The Edmonton Oilers added a little bit of depth after free agency opened, signing forwards Markus Granlund and Tomas Jurco while also bringing back Alex Chiasson on a two-year deal. That doesn’t mean they’re finished though, as GM Ken Holland told David Staples of the Edmonton Journal. The Oilers would still like to find some more scoring for the wing and a legitimate third-line center, but whether that will come through free agency or trade isn’t clear.
It’s not like Edmonton has a ton of room to go after a free agent, even following the recent buyout of defenseman Andrej Sekera. The Oilers currently project to have over $77.5MM in cap hits committed to next season—including more than $4.1MM in various buyouts—though that is already for a 22-man roster. There is still plenty of talent left on the market, but as Holland told Staples he’s “been a manager for 22 years. [He knows] when it’s time to pay and when it’s time not to pay.”
- The Pittsburgh Penguins might be another team looking to clear some cap room with a trade, as Josh Yohe of The Athletic (subscription required) examines in his latest piece. Yohe believes at least one more trade is coming before the end of the summer given the current salary situation the Penguins are facing, sitting with just under $1.6MM in cap space with restricted free agents Teddy Blueger, Zach Aston-Reese and Marcus Pettersson still to be signed. In his breakdown of the roster and the likelihood of each player being traded, he lists three “favorites” which includes relative newcomer Nick Bjugstad. The 26-year old has two years at a $4.1MM cap hit remaining on his current deal but scored just 36 points last year in a down season.
- Justin Williams is still deciding whether to play or not next season, but the Carolina Hurricanes are optimistic that he’ll come back for at least one more year. Carolina GM Don Waddell told NHL.com’s Tom Gulitti that if Williams does come back, he’s confident the veteran winger will sign with the Hurricanes. Williams shared the same sentiment, explaining that he’d rather not move his family again. Even though he will turn 38 at the beginning of the season, Williams is still a capable offensive piece that put up 23 goals and 53 points last season.
Holland deciding to pay is what’s screwing up Detroit’s roster
Pittsburgh needs to deal Rust and Johnson before even thinking of Bjugstad. Bjugstad makes the Pens harder to play against. Rust is redundant.
Fire Holland.
Fire Holland? he just took over
Penguins: hey we need to clear up some cap space so we can sign our young and talented RFA’s.
Also Penguins: that Tanev guy is worth $26mil over 6 years.
Tanev was and is basically a bottom 6 player and spent most of 2 seasons with some secondary scoring playing basically on 4th line. unless he moves up to say 3rd line to replace Kessel on 3rd line, don’t see his 26 million contract payoff unless like said rid themselves of Rust , since he only was getting points with Crosby or Malkin,
21mil over 6 years
Correction, @tylerall5 – that Tanev guy will get overpaid for the next 6 yrs. Way to go, GMJR! One step forward, three steps back…
Fire Nicholson and Holland. Holland was the wrong hire to begin with. Nicholson has done nothing but hire Chiarelli and Holland, and all those guys have done is further bury the Oilers. Nicholson keeps hiring incompetent GMs who hire incompetent coaches to try and drive their life in the NHL a little longer.
Oilers need to bring back Rattie on a cheap deal. Once Hitch showed up Rattie never got a fair chance. He’s a great depth winger and mcdavid liked playing on a line with him