Team: 2021-22 Edmonton Oilers

Initial Creation Date: Jun. 29, 2021

Published: Jun. 29, 2021

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

RNH I thought would be sign for around 5.5 million for 5-6 years. 8 year contract. Remember he's 28 and had a down year. He'll be 36 by the end of the contract which could be tough if he ages like James Neal. I honestly think that it won't do much to increase their chances of winning the Stanley cup, but at least if he won't cost more against the cap.
RNH had an down year, Yamamoto had an down year... Turris, Ennis, and Neal spent time on the taxi squad. Old Mike Smith outplayed Mikko Koskinen. Koskinen needs to go. Stalock although hasn't played since the bubble is probably still NHL caliber. Way cheaper and he did put up decent numbers in the 2019-20 season with the Wild and outplayed Devan Dubnyk. Zach Kassian was irrelevant all season and that contract is confusing. McDavid could not do much in the Winnipeg series (1 goal and 3 secondary assists) despite tons of chances and imagine if they played a team like the Golden Knights or the Islanders, or the Lightning or any other good defensive teams. All those points the dynamic duo got from the Canucks/Senators don't matter. Honestly I thought even Draisaitl could've done better in the regular season. His PPG was actually slightly down compared to last year. Kahun did not work out at all. Magic from international games or Europe don't work in the NHL. (See Loui Erikkson signing with the Canucks to play with the Sedins as an great example) They need a legit right winger to play with McDavid. They can stick RNH or Draisaitl on McDavid's left wing all they want. Jesse P and Yamamoto should not be the one's playing 1st line right wing, but those are the only two options. We saw that in the playoffs McDavid getting upset at Jesse P. I don't even know if anyone will take Koskinen's contract. He's already on the wrong side of 30 (even though it doesn't matter as much for goaltenders) is getting paired like an starter, but has played like a backup. Even if they bring in a guy like Mike Hoffman will that improve their 5 on 5 play. Hoffman, Saad, Tatar, and Palmieri are probably more suited for 2nd line roles 5 on 5. Taylor Hall not having to play top line minutes would be nice, but it's a good chance he's staying in Boston and not coming back to Edmonton.
If they kept Hall and Eberle they would definitely have cap issues. I still don't understand why they traded Taylor Hall. Oh....Peter.... Had the Hall/Larsson trade not happened, there could be the possibility that Hall/McDavid could be the best duo in the league. I feel like Ken Holland would be the guy that would keep both Tyson Barrie and Alex Chiasson. Nurse can play on the top unit, Bouchard will be the future power play quarterback, and if healthy Klefbom can also play on the PP. Chiasson signed that league minimum contract in 2018-29 season and scored 22 goals in 73 games. He has since scored 20 goals in 110 games since. He got a lot of top PP unit time so the results should be better. RFA's like Kahun or Khaira should not get qualified and allowed to walk into FA.
All the talent from 2015-16, McDavid, Draisaitl, Hall, RNH, Eberle. That would be a killer top 6.