Edmonton - the Oil is leaking

[claremont]

I omitted doing a bit of a competitive assessment on the Oilers so my comments as follows;

Edmonton per cap friendly is forecasted to have cap room of $5.97M with contracts on 8 forwards, 7D, and 2 goalies of which the boat anchor is Jack Campbell's 4 more years at $5M and a 10 team NT clause which means he is very difficult to move without giving up something. Practically speaking could add back 1D Marcus Niemelainen of $762.5K (unlikely to make roster) so they have cap room of  $6.73M to spend on 5 more forwards, 1 more D to get to a 22 man roster (23 ideal)

RFA's is where they have a problem. RHD Evan Bouchard will likely get $3.5M in a bridge deal - he is even at risk of an offer sheet.  Oilers would be weak at RHD unless Ekholm steps over, and Cody Ceci is a minute muncher. RHD Vincent Desharnais is 3rd pairing. 

At forward, C Ryan McLeod - 11g, 12a in 59 games is RFA - He is likely to get a $1.2-$1.5M contract - not outrageous. LW Klim Kostin 11g, 10a in 57 games is a similar RFA so he should expect similar money. If you add Bouchard's signing with McLeod and Kostin, it basically consumes all of the Oilers cap space - running the same lineup (except add Ekholm for the full season) - mostly a rinse and repeat. At this point they only are running 10 forwards. I expect Dylan Holloway to make their lineup (inlcuded in counts above). Perhaps they take a risk on promoting C - Xavier Bourgault (a prospect I am enthused about)

Something has to give - Oilers perhaps shopping RW 5-8 smurf Kailer Yamamoto $3m 10g 15a in 58 games. I suspect RHD Cody Ceci might be more marketable - plays big minutes - 2 more years at $3.25M but leaves a bit of a hole to fill unless Ekholm / Kulak slide over from LHD. They have some excess LW - so perhaps someone takes on LW Warren Foegele - 1 more year at $2,75M. This is a team that needs cap room to drive any improvements. This team seems destined for marginal improvement. 

Oilers in this year only have their 2nd, 5th 6th and 7th round picks