Getting rid of Neal's salary could reaaaaly help you guys cap wise.

I’m ok loosing jones as much as I like the guy I think it’s pretty clear he’s not in the big picture plans. Unless injuries bring him into line up and he does ALOT better this time I actually think it will take some sort of small incentive to have them pick him over lagesson

I think that if Kahun were to sign somewhere for 4 years he'd want more than that

Yea im scared Lagesson will be more appealing than Jones by the expansion draft. I'd pay up to keep him an Oiler

Yea now that I think of it he probably would. We could afford around a 3mill AAV if he starts scoring more. He's looked amazing im sure the points will come

You forgot trading McDavid after the Oilers miss the playoffs (again) and he wants a trade out

I like Driedger, but the guys played 20 NHL games in his career. We'll see how the season goes, but you don't throw that kind of money & term at a 27-year-old who has just 20 games under his belt.

I like the contracts. Nuge and Larsson deals seem fair for both sides.

Kahun probably wants a higher AAV. His next deal will be interesting. He plays so hard and creates good chances, but his shot and finish aren't that strong. If he goes the whole 54 game season playing with Draisaitl and only puts up 20 pts, Im not convinced he's a legitimate top 6 guy. If he stays he'd need to be reasonable priced. I do really like watching him play though.

I don't know anything about Driedger, but looks like he is playing well thus far, but an extremely small sample size. I don't think you can go into next season with that tandem. Too much risk, especially since we will be year 7 into 97s career. There are lots of good looking D and F free agents that I'd like, but after Nurse, Nuge and Yamo deals are dealt with, I think the Oilers will go hard after Binnington, Raanta or Grubauer. If not, there will explore a trade for a younger guy. Koskinen is a serviceable 1B, but simply is not good enough to steal games regularly for you.

to bad in flat cap world nobodies taking it without a 1st + going with

Yea its definitely too early to get an idea of what a Kahun extension would look like.

If Grubauer or Binnington are available we'd need to sign one. I'd prefer a guy under 30 so we can ride them to a cup at the peak of their career.

If we end up having 2 goalies who are in between a starter and backup again that would be a mistake (Smith is realistically a backup). Id also prefer a real starter before gambling on Driedger I just feel like we won't be the highest bidder. A trade would be the last resort, but acquiring a young #1 goalie with term would be great

I have Dreiger being a potential option for the leafs should Dubas decide to let Freddie walk. A 1a/1b system of Campbell/Dreiger could be intriguing. Wont be that expensive and works for a team up against the cap.

But i have a feeling something bigger could be in the works for the future of toronto goaltending

I have a feeling that Seattle values Neal more than most teams since he was a part of Veagas's run in their first season. Neal contract would have 2YL at expansion. Im sure it would take less than a first. Depends whether Seattle wants to rebuild or win out of the gates

Or perhaps even Neal retained? If the Oil were to buy him out next season, I think it would be about 1.9mil per year for 4 years. I'd propose to Seattle to trade him to them at 1.9 mil retained, on the condition that they take the Dman we want the least of Lagesson and Jones come year end. Maybe that makes some sense? Then Seattle would get Neal at 3.85 mil for 2 years, and based on today's values, Jones. Decent haul. The Oil keep Laggs who fits well either as 3LD shutdown behind Nurse and Klef, and eventually Broberg who is much more in the Klef/Jones t-way dman role than the shutdown mold.

Samorukov is an option as early as September too. I'd give Seattle their choice of Jones / Lagesson if they'll take Neal with less (or no) retention.