Team: 2020-21 Edmonton Oilers

Initial Creation Date: Oct. 7, 2020

Published: Oct. 7, 2020

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

The trades weren't the central part of this team, so i'll quickly glance over them.

WPG is in need for defence, they ended up bringing back DeMelo which is a solid addition for them, they could use a guy like Russell to move up and down the lineup for injury, but also a very solid veteran leader, who can ease guys like Niku & Heinola into full time NHL spots. Nogier is essentially just to fill out AHL spots

The Bjork/Chiasson swap has been rumoured for close to a month now, and with Puljuarvi officially resigning, now is the perfect time to bring him back. BOS gets a RW PP specialist who can bolster their already stacked offence, while they unload on LW which is a position of strength. With B Ritchie not getting a QO, that would essentially be the role Chiasson looks to fill.

The selling off of Larsson & Kharia could happen to any team, but I chose TOR because that fills two of their needs in one move. Kharia is a versatille, young, power forward who can play C and LW and has years left on him. Larsson would essentially replace Barrie, but would give TOR a shutdown role opposed to the all out offence Barrie brought to the table.

Signings:

First off, RNH extension. I would attempt to extend him at 7.15 for 8 years, as long as possible. #KeepNugeForever is in full affect, this kid has seen the darkest of days and deserves every penny of that AAV and term. That is why plenty of these FA's are 1 year deals, as Nuge's extension kicks in, Yamo will be in need of a new deal, in addition plenty of GMs are preparing for a flat cap for next year as well, and more after that potentially.

Next up, Bear & Lagesson returning. Bear is likely to take a short team deal, even though I'd personally want to see him locked up long term. He takes a 3 year deal at just over 1 mil, and after said deal will certaintly cash out. Lagesson comes back on a comparable deal to Capobianco. If I were Holland I would have Lagesson complete his season in Allsvenskan, gain confidence and come back over. Till then, Oilers would have a veteran D to play some games for them.

Next up, Hall returning home. Pierre McGuire has stated (take that for what you will) Hall's likely destination would be Alberta. If it's Calgary, Gaudreau is good as gone, if it's Edmonton, Russell/Larsson are as good as gone. Hall and his agent realize with a covid world he isn't getting the money, nor the term he would have likely received. With this deal, Hall gets a slight pay increase to play with a legit contender and reform a powerful top 6 in EDM. He won't be the same Hall as he was during his first run, the locker room is now filled with vets and coaches that are respected by their players. In addition to that, Hall has stated plenty of times he just simply wasn't mature in EDM as he was thrusted in the spot light with no real veteran leadership to guide him. Signing him for a 1 year deal not only allows EDM to leave him unprotected in the expansion draft (and SEA is likely not to pick a pending UFA) but depending on their cap situation next year, could potentially sign long term with a deal resembling Nuge's.

Next up is Barrie, and you essentially sign this deal with Ron Francis. You tell Barrie he gets to shine this year in EDM, with Klef out the team will be relying on defensive leadership. Barrie's preferred destination is west, specifically pacific with EDM, CGY & ANA on the top of his short list. You let Barrie play out this year, but also have him signed for 21/22 for Seattle's inaugural season. Seattle is rumored to have interest in Barrie, so this is a deal EDM can specifically sign knowing SEA will select him in the expansion draft. As for next year, you have two options for D:

Klef - Bouchard
Nurse - Bear
Jones - Gustafsson

or if worst case scenario, Klef is gone for good

Nurse - Bear
Jones - Bouchard
Lagesson/FA - Gustafsson

Next up is Greiss. German goaltender, played for the same club Drai played prior to Prince Albert in the WHL. Both can skate together there till the return to play. I based his deal loosely off Halak's. Greiss like Halak is a fantasic 1B goalie, and Koskinen has proved to be a servicable 1A. To have a trusted 1B (i.e. not Mike Smith) can go a long way in how teams are constructed today.

