Probably a touch much for Kulak, but I don't hate it

I like Kulak but as it stands now there’s not really a need or a spot for him. That could change though and this could work.

I don’t like having Skjei on the third pair so maybe this is a replacement after they move him and leverage those cap space and assets to address another position.

I would very much like this should they move Skjei instead of Pesce. Kulak would add some additional defense to the bottom
Pairing and could actually allow Chatfield to use that skating a bit more.

Slavin-Burns
Orlov-Pesce
Kulak-Chatfield

Would also leave us with 5ish to explore another top6/9 add either now or at TDL.

I know they prefer to do offseason work, but they could really position themselves with a tremendous amount of mid season or deadline cap by using paper transactions on Pyotr too.

1. The cost may be a touch high but its gotta be close, EDM acquired him at the dealine (50% salary retention) for a second
2. I haven't really been following the EK65 scenario but if it falls through Kulak would be a great 3rd pair skating dman to add to the mix
3. CAR to me is such a fit, as he is very versatile, they have cap space and he is under contract. But that is as an Oilers fan looking from 30,000ft above

Carolina have Pesce, Burns, Coghlan, Chatfield as RD, they don't need more 3rd pairing guys, they're looking for a top 4 replacement if Pesce doesn't extend

Only thing I’d disagree with is #2. If ek deal falls through and they keep pesce then they don’t really have room unless another trade materializes. They’d have Slavin orlov Skjei burns pesce chatty at that point so would need to still move Skjei out for it to fit.

Is the team better for moving Kulak and signing a bunch of replacement level players though? It doesn't seem like it to me.

I would rather the oilers keep Kulak over ceci

Well that is the conundrum right there.

- Would I rather EDM trade Foegele or Ceci instead of Kulak ... yes everyday of the week but that seems unlikely this offseason (Core member nonsense & Nurse partner)
- Is moving Kulak in order to resign Bouchard and Mcleod + run a 22 man roster worth it ... I believe so, their value on the roster far exceeds Kulak as a 5-7 dman
- Broberg dilemma, EDM appears unwilling to move on from the player and will place him in a position to get the most minutes possible.

The way I see it EDM should have dealt one of Foegele, Ceci or Kulak in order to sign the RFA's and make a 22 man roster. I dislike the 11&7 for extended stretches as Woody deployed, and I genuinely believe the Oilers need to carry a 22 man roster minimum. It didn't bite them as bad as it could have last season.

You can call Jones, Toews, and Bear replacement level but price tag matters and in order to make the pieces fit someone has gotta go

They'd be better off keeping Kulak, running a 21 man roster and accruing cap space to be used later. IMO.

I guess it all depends on what they end up signing the RFA's for, and we can't know the correct strategy until we have those numbers.

That kind of forward thinking wouldn't be tolerated!

I hope they can keep the pair under $6.5 combined

I reckon they're waiting to see what McLeod's contract comes in at before inking Bouchard. It seems backwards, but McLeod holds the Arbitration hammer.

Depending on McLeod's AAV, they can do any of 1x$3.5M, 2x$3.9M or 3x$4.5M for Bouchard. Whatever fits their budget.

I think we'll see Bouchard signed within a week of McLeod.