Team: 2024-25 Edmonton Oilers

Initial Creation Date: May 17, 2024

Published: May 17, 2024

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

For the sake of this ACGM, let's assume the Oilers fall to the Canucks in this year's playoffs.

Holland is probably on the chopping block. New guy(s) might want to make some bigger changes.

IF (big if) upper management gets the impression that Drai will want to test free agency in 2025 I think they have to look to monetize him in a massive deal. It could help fill out the depth of the team, giving a better overall supporting cast to convince Connor to extend the following season.

And you'd think every other GM would line up to make offers to get a guy like Drai, but the reality is that there are only a handful that;
1) will have the cap space
2) are also looking to make big shakeup to their roster
3) have the right pieces the Oilers would be looking for
4) are reasonably confident they can convince Drai to extend with them.

I don't see any way the Oilers trade him within the division, so that rules out 1/4 of the potential suitors. I could see about half of the teams having serious interest:
- Boston; will try but they won't be able to offer the quality pieces other teams can
- Buffalo; intriguing trade partner with lots of trade pieces, but already have some high salaries in their cap structure
- Carolina; see Buffalo comments. May be looking for a shake-up
- Chicago; serious draft capital, but not a lot of helpful roster pieces
- Columbus; might have the right mix of pieces, but would be concerned about convincing Drai to extend there
- Detroit; good mix of trade pieces
- Minny; would love to get him, but probably don't have the pieces or cap flexibility unless they move key current players
- Montreal; always looking to make a splash, and have some quality pieces to move
- Nashville; may not have the high end pieces but would love to make him their 1C
- New York (R); always big-game hunting, but they'd have to send some critical pieces out to make the cap work
- Ottawa; another team looking for a shake-up, but not sure it's a fit
- Philly; lots of draft capital and roster pieces to put together an offer; I think they'd definitely be in on the bidding
- St. Louis; some potential pieces, but likely not enough that it makes sense for either team.
- Utah*; definitely have some pieces and might look to make a huge splash, but I'm not sure which division they'll land in
- Washington; would definitely have interest but I'm not sure they have the pieces.

Of those I'd say the real serious contenders would be; CAR, DET, MTL, PHI, and UTA. For this ACGM I picked Utah (assuming they land in the Central).