The oilers will be fantastic when the salary cap reaches $94M.

By the time the salary cap reaches $94M, the Oilers will have spent $120M

Ken Holland:

https://i.imgflip.com/5j3hfc.jpg
Ken Holland is the new Jim Benning

Overall you have a point. However:

1. The Oilers have 4, most likely 5, ELC contracts that they're betting the farm on next season. The group of Broberg, Holloway, Konovalov, Lavoie, and Samorukov are probably going to be looked at to help drive the bus on next year's squad at massive savings. The difference alone in running Holloway, Konovalov, and Samorukov over your UFA placeholders is $8M with room for bonuses.

2. The second contracts for Bouchard, McLeod, and one of Puljujarvi/Yamamoto probably come in less than your placeholders do. Bouchard is maybe bridged over two years at less than $2M, McLeod for around $1.5M, and Puljujarvi and/or Yamamoto probably top out at $3.5. There inlies another $3M in realized savings worst case scenario.

3. Moving Kassian isn't impossible

All things considered and even ignoring option 3, were at the point where a projected $1M cap increase, press box deals coming in cheaper, and cheaper 4th line deals probably put the Oilers under the cap even if it's only by a small margin.

Granted I don't believe the Oilers will try to find a taker for even a 50%-retained Kassian and that we need to seriously expect a Puljujarvi trade. The organization is clearly high on Konovalov, Skinner, or both, and Holland is super high on his own drafted prospects.

ELC deals appear to be the only way forward in the meantime and it's not going to make next season's cap situation tricky, but rather 2, 3, and 4 seasons out.

"Bouchard bridged over two years at $2M"

- That's $2,000,000 saved if he replaces the $4,000,000 second pair defender.

"Puljujarvi + Yamamoto top out at $3.5M"

- That's $1,000,000 saved if they replace both of the $4,000,000 second liners.

McLeod signed for around $1.5M

- That's $500,000 saved if he replaces the $2,000,000 third line center.

"Broberg, Holloway, Konovalov, Lavoie, and Samorukov are probably going to be looked at to help drive the bus on next year's squad at massive savings."

- Broberg on the 3rd pair saves $1,100,000 (replaces $2,000,000 defender)
- Holloway on the 4th line saves $100,000 (replaces $1,000,000 forward)
- Lavoie on the 4th line saves $100,000 (replaces $1,000,000 forward)
- Samurukov scratched saves nothing (replaces 900K press boxer)

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And that's it ... I've replaced every single roster player with your suggestions (except the goalie).

Total savings = $4,800,000 (which still leaves you $7,200,000 over the cap).

You definitely could save $4,100,000 more by using a rookie goalie with a 41 year old back up.

But I'm not sure that's a good idea if you want to be a contender?

Either way, you'd still be $3,100,000 over the cap.

kassian can go for a 3rd and a late round pick

Puljujarvi will be moved for a young, cheap goalie.
Holloway takes his spot in the top 6.
Yamamoto is probably signing something 2×2
Bouchard fills the 2nd d spot.
Broberg fills 3rd pairing role.
Kassian can also be dumped if need be.

That gets them under.