The Edmonton Oilers have signed Josh Archibald to a two-year extension, keeping him under contract through the 2021-22 season. Archibald was scheduled for unrestricted free agency after the season ended, but will now stay in Edmonton earning an average salary of $1.5MM per season.
Archibald, 27, actually found his footing last season with the Arizona Coyotes, recording 12 goals and 22 points in 68 games, but failed to get a qualifying offer from the team at the end of the year. As a free agent he decided to take a one-year, $1MM deal with the Oilers that has proved a smart financial decision.
Though he still hasn’t blown the doors off the league offensively, Archibald has contributed another dozen goals in limited minutes while being the same little fireball of energy every single night. The 5’10” 176-lbs forward actually leads the Oilers in hits with 160 on the season, one shy of last year’s total.
Though he’s obviously a valued contributor, the Oilers have to consider carefully every dollar they allocate as they try to surround Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl with a championship team. $1.5MM means that Archibald will have to continue to produce, even if at a bottom-six level, as he’s now locked into a roster spot for the next two years.
Holland is learning. If this was the Wings he’d have gotten McDavid money
I’m Ilitch had a lot of say in what went on in Detroit.
@andrewgauldin – I’m glad you chimed in with that. Did that originate with fans who were in close proximity to the Wings’ execs when they were out and about? You know, people overhear stuff and *may* not keep it to themselves (what new?). That theory could have a lot of merit, in that “The Family” may have had more say in contracts than they really should have, i.e. “loyalty rewards”, instead of getting the guy off the salary cap and making him an “ambassador.”
@andrewgauldin i agree because all you have to do is look at the huge bloated contracts that the Detroit Tigers gave out to many players under Ilitch’s ownership. Holland takes too much flak from people that dont know how much control that Mike Ilitch had…..go Oil go
I really liked Archibald when he was with the Pens. He seems to have developed into a solid 4th liner.