Next up, Gustafsson. Former Oilers draft pick, versatile LD/RD flex, he is essentially the stop gap as Klef is on the IR this year, and worst case scenerio he retires, he fills the stop gap until Broberg is available. He had a great 18/19 but not so much 19/20, which leads me to believe he may not sign for all too much. He would easily get top 4 minutes all year, and definetly relied on because Klef won't be there.

Next up, Athanasiou. I understand Oilers chose not to give him a QO, but that is because the QO is 3 mil, and Holland wants to sign him for cheaper. AA's plan is to test the market on Friday, But Holland would like to bring AA in for another year, but cheaper than the 3 mil QO. If there are other teams who offer him more AAV and term, it is likely he won't return, but just because he didn't get a QO doesn't mean he's 100% gone. He'd be a perfect 3C to the team, with opportunity to move up the lineup if/when Tippett wants to role McD/Drai/RNH down the middle.

If not AA, I like bringing back Ennis to a sub 1 million dollar deal, he is not the most experienced at C is which I am weary of that. If the Bjork/Chiasson swap doesn't occur or we just trade Chiasson for picks, I'd bring back Ennis in a heart beat. Other 3C options we could get for sub 2 mil are recently bought out Turris, and likely to be bought out Wennberg.

Next up, 2 veterans who can be solid callup options Letestu & Daley. Letestu was in the middle of his prime playing for EDM (outscoring McDavid in the '17 playoffs) and a fan favourite. To bring a guy like Letestu back who was limited to just 7 games at any level last year would be perfect. He can ride the press box, slot in the 4th line if anybody starts struggling, as I'm all for letting PRuss dominate Denmark for the entirety of their 20/21 season, regain his confidence, and then to come back midway through 20/21 NHL season. As for Daley, he's a former Holland signing yes, but he expressed interest in going to a contending club, EDM would be it. He would also know his role to ride press box, but can bail out Jones and Bouchard if either player experience rough stretches, as he is most certainty still a serviceable bottom pairing defender at the least.

Next up, stocking up the farm I bring in C/RW Bracco, C/LW Baddock, RW Greco, LHD Davidson, RHD Russo, RHD Nogier & 3G Kaskisou. Bracco is an interesting case as he has been struggling with attitude issues during his tenure in TOR, messy split to say the least to see him enter unrestricted free agency at 23. Holland is a low BS GM, seen with his handling of Hudler and most recently Puljuarvi. Holland could give him a shot as he likely fills out a Bakersfield top 6 spot this year, but with any pushback, he will be let be exiled to Europe at a moments notice. Baddock is a young, "home grown" Oil Kings former player who would bring an enforcer role to Bakersfield. As BAK signed Peluso to an AHL exclusive deal last year, Baddock would be his replacement. With more and more draft picks making their way to the AHL en route to the NHL, having at least 1 enforcer at the AHL level is crucial. Greco is a for fun signing for me, won AHL's fastest skater competition, bounced around a few AHL clubs this year. I don't see him playing NHL games, my only request would be to see him called up for EDM's own skill competition exclusively for a race with McDavid & Nygard, and also to form the world's fastest line in a preseason game (Nygard-McDavid-Greco). Brandon Davidson returning to EDM for the 3rd time. With Lagesson completling his allsvenskan season, there might be legitimate need for an 8D in case of injury. He knows the system, the team, the city, and the players well and would fit in great. Russo & Nogier fill out RHD roles bakersfield desperately lacks. Nogier is simply just acquired in the Russell trade, Russo is a former Holland draft pick in DET who spent the last few years with the Tucson Roadrunners. Kaskisou is the 3G EDM has been teasing all off season. Not the best one out there, but not too "good" of a 3G to take away games from developing Stuart Skinner. He's seen all be it just 1 game, but an NHL game at least, he can be called up as a backup easily, but if both goalies go down you'd be in danger mode.

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