Team: 2021-22 Edmonton Oilers

Initial Creation Date: Jul. 23, 2021

Published: Jul. 23, 2021

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

You saw the intro, idk how to really get into this so away with trade explanations

First Phil Kessel deal is a draft day deal. This deal happens if Sebastian Cossa isn't available at #19. With the Coyotes now large surplus of 2nd round draft picks, they are able to move up into the first round with this move. They end up trading a 2021 2nd (their own) and 2022 3rd round draft pick, as well retain salary on Kessel so cap hits match, in return, Oilers give the Coyotes a backup goalie in Koskinen, as well as they get to move up into the first round. With Kessel (and Hyman coming up), the Oilers finally get some big time depth scoring. With McDavid and Drai as your obvious 1 and 2 options down the middle, you now have 3 top 6 worthy RW's to filter in. The Yotes essentially keep his 6.8 million cap hit for the year (Taking Koskinen + retention) and move into the first while doing so.

Onto the Hyman deal, because we SOOO desperately need the 8th year, we have to go out and trade for his rights. Instead of giving up future late round picks, we elect to give up Oscar Klefbom's LTIR rights instead. It is very likely he ends up retiring so he gets sent to the Leafs. The Leafs have in the past used LTIR deals to help give them cap space and I'm certain they could do the same with Klefbom. Super unfortunate his career is over but it's realistic.

We end up signing Hyman to an identical contract of RNH's, 8 year, low AAV, likely to be a poor deal by the end, oh well we need to win now.

Before free agency, we buyout Neal, resign Kulikov, trade Kassian & take on Hagelin's deal. Hagelin helps complete 2/3 of the HBK line right there, I say we flip Tim Soderlund, while moving from the 5th up to the 3rd round in order for taking on the somewhat poor deal.

On into free agency, with the RFA's we end up just bringing back Yamo for 2x2, while Benson, Marody & Skinner all sign 750k x 1 deals. Into UFA's, we make two semi big signings. Former Holland draft pick Petr Mrazek comes in making 3.5 x 2. In addition, the final piece of the HBK line in Nick Bonino comes in on an identical contract to what Kyle Turris signed last year. Holland has been screaming about 3C for months now, here you go. As well the Oilers bring in big defensive defencemen in Jani Hakaanpa. He comes in to form a shutdown pairing with Kulikov. Also listed, we end up signing veteran RD in Greg Pateryn. With the relative inexperience on the right side, he can likely play most of his games in Bakersfield, but come up if needed. Considering the right side has 215 combined games, it's not a bad option to bring in a veteran option (pains me to say it but also nice to have a veteran like Keith too).

Moving onto the final few trades, Murray was an Oilers target talked about by Bob Stauffer on Oilers now, in this deal, the Sabres can play Lagesson in the NHL, stop the bleeding from losing Borgen and also letting Power play out in NCAA. As for Stalock, TBL likely needs a cheap backup, they can either acquire one or take chance and wait for start of season waivers.

Onto my training camp predictions and reasonings for lines and such

We have 2 goalies locked, Mrazek and Smith will be your 1-2 punch. Skinner and Konovalov will be your Bakersfield 1-2 punch, Rodrique is 5th in command in the entire organization, likely to play in Wichita.

As for defence, we have 7 NHL calibre defence, Nurse, Bear, Bouchard, Keith, Russell, Kulikov & Hakanpaa. As for guys on the fringe, Broberg on the left with Pateryn on the right.

Forwards it's more complicated, you have your locks Top 9 wise: McDavid, Draisatil, RNH, Puljuarvi, Hyman, Kessel, Yamamoto, McLeod & Bonino. Then you enter your fringe NHL players section where it piles up: (Hagelin, Archibald, Turris, Shore, Murray, Holloway, Benson, Marody). All forwards listed I feel will play at least a handful of games next season. I have a strong feeling the last 4 names will start in the AHL. However, if we roll these lines into the playoffs, I could see these pairings be potentially dirty, To have essentially 4 scoring lines is unheard of. The top 6 who will really just rack on points, the 3rd line who are proven playoff scorers plus the 4th line who all combined to be the highest scoring AHL line this year. However, I can easily see them being scratched inf favor for a more shutdown line with Archibald or even Murray slotting in for the wings. IF we can pull this off, this is a real deep team. 7 legit top 6 players, 8 players who all would fit in a bottom 6 role. you'd be in good hands.

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