The Edmonton Oilers had a boring free agency, as they should.
Ken Holland and Stan Bowman have backed the Oilers into a corner and forced all those remaining to stare down four more years (at least) of cap problems, limited prospects, and no draft picks.
So, as we take a look at the Oilers’ signing and losses in this free agent market, let’s consider the limited amount of moves this cup-contending, low-prospect, cap-hugging team really has.
Move one: clear cap space—thank you, Evander Kane, Victor Arvidsson, and Connor Brown.
Move two: find a new goaltender.
At Stan Bowman’s year-end press conference, he addressed the need to find a solution in net. At the time, this looked to be a starter good enough to play behind the Oilers’ top-six, but not a stud the likes of Sergei Bobrovsky or his paycheck.
Something like Sam Montambeault, Jordan Binington, or Thacker Demko when he was still available.
Instead, Bowman has clarified that he is looking for a 1B option to replace 33-year-old Calvin Pickard and ride it out with Stuart Skinner as his number one.
And don’t forget about the hail-mary nuclear option of firing long-time golaie coach Dustin Schwartz as the solution for Skinner.
What say, Bowman?
“There should have been some movement around goaltending,” agreed the General Manager. “There hasn’t really been much movement on the number ones around the league. A lot of movement filling in on the number twos. We had some conversations, but nothing really made sense.
“So I think where we are now makes the most sense for us and continue to have conversations. We’re doing our job and talking to teams and agents, but nothing there really made any sense for us to move forward on.”
In other words, the quality of available goaltenders was not as expected, but don’t sleep on in-season trades or deadline pickups.
Do, however, expect very few moves from the Oilers for the remainder of the offseason, aside from clearing up more cap space.
Starting next season, Leon Draisaitl will make $14 million, Evan Bouchard’s $10.5 million contract kicks in, and Darnell Nurse and Connor McDavid will still be at a combined $21.75 million.
$46.25 million for four players.
Some of them only for short-term contracts.
“That was an important signing,” began Bowman. “We haven’t talked about that yet, but Bouch had a tremendous season. Tremendous couple seasons, he’s emerged as a very important player on our team.
“So getting him signed was critical (but) an eight-year term was really never in the cards. I think it’s really a function of (the) salary cap and where that’s going. So we certainly were hoping to do an eight-year deal, but that was never in the cards.”
The salary cap is still rising, and by the time Evan Bouchard is 29, likely still a top-pairing defenseman, and looking at an expiring contract, his earning potential will be higher, by how much is the question.
Move three: add depth capable of rivalling that of the Florida Panthers.
So far, not possilble. But let’s look at what the Oilers did do.
Andrew Mangiapane is a skilled addition to the Oilers’ top-six and the winger that Draisaitl so desperately needed all season, but he’s not a depth player, and he knows that.
“I feel like that’s where I thrive,” said Mangiapane of the Oilers’ second line. “Be on that line. Aggravate guys. Get under their skin, be a pest, (and) be annoying to play against.
“I think that’s what kind of makes me successful, and I’m happy to be back in Alberta and hopefully be given the opportunity to play in all situations.”
Be a pest, annoying to play against, and on a mission to aggravate other players—sound familiar?
No, not Brad Marchand.
But Corey Perry. The Oilers’ most versatile forward, up and down the lineup, and recently signed to the Los Angeles Kings for a one-year $3.5 million contract with signings and bonuses.
Mangiapane will have a hand in picking up the mantle from the veteran forward, while Matt Savoie and Curtis Lazar will play a role in filling certain depth needs.
Noah Philp and David Tomášek will have the opportunity to prove that they can be role players in the NHL, and from there, we shall see.
The Oiler’s limited options mean that for the meantime, building roster depth, strong goaltending, and a sustainable cap situation is not achievable, much like flashy UFA pickups.
