Team: 2021-22 Edmonton Oilers

Initial Creation Date: Feb. 8, 2021

Published: Feb. 11, 2021

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

The summer/offseason of 2021 is going to be huge for the Oilers, as they have a decent amount of cap space coming available, Seattle expansion looming and some of their prospects will be cementing their spot on the fulltime NHL roster.

Critical Pending UFA's: Nugent-Hopkins, Haas
Less critical UFA's: Barrie, Larsson, Nygard
Critical Pending RFA: Yamamoto
Less critical RFA's: Benson, Khaira, Skinner, Kahun

As you may note the 2 most important signings will be Nugent-Hopkins and Yamamoto. Second to them I would suggest Kahun and Haas are the next most important internal signings needed.
Yamamoto $3,100,000 x 2 Yrs: Contract Comps Victor Olofsson & Jacub Vrana
Nugent-Hopkins $6,500,000 x 6 Yrs: Contract Comps Brendan Gallahger & Brayden Schenn
Kahun $1,800,000 x 2 Yrs: Contract Comps Jack Roslovic & Anthony Duclair
Haas $1,650,000 x 2Yrs: Contracts Comps Kyle Turris and Eric Haula

Externally the biggest need for Edmonton has to be Goaltending. It was an issue this summer but was not addressed in the manner most fans felt necessary. The crop of UFA goaltenders for the 2021/2022 offseason is very strong and contains some names such as: Rask, Binnington, Anderson, Grubauer, Mrazek and Driedger.
Additionally with Expansion Looming and Team Protection limits there may be some trade option available as well with names such as: Petersen, Talbot, Stalock, Allen, Desmith, Campbell, Demko, Holtby, and Dreidger (IF signed by FLA)

My ideal route is to sign someone rather than trade for one, sadly EDM does have a lot of expendable draft picks nor can the be trading away prospects. Based on the UFA list I expect many to resign with their respective clubs with the exception of Dreidger. FLA already has Bobrovsky signed ($10M AAV) and probably are not looking to add another chunk of money to their goaltending duo. With that said EDM could trade for his signing rights and maybe move out a Kassian in the process?

BIG FISH UFA:
Brandon Saad $5,000,000 x 5Yrs Physical and can play with skill while chipping in offensively. (Look at how well he has done so far in COL)
Dreidger $3,500,000 x 3 Yrs: Contract Comps Tristan Jarry & Phillip Grubauer

Rounding out the Roster:
Joel Armia $2,750,000 x 1 Yr / Could be the odd man out in MTL with their depth on the right side
Travis Hamonic $1,500,000 x 1Yr / Depth Defenseman, low cost, can play physical hockey and won't block future prospects

Depending on how this season goes, Edmonton may look to Buyout James Neal. Not because he is totally ineffective but because it frees up over $3,000,000 dollars in cap space. As for Barrie, if the season goes well, he will likely command $5.5-$6.5 million per and I do not see that as a option for Edmonton. There is a natural successor there in Bouchard and players like Nurse, Bear, Puljujarvi, Lagesson and Jones are going to be looking for raises at the end of the 2022 season. With that being said IF the ask from Barrie is $4.0 -$5.0 million per on a long term deal I would sign that deal because having 3 guys on the right side that can move the puck up ice to McDavid and Draisaitl is a great thing, even if they are the most physical hard nosed players.

I truly feel with a couple tweeks on offense and internal growth defensively the Oilers will be a contending playoff team. However IF they do not improve their goaltending tandem it will be all for not.

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