I don't get how people think subban is anything close to a replacement for Barrie.

Subban had a quietly good year along with Barrie being a cap casualty. Nurse and Bouchard can pick up Barries PP time easily, everyone hypes up Barries PP play when really that's all he's good and for 3rd pairing 4.5M? even then Oilers use 97 and 29 more than their defense on PP. Subban is there to be good out of the spotlight and mentor Broberg.

Verhaegee isn’t going anywhere especially for someone like barrie

Whats the difference between oilers second pair and third pair? 1 or 2 minutes per game? Oilers use that pairing alot since don't have a top heavy pairing so cutting costs there will effect the team alot more than most seem to think. Second and third pair should be viewed with similar importance....

If you're paying a defensive liability $4.5M purely for his PP on the 3rd pairing that's terrible cap management. Barrie played decently in the playoffs because he was paired with Kulak who earned better play time already. Bouchard put up more points 5v5 with almost no PP time all while better defensively and Nurse is already more an offensive minded D.

Barrie played great in the playoffs two years in a row. Defensive liability isn't even a thing with him when it comes to playoffs. Idc what he does all season he's easily worth every dime he gets for what he does when it matters the most.

Barrie played okay until he was paired with Kulak to cover his poor defense. Defense liability is DEFINETLY a thing with Barrie. unless oilers are on the PP he gives up more than he gives. There's more to the game than surface level points, which Bouchard already does better with Nurse not far behind. ALSO Bouchard AND Nurse had more points than Barrie in the playoffs with Barrie getting majority PP time.