8 potential left shot centres, and not one right shot face-off man? No thanks.
Hell of a score for Chicago if they could salary dump for prospects… and no thanks to the same tandem in net.

I don't love another year of no 3C that is right handed but I don't like the UFA realistic options.
I agree on the same goalie tandem but don't see where Koskinen can be moved to and I don't want two buy outs. I eat it for 1 more year and upgrade at the deadline.
Unfortunately I think that is what a Keith deal looks like. I don't love it but Stauffer was pitching this type of deal hard on Friday and being the Oiler mouth piece I think there is something to it. The extra prospect might be too much.
Overall I think the team is significantly upgraded on forward depth and in a weak Pacific a lock for the playoffs. The goalies will probably need to be upgarded at the deadline and if Koskinen goes the other way that frees up more cap to upgrade elsewhere as need at the deadline as well oe R3C.

Why sign Benn both Koekkoek and Russel are better options
There’s zero chance Holland doesn’t make a change in net, I think there could be a connection with Driedger his agent is Edmonton based same agent as Nuge

I sign Benn because he is significantly bigger than Russell and has significantly more experience than Koekkoek. All.3.come.to camp competing for 6-7D spots. Loser waived as either 1st call up or lost to another team.
I hope goaltending is upgraded but even Holland said in his year end presser, after being questioned about goaltending, that he could return with the same group. I beleive his answer was, "why not? they gave us good goaltending this year." The truth is they were top 10 in every goaltending catagory as a team once Smith returned from injury. I just hope all.those 1st shot goals is enough to force Hollad to find an improvement over Koskinen.

The problem with signing Benn you are wasting 1.25 that could be spent else where it’s just redundant to sign them both, Russell’s size isn’t a issue and Koekkoek has good size

Potentially wasting $250K. The rest can be burried in the AHL. I'd be fine with that to have a veteran for call up. Or the extra D is picked up on waivers and nothing lost.

True but you could need that money during free agency, you have Koekkoek signed to fill that spot, both Koekkoek and Russell can play both sides I’d rather take that money to continue to add depth to the bottom 6

fair enough. My thinkingbis that over a full season odds are the Oil will use 7-8 defenceman due to injury. I would prefer not to have to go to Samorukov or Broberg right away. Come the new year maybe they are both ready but until then I'm content "wasting" the $250K on defence insurance. If I didn't sign Benn I would have just saved the money for the deadline.