Can we fit him

Équipe: 2022-23 Oilers d'Edmonton

Date de création initiale: 13 févr. 2023

Publié: 13 févr. 2023

Mode - plafond salarial: Basique

With Chychurn likely on his way to LA, barring a Cal Petersen move looks like the Oilers' next target now is Erik Karlsson. With a fallback option (and most likely at this point) being Shayne Gostibehere, it is fun to speculate and design how a Karlsson trade could look. After signing Darnell Nurse to an atrocious 9.25 contract, the Oilers are REALLY stuck for cap, and any trade will need to be money in, money out.

Keeping it realistic, this is what could be gathered from San Jose. They're willing to retain up to 10-15% of the contract, looking for an equivalent of 3 1st-round picks in return. In addition, San Jose right up to the contract limit, so more contracts will have to go back the other way if we give up more and more cap dumps. Oilers are directly up to the cap, so if Puljujarvi gets dealt + Barrie/Foegele go the other way, San Jose would have to retain 3.2 (27%) to make this deal work cap-wise for EDM to carry a 21-man roster.

First off the Jesse Puljujarvi situation. I don't think this Karlsson trade will happen within the next 48 hours, so cap needs to be moved for Yamamoto to get cleared off LTIR, and it's heavily suggested Puljujarvi will be moved whether that is waived or traded in order to make the cap room for Yamamoto. IF San Jose has interest in Puljujarvi, I could see him getting included in this deal, he could have interest around the NHL and with the 2-way capability, if he clears waivers could increase his interest even more. But regardless, if its to San Jose or not, he needs to be moved to make this deal work, and his 1 way cap penalty sitting in the AHL can't happen either.

So for the value of 3 1sts, Oilers send their 2023 & 2024 1st alongside Xavier Bourgault. They also send back Barrie as a body-for-body replacement for Karlsson. Foegele goes back the other way for cap reasonings again but the Oilers take back Dillon Hamaliuk. Like I previously said with San Jose being tight to the contract limit, EDM would have to take someone back. Hamaliuk is a former 2nd round pick that has not quite found his stride in the pro game. Only playing 6 games all year in the ECHL, he is a throwaway contract that will not amount to much in EDM, not to mention he's an Alberta born kid (which the OEG love). Giving up 3 1sts for a 32 year old Karlsson is scary, but it's win now mode. UNLESS The Oilers could find their way back in the Chychurn sweepstakes, this is the trade you have to do,

I've proposed this trade before with this exact reasoning: Next up is Gustav Nyquist. Columbus can and would likely get better offers than this, but I'm basing this off the EDM/OTT trade for Tyler Ennis a few deadlines ago. Ennis, like Nyquist, isn't quite known for his two-way ability, more so of a shifty, middle 6 scoring winger. Ennis at the deadline of the 19/20 season had 33 points in 61 games. Gustav Nyquist has 22 in 48 AND is injured. Stop me if you've heard this before, but former Holland draft pick ONCE AGAIN. Nyquist can ride the LTIR until playoffs where he'll be healthy (expected to be healthy BEFORE playoffs) and not rushed back into action. And then you have a middle 6 scoring option ready for round 1 and beyond. This time however I made the pick conditional since he is injured and this gives Oilers some injury insurance. As well, with Koekkoek going back the other way that's merely a contract dump. Koekkoek has been "away" from the team for quite some time now, he is certainly dealing with something, who knows if he plays again this year? Maybe a change of scenery is what he needs/wants? But regardless, don't look into the Koekkoek trade as he'll likely just sit on Columbus and get released in the offseason.

Next trade is a very pointless trade admittingly. But the Oilers acquire Max Gildon (who's been playing on Bakersfield lately) in exchange for Devin Shore. With how the cap is structured post Karlsson trade, Shore would not even fit as the 21st man on the roster at 850k. Would Shore be a good depth option come playoffs, sure. But the Oilers have a Gustav Nyquist waiting on LTIR alongside Malone, Hamblin or Benson who could all come in in case of flash injury. Shore, who hasn't played consistent AHL time since the 2015/16 season can get a change of scenery in Florida. Whereas Gildon can get Oilers rights, and if he impresses could get directly resigned for next year.

For the lineup I kept it very similar to how the Oilers have been running it recently. Barrie comes out for Karlsson, Yamo finally lifted from LTIR with Foegele & Puljujarvi now gone. Running 11/7 with Desharnais until the wheels fall off. I elected to sit Brad Malone as our 12th forward but it could very well be Hamblin once again. Malone is a veteran that Woodcroft clearly trusts, and if a flash injury occurs Woody knows how and where to use him in the lineup.

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