Quote:
Originally Posted by AlbertaOiler72
thats because our best talent is in the NHL
Oiler players under 25:
McDavid, Drai, Nuge, Strome, Caggulia, Slevyshev, Puljujarvi, Larsson, Klefbom, