Simpleton
Joined: Jun. 2017
Posts: 1,365
Likes: 502
At this point I'm not convinced that the Oilers are looking for big changes to their 6-man defensive unit. Their top pair is locked down. They need some temporary help for the second pair, but the future number 2 pair is developing nicely, and should become much stronger as Nurse and Benning rotate in with Russell. If they sign Gryba as an inexpensive stop-gap its the same collection of players from last season, but the entire D improves as the young guys gain more experience. Losing Reinhart stung them a bit, but they have some other young d-men who might be close, so depth isn't the same issue it was just a couple years ago.
Only reasons to part with RNH would be to acquire a bigger, stronger centre who is better with face-offs, or to free cap space. The cap pressure isn't real until next summer. The Oilers have $18M in space now, and probably $11M to $11.5M after they sign Draisaitl. Fayne and Korpikosky come off the books after next season, that frees an additional $3.6M. If they buy out Pouliot, they clear another $2.67M.