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Fixing the Mike Smith Problem

Created by: dannibalcorpse
Team: 2021-22 Edmonton Oilers
Initial Creation Date: Feb. 14, 2022
Published: Feb. 14, 2022
Salary Cap Mode: Basic
Legend
Left Handed
Original Team
Waivers Exempt
Right Handed
Position
Trade Clause
Max Perf. Bonus
Expiry Status
Term Remaining
Logo of the Edmonton Oilers
Waivers ExemptMcDavid, Connor
$12,500,000 (Performance Bonus$250,000)
C
NMC
UFA - 5
Description
Edmonton's goalie situation is in such a bad/weird state. Mikko Koskinen? Not good. Mike Smith? Not young, or all that healthy. Stuart Skinner? Apparently not ready. And the biggest problem is that, next year, Skinner is waiver-eligible and will need to stay on the roster, and Mike Smith has another year left on his contract. How can we avoid wasting another year of Connor & Leon's primes?

First, make the move to upgrade your #1 goalie this year (and most likely 1A next year), and get Semyon Varlamov from the Islanders, for the generally accepted value of Mikko Koskinen and a 1st.

Now, what do with Mike Smith? Gotta find somewhere to dump him, and I can't think of any better place to dump a goalie with health issues than Buffalo. He can tandem up with Craig Anderson the rest of the way this year (I don't think the Sabres should be worried about losing Dustin Tokarski through waivers) and next year Smith can mentor Buffalo's young goalie prospect Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. To sweeten the trade, you send Kailer Yamamoto out with him - KY seems to just not be clicking in Edmonton, so a change of scenery might help him unlock his potential. If you really need to convince Buffalo to take that Mike Smith contract, you can always throw in a conditional pick to give them backup in case Yamamoto doesn't work out there and they let him walk. For the sake of Edmonton's return, the role of "Brendan Davidson" could also be played by the nebulous "Future Considerations" - I just included Davidson as a potential 7th D if Edmonton wants him for whatever playoff run they might be making.

