First step is not giving Bear such a ridiculous bridge deal, no way he gets close to 5.5M for 3 years. This is his first good season, should get no more then 2.5M per year for 2 years.

I think you're over inflating their issues a bit. They have Bouchard likely to be ready for them next year on an ELC. You can find other adequate 3rd pair guys for under 2m. Trading Larsson for cheaper offensive help in the summer probably wouldn't hurt... it's not that bad.

I would have agreed with you before they signed Nurse at $5,600,000 x 2 years (buying zero UFA years).

This sets a horrible precedent for Ethan Bear's contract negotiation.

Don't get me wrong ... they're obviously at two very different points in their careers.

But buying zero UFA years from Nurse essentially puts Bear in the most comparable position he could possibly be in.

The two players have similar stats in every major category this year (goals, points, P/GP, ATOI, etc) and Bear can argue he has better career averages at a younger age.

Bears extension probably just jumped into one of the following ranges:

$5,000,000 x 2 years (RFA expiry)
$6,000,000 x 4 years (UFA expiry)
$7,000,000 x 6 years (UFA expiry)

Toronto had a similar issue last year. Matthews forced a Tavares comparable contract then Marner forced a Matthews comparable contract.

I see this situation playing out the same ... maybe Edmonton can get a 2-year deal with a $4,000,000 cap-hit ... but I don't see it being any lower.

Maybe you could trade Kris Russell?

You could. You'd have to give up an asset, but with only a year left, I'm sure you could find someone willing

If the Oilers give Bear that kind of contract then we are screwing ourselves beyond belief. You may be right but there is no way a player just completing his ELC and having one good year should get that kind of contract. To me Bear has improved a ton but he is no where near a 5.5M D man.

I agree 100% but Nurse should have been nowhere near $5,600,000 x 2 years with a UFA expiry.

That deal is honestly close to the value equivalent of an $8,500,000 x 6 year contract (at his age).