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Penguins Expected To Begin Negotiations With Marcus Pettersson Soon

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The Pittsburgh Penguins are expected to turn their attention to extending defenseman Marcus Pettersson once they have finalized a new contract for captain Sidney Crosby (as per David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period). Pettersson is entering the final year of a five-year $20.13MM contract that he originally signed in January 2020. The deal has been an absolute bargain for the Penguins as the 29-year-old has blossomed into Pittsburgh’s most reliable defender.

Pettersson was originally acquired by Pittsburgh from the Anaheim Ducks back in December 2018. The deal was a one-for-one with forward Daniel Sprong heading back to the Ducks. The deal turned out to be fairly one-sided as Sprong has become a journeyman depth scorer while Pettersson has developed into a legitimate top four defenseman.

There is no indication on what kind of a contract Pettersson will be seeking, but given his importance to the Penguins, it’s not hard to picture him getting an extension in the range of $5.5MM to $6MM per season on a long-term pact. The Penguins don’t have another defender like Pettersson and might not be a top destination as the team enters a period of transition where they are attempting to remain competitive while building for the future.

Pettersson is hardly a household name but could certainly command a lucrative long-term deal in free agency, particularly if he can match his production from last season when he posted career highs in goals with four and assists with 26 as well as a +28 rating.

Summer Synopsis: Los Angeles Kings

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It wasn’t that long ago that the Los Angeles Kings were a team that appeared to be on the cusp of breaking through, they were entering win-now mode and had just acquired Kevin Fiala from the Minnesota Wild. General manager Rob Blake had steered the team through a tough rebuild and managed to keep several veterans from the 2012 and 2014 Stanley Cup-winning teams in the fray. This year the mood around the team feels quite different after a third straight first-round exit at the hands of the Edmonton Oilers. It also feels that many of the Kings’ moves this summer were panic moves that show a lack of direction going forward.

Draft

1-26: F Liam Greentree, Windsor (OHL)
2-57: G Carter George,  Owen Sound (OHL)
6-164: D Jared Woolley, London (OHL)
7-198: F James Reeder, Dubuque (USHL)

The Kings dropped back in the draft from 21st to 26th and selected Windsor Spitfires right winger Greentree. The 6’2”, 214-pound forward is a left shot on the right wing and is a creatively gifted skater with an incredible ability to move the puck while he is in motion and traffic. He is extremely slippery and has a good mind for the game, particularly in the offensive zone where he is calm and clever with the puck on his stick.

Thunder Bay, Ontario native Carter George was the Kings’ second-round pick after spending two seasons with the Owen Sound Attack of the OHL. George led the league with four shutouts last season and was selected to the OHL First All-Rookie Team and the Third All-Star Team. His numbers in the OHL weren’t great with a .907 save percentage and a 3.30 goals-against average, however, goaltenders tend to have skewed numbers due to the high-scoring nature of the league. George has good lateral movement and keeps good angles, but he is undersized and could stand to work on his rebound control. He will likely be a project for Los Angeles and could take five to seven years to reach the NHL.

The Kings had to wait until the sixth round to pick again and chose bruising 6’5” defender Woolley from the London Knights of the OHL. Woolley split last season between London and the St. Thomas Stars of the GOJHL. The Port Hope, Ontario native steadily improved as the season went on and finished by playing four games in the Memorial Cup. Woolley is a physical presence in the defensive zone, both at his blue line and around the net. He is also solid with the puck on his stick, showing patience with the puck at the offensive blue line and starting plays with a good first pass.

Finally, Los Angeles selected James Reeder in the seventh round. The Glenview, Illinois native is set to play in the NCAA at the University of Denver this season and will likely spend all four years of his eligibility there. The two-way forward is dynamic with the puck and isn’t afraid to drive to the net to make a play happen. He plays with a quick pace and can get to open space with relative ease using his speed and hockey sense to create room for himself in the offensive zone. He is a bit undersized but should flourish in Denver over the next few seasons.