So, long story short, Edmonton sends out Koskinen, Smith, a #1, and Yamamoto/#2, and gets back Varlamov, cap room, and whatever depth player they want from Buffalo, and they are set in goal the rest of this year & next. Thoughts?
Trades
1.
NYI
  1. Koskinen, Mikko
  2. 2022 1st round pick (EDM)
2.
BUF
  1. Smith, Mike
  2. Yamamoto, Kailer
  3. 2023 2nd round pick (EDM)
Additional Details:
2023 2nd is conditional - if Yamamoto doesn't play for the 2022-23 Sabres, the pick conveys; otherwise, Edmonton keeps it.
Buyouts
Retained Salary Transactions
DraftRound 1Round 2Round 3Round 4Round 5Round 6Round 7
2022
Logo of the EDM
Logo of the EDM
Logo of the EDM
Logo of the EDM
2023
Logo of the EDM
Logo of the EDM
Logo of the EDM
Logo of the EDM
Logo of the EDM
Logo of the EDM
2024
Logo of the EDM
Logo of the EDM
Logo of the EDM
Logo of the EDM
Logo of the EDM
Logo of the EDM
Logo of the EDM
ROSTER SIZESALARY CAPCAP HITOVERAGES TooltipBONUSESCAP SPACE
23$81,500,000$80,061,497$669,339$1,840,000$1,438,503
Left WingCentreRight Wing
Logo of the Edmonton Oilers
$5,500,000$5,500,000
RW, LW
NMC
UFA - 7
Logo of the Edmonton Oilers
$12,500,000$12,500,000
C
UFA - 5
Logo of the Edmonton Oilers
$2,108,696$2,108,696
LW, RW
NMC
UFA - 1
Logo of the Edmonton Oilers
$5,125,000$5,125,000
LW, C
NMC
UFA - 8
Logo of the Edmonton Oilers
$8,500,000$8,500,000
C, LW
UFA - 4
Logo of the Edmonton Oilers
$3,200,000$3,200,000
RW
UFA - 3
Logo of the Edmonton Oilers
$2,750,000$2,750,000
LW, RW
UFA - 3
Logo of the Edmonton Oilers
$1,250,000$1,250,000
C, RW
UFA - 2
Logo of the Edmonton Oilers
$1,175,000$1,175,000
RW
UFA - 1
Logo of the Edmonton Oilers
$750,000$750,000
LW, RW
UFA - 1
Logo of the Edmonton Oilers
$834,167$834,167 (Performance Bonus$57,500$58K)
C
RFA - 1
Logo of the Edmonton Oilers
$850,000$850,000
LW, C, RW
UFA - 2
Left DefenseRight DefenseGoaltender
Logo of the Edmonton Oilers
$5,600,000$5,600,000
LD
UFA - 1
Logo of the Edmonton Oilers
$4,500,000$4,500,000
RD
UFA - 3
Logo of the New York Islanders
$5,000,000$5,000,000
G
M-NTC
UFA - 2
Logo of the Edmonton Oilers
$863,333$863,333 (Performance Bonus$850,000$850K)
LD
RFA - 3
Logo of the Edmonton Oilers
$3,250,000$3,250,000
RD
UFA - 4
Logo of the Edmonton Oilers
$750,000$750,000
G
UFA - 2
Logo of the Edmonton Oilers
$817,500$817,500 (Performance Bonus$82,500$82K)
LD
UFA - 1
Logo of the Edmonton Oilers
$863,333$863,333 (Performance Bonus$850,000$850K)
RD
RFA - 2
ScratchesInjured Reserve (IR)Long Term IR (LTIR)
Logo of the Buffalo Sabres
$750,000$750,000
LD
UFA - 1
Logo of the Edmonton Oilers
$1,250,000$1,250,000
LD/RD
UFA - 1
Logo of the Edmonton Oilers
$4,167,000$4,167,000
LD
M-NTC
UFA - 2
Logo of the Edmonton Oilers
$750,000$750,000
RW, LW
UFA - 1
Logo of the Edmonton Oilers
$5,538,462$5,538,462
LD
NMC
UFA - 2
Logo of the Edmonton Oilers
$1,500,000$1,500,000
RW, LW
UFA - 1
Logo of the Edmonton Oilers
$750,000$750,000
C, LW
UFA - 1
Logo of the Edmonton Oilers
$1,650,000$1,650,000
C, RW
UFA - 1

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Top Comments

Feb. 14, 2022 at 8:46 p.m.
#1
Islanders Fan
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Joined: May 2016
Posts: 7,897
Likes: 2,803
Why wouldn’t Yam play?
Gmonwy liked this.
Feb. 14, 2022 at 8:49 p.m.
#2
we miss leo k
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Joined: Feb. 2018
Posts: 6,028
Likes: 5,148
Quoting: joshelkin
Why wouldn’t Yam play?


If they decide he doesn't work for them and they don't qualify him, I should've been clearer in where I was going with that. He's an RFA this season so you basically give Buffalo a month+ to audition him and give them that backup if they hate the fit and let him walk.
gretzkyghosts liked this.
Feb. 14, 2022 at 8:49 p.m.
#3
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Joined: Oct. 2020
Posts: 11,171
Likes: 8,678
I would take that deal to Detroit for Smith. We are going to need a back up next season and I would take a chance on Yamamoto.
Feb. 14, 2022 at 8:51 p.m.
#4
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Joined: Nov. 2021
Posts: 2,376
Likes: 1,746
Buffalo accept
gretzkyghosts liked this.
Feb. 14, 2022 at 8:53 p.m.
#5
we miss leo k
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Joined: Feb. 2018
Posts: 6,028
Likes: 5,148
Quoting: Lancebmx
I would take that deal to Detroit for Smith. We are going to need a back up next season and I would take a chance on Yamamoto.


I thought about Detroit too, but just love the idea of teaming up 39-year-old Mike Smith with 40-year-old Craig Anderson the rest of the year with Buffalo. Smith is still playable enough with that $2.2M hit that I think a lot of teams could find a backup slot for him.
gretzkyghosts liked this.
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