Utah's new owners have already announced they are going to try to make a splash right out of the box, so I think that they'll be after some of the big-ticket no-acquisition-cost free-agent defensemen like Montour, Roy, Pesce, DeMelo, Walker, etc. instead of spending draft capital on mid-range talent like Kulak and Ceci, whom I don't think are worth seconds, anyway.

Yeahhhhh Duchene ain't taking that low AAV and Utah has already said they are buyers........that feels weird to say "Utah/Coyotes are buyers at the FA

I don't think signing 34 year old Henrique for 2 x $4M is a good idea. I'd rather take some of that money and upgrade Roy to Montour.

They can say that all they want but they've still gotta draw in players. They also have a ton of draft capital.
Kulak has 2 years remaining and Utah is pretty desperate for Dmen with term. Ceci can move up if needed. Both are competent defenseman who catch a lot of flak because they're not always deployed correctly by EDM. Packaging the 2 together was just because I believe they should both be moved for picks. I wouldn't sewer their value but I'd listen to offers if a 2nd is too much.

He isn't getting any younger. 3M can get a fine 3RW

Rumor is the Oilers like Henrique enough they're considering re-signing.
Henrique-McDavid-Hyman could be a solid line for 2 years.
4M is fair considering Henrique had 51pts and would most likely top that playing with McDavid full-time.

Sure, maybe they do that. I wouldn't though.

Also, I would use the 2025 1st to dispose of Campbell as I don't particularly like the terms of his buyout. Again, maybe the Oilers don't agree.

His buyout isn't that bad...
1.1M, 2.3M, 2.6M, 1.5M, 1.5M, 1.5M

They need more prospects, not less. Losing that 1st can be a huge mistake in the future.

Agreed to him coming back but I would say that cap hits pretty high, something closer to 2-2.75M range if its for 2 seasons.

2-2.75M is an insult. Not to mention the shorter the term the higher the cost.

Compared to using the first:
0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0.

Or just burying him:
3.8M, 3.8M, 3.8M, 0, 0, 0

The buyout is fine the first year, but for years 2 and 3 only saves enough for a 4th liner, and then costs an extra 4th liner for years 4, 5 & 6 (compared to just burying him).

I do agree that buyout is the likely route the Oilers go with this, but it's not the best option.

It's really not, if he's choosing to play on a team that's going to be competing for the cup than he will need to acknowledge that he's getting paid under his worth at this point in his career.
Otherwise he can go to a non-contender for 3.5-4M to be a mentor then get traded at deadline with retention.

I cant think of a cup contending team with 4M in space to sign a 35 Y/O, if EDM pursued him for this much it'd be pretty disappointing and limiting for the rest of our lineup.

Continuing to spend assets to get rid of problems will just expedite the Oilers into looking like the Penguins! Nothing in the cupboards and praying every season for repeat performances and bargain deals. Gonna miss more often than not. They need to learn how to draft and develop prospects so they can save $$$ by playing those prospects!
Honestly, is any team willing to take 3 years x 5M for a 2025 EDM 1st anyway? Why I think buyout is most likely.

I just can't agree with your logic. 2M is criminally low and EDM needs to find reliable players so they can push their propsects(Holloway, Lavoie, Bourgault, etc). Yoou have to spend more assets to bring in a player with retention to replace Henrique. The cupboards run bare very quickly and EDM can't draft outside of the top 10

IMO we should be aiming at younger targets like Debrusk and I haven't seen anything special with Henrique to bring him back at that price.

What do you think DeBrusk is going to cost?... Hasn't done anything to risk signing for term(he's not coming to EDM on a short term bargain deal!).
Henrique is coming off a better season in a much worse scenario.
I'm not saying sell the farm for Henrique but 2 x 4M is peanuts if he can get another 50 pts or better. 34 year olds like him aren't beat to sh**. He's still got tread!

Debrusk probably 4.75-5 but also is more worth it than Henrique in my eyes, again Henrique hasn't been very impressive with us so it'd be a gamble to bring him back and if he's asking for that much it's a pretty big gamble.
If you see value in him I'm not trying to knock it but I just haven't seen that value over his 22 games and especially not in these playoffs, 4M for 2 seasons is a lot for a guy like him to us.