. Taking Neal's extra year is the tradeoff for getting an NHL player for an AHL player.

Khaira and Benning were traded someplace for picks, I didn't bother making the trades because it makes no difference to the roster.

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