Team: 2020-21 Vancouver Canucks

Initial Creation Date: Sep. 30, 2020

Published: Sep. 30, 2020

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

I’ll start it off by saying I don’t think Van should trade for OEL, they don’t need a top LD and OEL comes with a lot of risk with that 8.5 mill contract next to his name. But the rumours were going so I wanted to see what an OEL trade would look like for me and why both sides might make a deal.

OEL trade
Vancouver - OEL wont play the top LD role, that's Quin, so he becomes your second LD while bumping Edler down to the 3rd role. Your LD is now loaded with talent and experience. You have Juolevi waiting in the wing so if any injuries occur they should be able to be filled pretty easily. The only reason I think Van may be looking at this is to package Erickson into a deal (more on the Arizona write up). The big players on this side are Rathborne and the 1st. Rathborne is the Canucks top D prospect (in a farm system rated near the top of the league) but with OEL on the left side, Vancouver only has room for one of Juolevi or Rathborne. Tryamkin is in there as a low cost depth add that has a potential to play good minutes in the league, while Eriksson evens out the cap hit*. If Arizona is moving OEL they have to know that they are selling low on him. 2 years ago you would have got a haul, it ain't happening now. With that price tag and length combined with a soso year (compared to his standards) teams won't offer what they would’ve.
Van does it: Adds depth/talent to the LD/moves Erikson.

Arizona - Obviously trading OEL means rebuild. Right it has too. Arizona wants, what, to cut spending, recoup picks, and rebuild? I think this deal does that for them. They get a first overall plus a top d prospect starting his elc. That can take a shot on the 6’7 Tryamkin or leave him in Russia and ownership sheds OEL massive contracts while also saving a lot of money....like a lot. It's been noted copious times on sites but I’ll give the quick rundown, Erikson's cap hit is 6 mill, that won't change, but after his bonuses are paid he is only due 4 million over the remainder of his contract. Ownership saves 14.5 million of actual salary over the next 2 seasons (OEL 18.5 - EK 4 mill)
Ari does it: A first, a top prospect and saves ownership money.

Detroit Trade
Vancouver - Lets call it what it is … a cap dump. Vancouver loses the contracts of Ben and Beagle. Detroit gains the rights to Virtanen and Stecher. I really do think Vancouver wants to sign Virtanen, he is a young power forward that got 20 goals for them while bouncing between the third and second line with little power play time. His attitude issues or overblown, the kids 24. Stecher is another guy Vancouver wants back but having Rafferty replace him after his breakout campaign in the minors is probably the smarter choice from an economic view.

Detroit- Gains a power forward that can score and play physical on what will be a pretty fair deal (3 mill is??). A RD that can fill in second or 3rd line minutes at an affordable price. Takes on Benn and Beagle, both locker room guys that have help Vancouver grown their locker room while providing servacable time. Benn at 1 year and Beagle at 2, the contracts will be done when Detroit is ready to start making a push for playoffs.


Tanev: If I can, I sign Tanev long term (4 mill max). Leadership is key.

Van cap issues - 2021-2022 You have 30 mill to pay Hughes, Petey Demko while fitting in Oli, Raff, and lind.

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