Edited Jul. 5, 2017 at 4:06 p.m.
Started at 18, therefore RFA until 25
Now Free Agent at 29
This contract was all about defending against an offer-sheet.
If you had to pick 2 bad contracts by Chiarelli, they are the ones with No Movement Clauses.
Lucic, at age 28 signed for 7 years at $6 million
Russell, at age 30 signed for 4 years at $4 million
Both are replaceable by in-house talent at much lower salaries, and no limits on trades
It's really surprising to go from signing Russell to this dilemma by McD + Drai in such a short span of time.
I guess Chiarelli had a Draisatl trade clearly in mind
The Oilers are fine for next season
2018-19 has a lot important of RFAs and UFAs to sort through
2019-20 Cam Talbot is a UFA and the team without him is unthinkable right now
These are the possibilities I see:
- Draisatl gets $8-10 million.
+ ahead of being traded in the next year (or RNH and more)
+ after being traded this summer
+ by offer-sheet, EDM elects not to match and takes draft pick compensation
- Draisatl takes a lower number to become UFA asap in 4 seasons