Quoting: BeterChiarelli
I like the idea of buying big on Hamilton if Nuge goes to market. That said, I fundamentally hate the idea of RNH testing UFA.
I remain unconvinced that Danault wants to be a #3C for his entire career when his ceiling is obviously higher than that. Probably looking at allocating his money into a more realistic offer for Hamilton (Pietrangelo minimum) and possibly at throwing more money at Hall as opposed to Saad.
I think you're a touch low on Kahun: if he's earned an extension, then he's done so by posting 3rd-line numbers at minimum and he likely comes in closer to what you've offered Coleman.
I'd prefer Holloway to have a season in the AHL - I'll admit that I'm absolute convinced in his current abilities and I've warmed up to his selection - but I still firmly believe in incrementally introducing prospects to harder and harder environments. He'd pair well with Lavoie, and having Broberg off-roster (assuming AHL deployment to start) gives Bakersfield the potential to be a playoff team. There's merit in that kind of developmental environment.
Buying out Neal or retaining 50% in a trade makes more immediate sense for roster improvements than continuing to ice a $6M fourth-liner. I don't immediately like the Goodrow signing either, but I have a personal thing about 4th-line players making over $1M. I'd much rather focus on the strength of the top-three lines and try to shoehorn in some PK specialists for dirt-cheap on that bottom line.
I appreciate the optimism in Klefbom returning, but will he be at top-pair calibre should he comes back? Can't exactly cure arthritis. With money having evaporated into Hamilton and a Hall/Saad in the top-six, what's your longer-term outlook for the blueline? What kind of deals are Jones and Bear signing for after they've expired? Does Nurse stay or go akin to Nugent-Hopkins?
Lots of great commentary here, thanks for your input. Some notes:
- going after Hamilton isn't dependent on whether or not Nuge goes to market: he's getting the money formerly allocated to Larsson & Barrie ($4.166M + $3.75M = $7.916M). Hamilton + Bouchard are only slightly more at $8.363M. So the Oilers could make a play for Hamilton with or without Nuge. I'm somewhat ambivalent on this as I'm not a huge Hamilton fan, I'd rather re-sign Barrie to another 1-year deal with the intention of grabbing one of the marquee UFA defensemen in 2022: Letang / Giordano / Klingberg / Ekholm would be excellent on short-term deals while Nurse / Parayko / Jones / Lindholm / Rielly / Pulock would be candidates for longer term deals.
- I think Danault wants to win, like most players, and will do what it takes to get his name etched. I don't think Hamilton gets Pietrangelo money (he's not that caliber at all) so I certainly wouldn't do that, and I don't think Hall is worth much (if any) more than Nuge so if Nuge isn't going to take the Oilers offer, why would Hall?
- Kahun has been posting 2nd line numbers the past 2 years, I expect nothing less this year. So this is low for sure, but after bouncing around the NHL the past few years I think he'll trade AAV for term and the opportunity to play with Draisaitl.
- I like the idea of giving Holloway a year (or part of one) in Bakersfield, and I presume Holland does too. However, AHL playoffs / Calder Cup is not a priority for this organization (IMO), the success of the Oilers NHL club is the only thing that matters. I'd do what's best for the team and if Holloway is ready to step up, that's where he'll be. IMO he and Puljujarvi would be the perfect linemates for McDavid - he's a one-man zone entry / scoring chance machine, but his sorties are often one-and-done and these two, while being able to keep up with his rushes, can also cycle the puck like crazy, adding more opportunities for McDavid to create scoring chances. We saw what happened when Tippett put Draisaitl and Yamamoto with McDavid against Vancouver - 2 minutes of o-zone time resulting in a goal. That's what I'm trying to re-create here without using either Draisaitl or Yamamoto on the line.
- I hate buyouts, but Neal's contract might come to that. Or Robidas Island with a skin condition!
I agree re: Goodrow, I was at the end and didn't feel like researching 4th liners PK history, so I just stuck him in.
- Yeah, I'm not actually that optimistic about Klefbom, but if he's 90% he'll be able to play top-4 with a strong partner. I have him at the top here because (a) I wanted to keep Nurse-Bear together, and (b) people here would freak out if I put Nurse-Bear ahead of Klefbom-Hamilton just due to reputation.
- Good question re: Jones / Bear / Nurse future contracts. The truth is that we don't know what will transpire over the next 2 years, but with Bouchard, Samorukov and Broberg coming, there are options. The Oilers will have to be very careful not to give too much AAV+term to the wrong defenseman (and maybe I've already done so with this AGM).
- I think Nurse should be treated like any other UFA - give him a fair offer akin to his abilities, but know that there are options in the marketplace. If Nurse is demanding more AAV and / or term than I'm willing to give him then I'd look at signing (say) Ekholm to a 3-year deal instead, or Giordano to a 1-year deal to see if Broberg can step up in that timeframe. There are options aplenty in 2022.