Want Zucker?

At this time of the NHL age, no 1C on any team will sign for 5.5M on a long term contract

I expect that Vegas will go extremely hard after Erik Karlsson this UFA season, if he doesn't resign with the Sharks before July 1st. I think Stone helps Vegas sign Karlsson. Additionally, IF, and it's a big IF, Karlsson does sign, I would expect Pacioretty to be traded instead of Smith. Smith-Karlsson-Marchessault have had some pretty decent chemistry. Although there has been plenty of injuries upfront, I am not Pacioretty has fit in as well as hoped. In the event Karlsson does sign, I'd expect that around $11-$12 million, so assume Holden and/or Miller is gone, think I would imagine Vegas would want to bring back Engelland on a cheap 1 to 2 year deal.

that's a tough trade to make. he is a great scorer, but also that contract will be hard to move. I live in Edmonton and we need a guy like this.....but not a 7 m/

Considering the rising salary cap, and the rising cost of a quality top-6 forward, not to mention a proven sniper, I would think his contract is an easy one to swallow. I didn't actually have the Oilers in mind, but I would think they'd prefer Max over Reilly. What it would cost a team like the Oilers remains a big question mark.

well the Oilers couldn't afford only because Chai made this team a walking hot mess

If David Clarkson's contract can be moved, as did Nathan Horton's, as did Dion Phaneuf's, then there is no doubt in my mind that if the Oilers finally hired someone savvy enough to actually run this team, they could find a way to free themselves of Milan Lucic's dreadful deal, and bring in some immediate top-6 help.