Team: 2022-23 Edmonton Oilers

Initial Creation Date: Jul. 11, 2022

Published: Jul. 12, 2022

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Notes:

Barrie for Hakanpaa - IDK what fair value would be in terms of a pick. IMO its probably a 3rd or a 4th Round pick, and for OCD sake I went with the 3rd.

Puljujarvi for Brown - This is a 1 for 1 deal, not necessarily a sign and trade. I just signed Puljujarvi to make my life easier.

Every FA signing of 750k - Literally replace them with another player in the same position for the same price value if it suits your fancy. They are there as AHL signings and potentially 7th D / 14th Forward options.

Line 1: I think Marchment fits the same bill as Evander Kane but will come at a much cheaper price point. I think because this is his only high scoring season, 3 mil would be around where his salary will be. Hyman stays on the RW as a TWF.

Line 2: I mean Draisaitl loves Yamamoto, so I'm assuming this line stays together from last year. I also wouldnt mind L2 and L3 swapping both of their wingers, but I think its best as is. Yamamoto also had a 20 goal season, so he likely makes around 3 million on a bridge deal.

Line 3: Brown likely slots in here. I can also see him playing up with McDavid on occasion as well, but I think Marchment is the better fit on the top line. I think that McLeod will make around 1.5-2 mil to play 3C, and Strome will be a solid option on the line for a minimal price hit as well. Again I can see the wingers on this line playing up with McDavid as well. In this line, McLeod is the forechecker, Strome is the passer, and Brown is the shooter.

Line 4: Ryan swaps back over to center so that I can keep him in the lineup for his penalty killing. Deslauriers replaces Kassian in the toughness department and Foegele does the same sort of thing as well. All three can play up the roster in case of injury, and you always have Benson and Malone that could slot in as 4th line options.

D Pair 1: Nurse and Ceci are the best defenseman on this team at the moment and they should get the bulk of the ice time.

D Pair 2: I think pairing a defense-first player like Kulak with a puck mover like Bouchard would be my go to model for defense. Kulak is expected to come in around 2.5mil.

D pair 3: Again, Broberg is expected to step in and be the puck mover on this pair, with Hakanpaa being a more defensive minded player. I see Niemelainen as the 7th D, which paired with Hakanpaa would make this a shutdown pair. I also signed 2 other 7th D options just in case (Capobianco and Carrick)

Goaltending: Unless you are living under a rock, Jack Campbell is all but locked in for the Oilers at 5x5. Skinner is also locked in as the backup due to how exceptional he was last season. I think the Oilers should also get a 3rd stringer just in case Campbell has a major injury. I signed Lindgren but take your pick of the latter.

Overall this gives the Oilers 6 wingers that are interchangeable in the Top 9. There are plenty of PK options on this team, and I think there's enough physicality / aggressiveness in the lineup to hold up in the playoffs. If the Defense can be slightly better (improvement from Bouchard and Broberg, Hakanpaa better defensively than Barrie), and Campbell can be a younger improvement on Mike Smith, we should be all set for the playoffs to make another deep run.

1.

2.