Unlikely both JP and Yam earn 8x $5mil contracts. If they're both asking for $5+ you probably pick one and trade the other. There's probably some incentive to keep the AAV a little lower and do another bridge as players are expected to have paid the owners back in 3 years and cap situation will start to inflate again accordingly.

Here's hoping for a Keith retirement after year 1.

I think both @ $5M is doable. Bouchard the following year gets Keith's money. Broberg comes up. You maybe buyout Kassian or trade him. McLeod plays 3C, Lavioe moves up to 4C. Konolovo and Skinner at your goalies. Then cap goes up and you are laughing

Then you hljust have 4RW to replace and 3RHD.

Very much agree with this. I think Yam especially might end up with another short term deal at say 2-3 mil cap hit, unless he breaks out. Pulju seems very primed to earn a contract like this though, if he continues as he has looked.

If Yam performs well enough to earn that kind of a contract, he should be a key trade chip with perhaps a high pick to get a really good goalie imo.

Yes Keith retirement would be great. That trade would look much better then with all that extra cap to have fun with. Puljujarvi looks so good I would go crazy if Holland gave him that. In 3-4 years that might be one of if not the best contracts in the league. Yams could sign a 2x2.5 I think unless if he plays extremely well.

I am looking forward to seeing Puljujarvi under long-term contract, Holloway a full-time NHL player, McLeod become more assertive on the ice, Samorukov and Broberg compete for NHL ice time, and Skinner and Konovalov push each other for the backup role next season. I'm not convinced Lagesson and Benson will be with the organization next year, I have a feeling Yamamoto doesn't have a long-term future in Edmonton either.

I think at the end of the day it shows in a best case scenario, the Oilers can keep this roster intact and fill in holes as players continue to mature. I think if Yamo is only a 3rd line guy on this team then him and Foegele with McLeod/Ryan would be sick IMO. Plus it only gives more cap space to maybe replace Smith.

I don't see Keith retiring but Oilers can handle that. I think he and Ceci will be adequate and overall I think this D will be better than last year

Value is fine but I don't think the Isles have a need for Barrie unless Pulock (unlikely) walks as a UFA this coming summer. Pulock-Dobson-Mayfield down the right for us.

I think the Oilers probably handle Bouchard like Nurse where you work through a couple bridges and prove what you are before the big contract, especially with Nurse already signed big and guys like Broberg and Samorukov coming up.

Also I wouldn't bet on batting 1.000 with the 2 promising goalie prospects in our system to let us run with a $2mil goalie tandem that allows us to be successful. More than likely 1 of the 2 turns into an NHL goalie and we still need to spend $3-4mil on another goalie.

i cannot think of a player barry trotz would hate more than tyson barrie lmao

I just think Barrie is so much more Offensive than Pulock which could help on the PP. Pulock is still your #1 guy but Barrie brings that offensive punch

He's also a total liability defensively no? Pulock is a much better all around player. Expecting Dobson to make a jump this year and produce some points lost by trading Leddy. Also possible Gustafsson makes this team and plays on the man advantage. I'd really only make this deal if Pulock walked as I mentioned. Just don't see him leaving the Island though

Total liability? Absolutely not. He ain't no shutdown defender though.