Team: 2023-24 Edmonton Oilers

Initial Creation Date: Jun. 13, 2023

Published: Jun. 13, 2023

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

TRADES:
YAMO unfortunately needs to go to create cap space. I chose WSH as target because I felt that he could fit in the room with Milano, Strome, etc. I recon he could be traded to many other teams for future considerations. The 3rd might be too high.
KULAK also needs to go to create cap space. If he'd be a righty I'd have chosen to trade out Ceci instead. Kulak should have a slightly higher trade value though. I figure you could get a pick or an energy forward like LORENTZ for him easily. However, I chose SJS because of Lorentz. I really like Lorentz looking at his defensive stats (hits, blocked shots, takeaways) which is why I'd have traded for him anyway. The trade itself might not make sense for SJS. But you could get a 4th for Kulak and pay a 4th for Lorentz and with the direct trace I saved some time.
I found the idea of adding PEEKE and trading out CECI intriguing, however the price to acquire Peeke and get rid of Ceci is too high for maybe having a minor improvement and saving 500k in cap space.

RFA SIGNINGS:
BOUCHARD is an obvious one. I think the bridge deal might look like 2x4.
McLEOD and KOSTIN stay only if they agree to team friendly deals as they are replaceable.
LAVOIE could get a chance on the 2nd or 3rd line if Foegele or Bourgault don't perform well enough.

UFA SIGNINGS:
The Oilers need a bottom six centre that brings grid and wins faceoffs. I chose ACCIARI because he is a righty. I'd have also liked BLUEGER for 2x1.2.
I think that defense was not good enough last season. Veteran presence could help short-term. SCHENN and M.STAAL are better than Ceci and Deshairnais or Kulak and Broberg respectively and come with a much smaller price tag. Schenn and Staal are throwing hits and blocking shots and could help develop Broberg to become at least a top six D.
MURRAY is next man up if he stays healthy himself.

ROSTER:
FORWARDS:
The general setup of the lines is simple: a guy who can score, a guy who can pass and a physical presence. This is even true for the 4th line to some extend.
FOEGELE is equal or slightly better then Yamo from an analytical perspective and brings size. He will play for a new contract. Combined with his low trade value I decided to keep him and give him the chance to play with 29 and RNH as a fore-/backchecking forward that can crush the net.
BOURGAULT can add a more defensively sound game to a young 3rd line than Lavoie. He could get his chance this year. I'd have also liked HATHAWAY for 3x1.75 but went for developing what you got and trade at the deadline if necessary instead.
HOLLOWAY will be next man up if players from the top nine get injured or need to rest. I can see him competing with McLeod but he'd need to step up his game in any case.

DEFENSE:
The top four pairings remain the same. I argue to increase ice time of Ekholm-Bouchard and reduce ice time of Nurse-Ceci, making the latter the second pairing. Staal-Schenn can handle a fair share of ice time.
BROBERG has a lot of potential and might become a top four maybe even top two D, but as of now the Oilers need a more reliable defense and Broberg doesn't fit yet. However, he will get his chance if Ekholm, Nurse or Staal need rest or are injured or if the Oilers decide to play with seven defensemen.
DESHARNAIS should be your go if you need an additional strong, physical presence to clear the space in front of the goalie. I can imagine that Schenn plays with Nurse and Vinny plays together with Staal, if Ceci doesn't pick up his game this season.

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