Trade Acquisitions

D Kyle Burroughs (San Jose)
F Tanner Jeannot (Tampa Bay)
G Darcy Kuemper (Washington)

The Kings are counting on bounce-back seasons from a couple of trade acquisitions that were brought in this summer. Kuemper struggled with the Washington Capitals after winning the Stanley Cup in 2022 with Colorado. He was brought in on a five-year $26.25MM contract but posted a very pedestrian 35-40-10 record in Washington with a .902 save percentage and a 3.03 goals-against average. Los Angeles hasn’t had solid goaltending during the previous few seasons and is hoping Kuemper can regain his previous form to help the team get over the hump.

Jeannot is another player who will be hoping for better results in a new environment as he underwhelmed in Tampa Bay after being acquired for five draft picks and Callan Foote at the 2023 NHL trade deadline. The Estevan, Saskatchewan native had just seven goals and seven assists in 55 games last season and lost the scoring touch that made him so valuable the season prior. He took a ton of penalties last season and will have to clean that up if he hopes to be a good contributor on the third line.

UFA Signings

D Joel Edmundson (four-year, $15.4MM)
F Warren Foegele (three-year, $10.5MM)
F Glenn Gawdin (two-year, $1.55MM)*
D Caleb Jones (one-year, $775K)*
F Jeff Malott (two-year, $1.55MM)*
C Jason Studnicka (one-year, $775K)*
D Reilly Walsh (one-year, $775K)*

* denotes a two-way contract

Los Angeles signed Edmundson to a four-year contract, which was a massive gamble for a 31-year-old whose body appears to be breaking down the later he gets in his career. Edmundson does give the Kings a big body and should help in the defensive zone come playoff time as he can clear the front of the net and battle in the corners. However, he does have significant warts to his game as he doesn’t do much when the puck is on his stick and he gives up a ton of scoring chances when he is on the ice. The contract could become an albatross for Los Angeles if Edmundson can’t stay healthy.

The Kings signed Foegele away from Edmonton to add depth to their forward group. The contract is a gamble given that Foegele played fourth-line minutes last year with the Oilers. The upside to Blake’s gamble is that Foegele can skate and is good on the forecheck, and he is good at creating scoring opportunities for his linemates despite the limited playing time. He managed 41 points in 82 games last year, which suggests he could become a more prominent offensive contributor in the future.

RFA Re-Signings

F Quinton Byfield (five-year, $31.25MM)
F Samuel Fagemo (one-year, $775K)*
F Joe Hicketts (one-year, $775K)*
F Andre Lee (one-year, $775K)*
D Jordan Spence (two-year, $3MM)
C Akil Thomas (two-year, $1.55MM)*
F Alex Turcotte (three-year, $2.325MM)*

* denotes a two-way contract

Los Angeles took care of one of their most important players when they locked Byfield into a five-year extension. The second overall pick in 2020 had a breakout season last year, registering 20 goals and 35 assists in 80 games. Byfield hadn’t shown much at the NHL level before last year and took a huge jump forward turning into a two-way center who will most likely fill a middle-six role for the Kings next year. Byfield’s playmaking reached new levels last season, and his 46 takeaways suggest that his defensive game is trending upward as well. At $6.25MM per season, Los Angeles is gambling that the 22-year-old is only scratching the surface, and they will likely be proven right over the next few seasons.

The Kings signed Spence to a two-year extension after the 23-year-old found some offensive success for the first time in three NHL seasons. Spence averaged 14:26 in ice time last season and was sheltered in a favorable role. His underlying numbers were quite good, demonstrating that the young rearguard is solid at generating offensive opportunities while making good defensive choices. Spence’s emergence likely influenced the Kings’ decision to move on from Matt Roy.

Departures

F Viktor Arvidsson (Edmonton, two-year, $8MM)
D Kevin Connauton (Utah, two-year, $1.55MM)*
G Aaron Dell (unsigned free agent)
F Pierre-Luc Dubois (traded to Washington)
F Carl Grundstrom (traded to San Jose)
F Hayden Hodgson (Ottawa, one-year, $775K)*
G Jacob Ingham (unsigned free agent)
C Blake Lizotte (Pittsburgh, two-year, $3.7MM)
F Mikhail Maltsev (signed in KHL)
D Matt Roy (Washington, six-year, $34.5MM)
D Steven Santini (Tampa Bay, one-year, $775K)*
G Cam Talbot (Detroit, two-year, $5MM)
F T.J. Tynan (Colorado, one-year, $775K)*

* denotes a two-way contract

Los Angeles let go of a lot of forward depth this summer as Arvidsson, Lizotte, Dubois, and Grundstrom have moved on. The effects of those departures could be felt this season, particularly if Jeannot doesn’t re-capture his game and if some of the Kings’ younger pieces are unable to take the next step.

The Dubois trade was one of necessity for the Kings as his contract had become an albatross after just a single season. Getting out of it was likely the right move for Los Angeles long term, even if it does cost them some depth scoring this season. Dubois didn’t fit in Los Angeles for some reason, he opted far too often to pass away the puck, rather than carrying it to the offensive zone to create scoring opportunities for teammates. Dubois could still work out in Washington, but if his game resembles that of what we saw last year, the Capitals could end up regretting the trade to acquire him.

Arvidsson was a valuable offensive contributor for the Kings but didn’t offer much last season as he was injured for a great deal of it. The Kings certainly missed his scoring and weren’t able to replace it this summer.

Carl Grundstrom was never much of a scorer but did contribute a decent amount for the little that he played. He also offered the Kings a physical presence, but that part of his game should be replaced adequately by Jeannot.

Lizotte is a low-maintenance player that the Kings opted to move on from. On paper, his departure doesn’t seem like a huge loss, but it could quietly be a blow to the Kings’ depth up front. Lizotte was a good forechecker, who could kill penalties and play with pace, something Los Angeles could use if they run into the Oilers again in the playoffs. The 26-year-old didn’t have a great offensive season last year but is just a year removed from a 34-point campaign and is an underrated passer.

Salary Cap Outlook

The Kings figure to enter training camp with just over $1.3MM in salary cap space and could potentially add a veteran player before the start of the regular season. Blake might also opt to keep the space open to make an in-season move to try and improve his club. Long term the Kings don’t have any pressing issues as most of their younger players are now signed to long-term deals. However, improvement in the future might become challenging as the Kings have several long-term contracts that aren’t exactly desirable and might be hard to move on from if the team wants to make significant additions.

Key Questions

Is The Team Better? The Kings shifted a lot of the furniture this offseason, tinkering on the edges of the lineup while maintaining most of their core players. But did it make them better? The answer will lie in the on-ice results but at the moment it’s hard to say whether shifting things around has made the group stronger. The Kings have run into the Oilers for three straight seasons and will likely face a similar opponent in the playoffs once again, and this year Blake focused on players who can help come playoff time, but it remains to be seen if that strategy will work.

What Will The Goaltending Look Like? Los Angeles is banking on Kuemper returning to form and if he does their goaltending should be a lot better. But will he get back to the goaltender he was a few years ago? The answer is very unclear, and the Kings don’t have a great plan B if Kuemper falters. Los Angeles could try and take a swing on another trade if Kuemper’s game isn’t where they need it to be, but they would be unlikely to move on from Kuemper’s cap hit in that scenario which would make a trade very difficult.

How Will The Defence Be?  The Kings opted to let Roy go to free agency which won’t impact the top pairing of Mikey Anderson and Drew Doughty. However, it will move Spence onto the second pairing after he spent last season being sheltered. For the Kings’ third pairing, veteran Edmundson will likely line up alongside Brandt Clarke. Overall, it’s hard to say whether that defensive setup is better than last year’s lineup, but the Kings will be hoping it is if they want to take the next step.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Evening Notes: Rantanen, Binnington, Sundqvist

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Evan Rawal of Colorado Hockey Now writes about the impact that Leon Draisaitl’s new contract will have on Colorado Avalanche forward Mikko Rantanen’s next deal. The 27-year-old Rantanen shares an agent with Draisaitl but appears unlikely to match the $14MM AAV that Draisaitl recently agreed to. David Pastrnak’s contract is probably a good comparable for Rantanen, but as Rawal points out, that deal was signed a year and a half ago and the cap has gone up since then and will likely go up again next season.

Rantanen is coming off back-to-back 100+ point seasons and has scored 97 goals in the past two seasons. Given that he plays in Colorado, the Avalanche will likely want to keep his AAV under the $12.6MM that Nathan MacKinnon signed for in September 2022.

In other evening notes:

  • Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic writes about St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington and whether he will play out the final three years of his contract in St. Louis. Rutherford believes that if Binnington plays well for the next couple of seasons and keeps the team in the playoff hunt then the team will likely keep him through the end of his deal (or close to the end of it). However, if Binnington’s play drops off, or if backup Joel Hofer is ready to play, Rutherford could foresee St. Louis turning to their young backup to anoint him the team’s starter, regardless of whether they keep or trade Binnington.
  • Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic writes that Blues forward Oskar Sundqvist began skating again after undergoing surgery to repair a torn ACL on March 25th. Sundqvist was supposed to be evaluated at the end of September and it is encouraging to see him skating this early. St. Louis is expected to have several young forward prospects challenge for roles this fall at training camp but given that Sundqvist was just re-signed to a two-year deal, it’s likely he will start the season in the NHL if he is healthy enough to do so. The 30-year-old signed a two-year, $3MM deal in March and posted six goals and 15 assists in 71 games before the injury.

Rangers Notes: Smith, Trouba, Kakko

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Recently acquired New York Rangers forward Reilly Smith appears likely to get an early season opportunity alongside forwards Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad (as per Peter Baugh of The Athletic). The former Stanley Cup Champion had a down year last season in Pittsburgh posting 13 goals and 27 assists in 76 games but is just a year removed from tallying 26 goals and 30 assists in 78 games with the Vegas Golden Knights. He isn’t an elite scorer by any stretch, but Smith is dependable and could be a good complementary piece on the Rangers’ top line.

Baugh also touched on Smith’s pending free agency saying that the Rangers will likely wait until the end of the season to see if the 33-year-old is a fit with the team long-term. Baugh feels that the only thing that could push the Rangers to sign Smith to an extension sooner would be if Smith is a perfect fit in the Rangers lineup.

In other Rangers notes:

  • Peter Baugh of The Athletic writes that Rangers’ defenseman Jacob Trouba is excited and optimistic about the upcoming season despite the trade winds that swirled around him for much of the summer. The Rangers captain dealt with injuries last season and struggled in the playoffs, taking bad penalties and having mental lapses. It appears likely that Trouba’s dip in play means he will start the season on the Rangers’ third pairing (as per Arthur Staple), which could benefit the 30-year-old as he will play against easier competition and could see a drop-in average ice time.
  • Arthur Staple believes that former second-overall pick Kaapo Kakko will lineup on the Rangers’ third line to start the year alongside Filip Chytil and Will Cuylle. Kakko probably won’t get much in the way of playing time on special teams which will limit his offensive opportunities and the possibility of working his way up higher in the Rangers lineup. A full season with Chytil could help Kakko get back to the 40-point pace he displayed in 2022-23, and possibly help him avoid hearing his name in trade rumors once again as he did for much of last season.

Torey Krug’s Injury Could Be Career-Threatening

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St. Louis Blues defenseman Torey Krug spoke with reporters today for the first time about his injury situation and acknowledged that the issue with his ankle could be career-ending (as per Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic). Krug told reporters today that he first sustained the injury in 2018 while he was a member of the Boston Bruins. Krug broke his left ankle in the second round of the playoffs against the Tampa Bay Lightning when he awkwardly slammed into the boards and was done for the playoffs.

Krug started the 2018-19 season late (missing 11 games) but managed to dress in 64 games for the Bruins before finishing his time in Boston in 2019-20. He then signed a seven-year contract with St. Louis and played several seasons after the initial injury, but started to have an issue with arthritis from the ankle surgery. He played through the pain, receiving support in the form of treatment, exercise and injections.

It wasn’t until this offseason that Krug started to have major issues during his training. He called Blues general manager Doug Armstrong to report the issue and to formulate a plan with medical personnel. The initial timeline was to rehab his ankle for six to eight weeks and then re-evaluate. Now, with the rehab period over, Krug will go in for a procedure called a subtalar fusion, which could be career-threatening for the 33-year-old as it restricts lateral movement within the foot and ankle, something that is required for an NHL defenseman to move around the ice with ease.

Dr. Rick Lehman, a medical director for the U.S. Center of Sports Medicine put Krug’s odds of playing in the NHL again at about 30%, calling the procedure a Hail Mary. He also added that while a return to the ice is possible, the surgery is very difficult to come back from and the recovery period is unpredictable.

Penguins Notes: Acciari, Eller, Hayes

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Matt Vensel of The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette writes that Pittsburgh Penguins forward Noel Acciari will likely move from center to the wing this season as the Penguins try to squeeze more juice out of the 32-year-old’s game after a disappointing 2023-24 season. Acciari was signed to a three-year $6MM contract in July of 2023 with the expectation that he could center the Penguins’ fourth line, but the results were underwhelming, to say the least.

The Johnston, Rhode Island native dealt with injuries last season and didn’t contribute much offensively with just four goals and three assists in 55 games. He was okay defensively, but his possession numbers were abysmal with a CF% of 40% at even strength. He’s been mentioned as a trade candidate this summer, but it seems unlikely that Pittsburgh could find a taker. A move to the wing could benefit Acciari and allow him to get to his game better in his second year with the Penguins.

In other Penguins notes:

  • Matt Vensel also wonders if all of the forwards Pittsburgh brought in this summer might push them to trade Lars Eller. This is hardly the first time that Eller’s name has come up in trade talks this summer, and it doesn’t seem to be quieting as training camp nears. Eller served as the Penguins’ third-line center last year and filled in admirably, particularly given the lack of consistency when it came to his linemates. The 35-year-old posted 15 goals and 16 assists in 82 games and had good possession numbers, despite starting over 70% of his shifts in the defensive zone. While he does hold some value on the trade market, he remains one of Pittsburgh’s best options to dress as a third-line center.
  • If the Penguins do move on from Eller, newly acquired forward Kevin Hayes could be his replacement on the third line (as per Matt Vensel). Hayes couldn’t find a consistent role in St. Louis last season and his numbers dipped to a career-low 29 points (13 goals and 16 assists) in 79 games. The 32-year-old is just two years removed from a 54-point season in Philadelphia and could have a bounce-back season if he can carve out a consistent role with the Penguins.

Evening Notes: Red Wings, Bouchard, Obvintsev

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Max Bultman of The Athletic believes that the length of the Detroit Red Wings contract negotiations with Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider may have cost the Red Wings some money in the long run. Raymond and Seider remain unsigned as training camps are quickly approaching and Bultman believes that comparable contract extensions signed this summer may have only increased the asking price for both unsigned Red Wings.

Bultman cites Brock Faber’s eight-year, $8.5 million AAV contract as a potential floor for Seider’s new deal and adds that he believes both players will sign new deals before training camp and that should ease any tensions that might exist. However, Bultman does note that having two young core pieces unsigned this late in the summer might not be great for team morale.

In other evening notes:

  • Jim Matheson of The Edmonton Journal tweeted that he believes Edmonton Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard could get a $10MM AAV on his next deal with the Oilers. The 24-year-old is set to count just $3.9MM against the cap next season in the second year of a two-year deal and is coming off a year in which he registered 18 goals and 64 assists in 81 games. The 10th overall pick in 2018 has matured into one of the most prolific puck-movers in the NHL in just five seasons and has not only produced in the regular season but has been elite in the playoffs as well with 13 goals and 45 assists in 53 career playoff games. If Bouchard does indeed get an AAV at that rate, it will make for a tight salary cap for the Oilers who will also have to consider a Connor McDavid extension.
  • Steven Ellis of Leafs Nation wonders if the Toronto Maple Leafs might have drafted a hidden gem in goaltender Timofei Obvintsev. The Maple Leafs selected the 6’4” Russian 157th overall in this year’s NHL entry draft and it may have been a shrewd move given that NHL teams hold Russian players’ rights indefinitely and goaltenders tend to develop slower. The 19-year-old hasn’t seen a ton of action the last two seasons, dressing in just 28 games, but scouts are raving about his quick hands and ability to direct pucks with his blocker out of harm’s way. As Ellis points out, Obvintsev is likely years away from being NHL-ready, but the team can be patient with him and give him time to develop his game.

Filip Zadina Signs In Switzerland

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Former Detroit Red Wings first-round pick Filip Zadina has reportedly signed a deal with Swiss club HC Davos (as per HC Davos X account). The signing ends Zadina’s time in the NHL for now, as inconsistency and inflated expectations have plagued the former sixth-overall pick. It was reported last week that Zadina would sign a PTO with an NHL team, however, his agent poured cold water over those rumors.

Zadina was never able to live up to the expectations of being drafted so high and eventually asked for a fresh start to try and get his career on the rails. Detroit mutually terminated his contract in July 2023 which allowed the 24-year-old to sign with the San Jose Sharks last summer and start with a clean slate. With the Sharks, Zadina posted a career-high 13 goals to go with 10 assists in 72 games, but his overall game wasn’t strong enough to warrant a NHL contract this summer.

Zadina likely could have received an NHL offer through a professional tryout, particularly with some of the teams lacking forward depth, however, he has opted for more certainty and a guarantee in Switzerland. His signing effectively pauses his time in the NHL and could allow him to regain the offensive touch the made him a high draft pick. Davos has historically been a powerhouse in the National League with 31 titles but has struggled as of late finishing sixth last year in the regular season and getting knocked out in the first round of the playoffs.

Former Oilers Goaltender Mikko Koskinen Officially Retires

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Former Edmonton Oilers goaltender Mikko Koskinen officially retired from his playing career last week (as per Finnish media outlet Ilta-Sanomat). There were whispers earlier in the year that he would hang up his skates, but it has been made official. The 36-year-old began his career as a second-round pick of the New York Islanders in 2009 and played just four NHL games with the organization, playing mostly overseas before eventually signing as a free agent with the Oilers in May of 2018.

He was okay in his first full NHL season, dressing in 55 games and posting a 25-21-6 record with a .906 save percentage. This prompted then Oilers general manager Peter Chiarelli to sign the Finnish netminder to a three-year $13.5MM contract extension.

The first year of the deal went well for both sides as Koskinen posted a .917 save percentage in 38 games and looked like a legitimate NHL netminder. However, after the success of the 2019-20 season, the wheels came off of Koskinen’s game and he became a lightning rod for criticism over the following two seasons.

In his final months in the NHL, Koskinen didn’t see much action with Edmonton as Mike Smith took over the net, largely out of necessity as Koskinen couldn’t find his game. Koskinen saw three games of playoff action in 2022, going 0-2 with a .897 save percentage and a 4.02 goals-against average. This was the last NHL action he would see.

In June 2022, Koskinen signed in Switzerland with HC Lugano where he would finish out the final two years of his professional playing career before deciding to begin a new career as a player agent. He officially registered as a player agent in Finland in July and will be reportedly based in Helsinki.

All things considered, Koskinen had a very successful playing career. His NHL numbers were certainly average, however, he posted elite numbers internationally, representing his native Finland on multiple occasions and his KHL numbers were terrific during his five professional seasons in Russia.

Summer Synopsis: Edmonton Oilers

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The Edmonton Oilers were a win away from capturing the franchise’s sixth Stanley Cup and first, since 1990 but fell to the Florida Panthers in seven games. The team shook off previous playoff disappointments to win the Western Conference but fell short of the ultimate goal. This summer the team has made a pile of personnel changes, replacing general manager Ken Holland with former Chicago Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman. The new management group wasted little time overhauling the roster and dealt with a very unorthodox roster situation last month with two offer sheets that saw them lose two young players for draft picks. It appears that Edmonton’s roster is still very much under construction, and they do have some flexibility heading into training camp.

Draft

1-32: C Sam O’Reilly, London (OHL)
2-64: G Eemil Vinni,  JoKP (Mestis)
5-160: LW Connor Clattenburg, Flint (OHL)
6-183: D Albin Sundin, Frölunda HC (SHL)
6-192: C Dalyn Wakely, North Bay (OHL)
7-196: C William Nicholl, London (OHL)
7-218: DBauer Berry, Muskegon (USHL)

The Oilers have one of the worst farm systems in the NHL and used the 2024 draft to try and replenish their many needs in the prospect pipeline. The Oilers moved into the first round and grabbed O’Reilly from the OHL’s London Knights. Edmonton was higher on the two-way center than most scouts but should end up with a player who can help them upfront. O’Reilly isn’t the quickest center, but he is elusive and has good offensive instincts that should allow him to create chances for linemates.

The Oilers selected a goaltender late in the second round, taking Vinni with the 64th selection. Many scouts had the Finnish goaltender as the most athletic netminder in the draft and the most complete. Edmonton has struggled to draft and develop goaltenders in the past but might have the goalie of the future in Vinni. The 18-year-old moves well, has good rebound control, and is a good size at 6’3” and 187 pounds.

The Oilers didn’t have another pick until the fifth round and they used it to select Clattenburg out of the OHL. The Arnprior, Ontario native won’t contribute much offensively but has no fear on the ice and is a big disruptor in the offensive zone. Some scouts believe that Edmonton reached when selecting Clattenburg, but the Oilers really don’t have another player like him in their organization.

Sundin is a two-way defenseman who will need to improve his skating if he hopes to become an NHL defenseman. He isn’t afraid to get physical and has good defensive instincts, controlling his gaps effectively and using his reach to break up plays in the defensive zone.

Trade Acquisitions

D Ty Emberson (San Jose)
D Paul Fischer (St. Louis)
F Vasily Podkolzin (Vancouver)
C Matthew Savoie (Buffalo)

Edmonton acquired Savoie from the Buffalo Sabres in a trade that was highly praised from an Edmonton perspective. Savoie was drafted ninth overall in the 2022 NHL entry draft and is an intriguing offensive prospect. His dynamic skating should allow him to flourish with the Oilers, particularly if he gets time on the power play, a place where he has excelled at every level. The 20-year-old is equal parts shooter and passer and can create offense in transition and with his playmaking. The knock on Savoie is his size as he stands just 5’9” tall. However, he doesn’t play like a smaller player and isn’t afraid to get into the dirty areas of the ice.

Podkolzin was acquired as a Dylan Holloway replacement and offers many of the same traits as Savoie (albeit at a lower skill level). The 23-year-old is a former tenth overall pick in 2019 and is also a speedy winger, with skill, who isn’t afraid to get physical. Despite his obvious talent, Podkolzin hasn’t been able to put it all together at the NHL level and has just four goals and five assists in 58 NHL games over the last two seasons. He is very much a project but should get an opportunity in Edmonton’s top nine given his offensive pedigree.

Emberson was brought over in the Cody Ceci trade and is a downgrade from the veteran defenseman despite offering a similar skillset. Emberson is a stay-at-home defenseman who won’t offer much offensively or jump in on the rush very often. He is a decent skater and can skate the puck out of trouble in the defensive zone, but his passing isn’t great and he tends to keep it simple rather than stretching out for breakout passes or moving the puck through traffic. He should be able to play in Edmonton’s bottom pairing this season.

UFA Signings

F Viktor Arvidsson (two-year, $8MM)
F Connor Brown (one-year, $1MM)
D Josh Brown (three-year, $3MM)
G Collin Delia (one-year, $775K)*
C Adam Henrique (two-year, $6MM)
F Mattias Janmark (three-year, $4.35MM)
F Corey Perry (one-year, $1.15MM)
G Calvin Pickard (two-year, $2MM)
F Jeff Skinner (one-year, $3MM)
D Troy Stecher (two-year, $1.575MM)

* denotes a two-way contract

Much of Edmonton’s work in free agency was to re-sign veteran players that they’d brought into the lineup over the past year. The Oilers brought back Connor Brown, Henrique, Janmark, Perry, Pickard and Stecher while adding low-risk options Skinner and Arvidsson to improve their forward group.

Skinner will be very interesting to keep an eye on this season as he has been a 40-goal scorer multiple times during his career and will have an opportunity to play with very high-end linemates in Edmonton. Skinner had just 24 goals last year but topped 30 goals in the two years before that and should have enough left in the tank to top 30 goals once again next season. Skinner has never played in NHL playoff games, holding the distinction of playing 1006 NHL games without a playoff appearance, but should finally break that drought this season with the Oilers.

The 31-year-old Arvidsson is a strong candidate for a bounce-back year having played just 18 games last season due to injury. The Oilers took a calculated risk in signing the two-time 30-goal scorer to a two-year deal but will be rewarded if he can stay healthy. Arvidsson had 15 points in 18 games last season and was fantastic the year prior, dressing in 77 games while registering 26 goals and 33 assists. Arvidsson is still a terrific skater which should translate well to Edmonton’s style of play, and he is a good shooter that can make plays with the puck on his stick. He should do well with the Oilers.

RFA Re-Signings

D Cam Dineen (two-year, $1.55MM)*
F James Hamblin (two-year, $1.55MM)*
D Noel Hoefenmayer (one-year, $775K)*
C Raphael Lavoie (one-year, $775K)*

* denotes a two-way contract

Edmonton had several restricted free agents to deal with this summer before receiving multiple offer sheets from the St. Louis Blues. Outside of the players they lost to the Blues, Edmonton was quiet on the RFA market, signing their remaining players to two-way contracts.

The most notable of the group is center Lavoie who had another strong season in the AHL last year. Lavoie is probably ready for the NHL, but given the Oilers’ forward depth, he might not receive an opportunity. Lavoie has great size and can skate, but his work in the defensive zone continues to hold him back from being a regular NHL contributor. If he can clean that up, he should get a long look at the NHL in the not-too-distant future.

Departures

D Philip Broberg (St. Louis, two-year, $9.16MM)
G Jack Campbell (Detroit, one-year, $775K)
F Sam Carrick (New York, three-year, $3MM)
D Vincent Desharnais (Vancouver, two-year, $4MM)
F Adam Erne (unsigned free agent)
G Ryan Fanti (Syracuse, signed AHL contract)
F Warren Foegele (Los Angeles, three-year, $10.5MM)
F Sam Gagner (unsigned free agent)
C Seth Griffith (Bakersfield, signed AHL contract)
F Dylan Holloway (St. Louis, two-year, $4,580,914)
F Brad Malone (retired)
F Greg McKegg (unsigned free agent)
F Ryan McLeod (traded to Buffalo)
D Markus Niemelainen (unsigned free agent)
F Carter Savoie (signed with TPS in the Finnish Liiga)

* denotes a two-way contract

Edmonton played the long game with Holloway and Broberg and it ultimately led to both players receiving offer sheets, and while it certainly stings to lose both players, it shouldn’t be an earth-shattering loss in the short term. Broberg had yet to establish himself as an everyday NHLer in Edmonton and Holloway was very much a fourth liner going into next season.

Beyond those two, Edmonton didn’t lose much talent this offseason. McLeod will hurt their depth up front a little bit, but Edmonton did a nice job filling out their forward ranks with other transactions.

Getting Jack Campbell’s contract off the books was an absolute must, and while it stings to pay a player for six more seasons not to play for your team, the short-term savings will allow the Oilers to bring in more depth during their competitive window. Campbell had become unplayable in Edmonton and needed a fresh start elsewhere, which Edmonton granted him when they facilitated his buyout.

Salary Cap Outlook

The Oilers will enter the season with roughly $945K in salary cap space but could see that number increase if Evander Kane is sidelined to start the season. Edmonton has room to make a move in season and could look to add a free agent or bring in a veteran on a PTO. The Oilers have a glaring hole on their second defensive pairing and will need to get creative to fill it. Long term, Edmonton’s salary cap situation is murky as they will have to sign their biggest stars (Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Evan Bouchard) to long-term extensions over the next two years.

Key Questions

Will Draisaitl Re-sign? The Oilers are exactly ten months away from seeing Draisaitl walk out the door for nothing in free agency. While it’s rare for players of his skill level to hit the open market, it’s not unheard of. Edmonton finally showed they can win in the playoffs and build a team around Draisaitl and McDavid, they’ve done it with both stars on bargain deals, particularly Draisaitl who is counting just $8.5MM against the salary cap next season. It seems likely he will re-sign in Edmonton; however, it is not a foregone conclusion, and it could get interesting if he doesn’t sign before the start of the season.

Can The Team Find Another Gear? It’s not often that teams lose in the Stanley Cup Finals and return the following season but look no further than the reigning Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers to see that it is possible. Florida lost in the 2023 final and returned this past year to win it all, can Edmonton do the same? On paper, the Oilers look better upfront, and weaker defensively, how that will balance out remains to be seen, but they are certainly capable of making another run. Especially if McDavid and Draisaitl are firing on all cylinders.

How Will The New Additions Fit In?  Edmonton shuffled a lot of the furniture around in their forward group and will have to figure out a way to fit in two new top-six forwards without disturbing the existing chemistry. Arvidsson and Skinner are both veterans who have changed teams before and should be able to find their role in the new environment. However, nothing is guaranteed and there is always a risk when turning things over. On the backend is where Edmonton could feel some pain points, the losses of Ceci and Broberg aren’t insurmountable, but not having adequate replacements could become an issue as the season drags on.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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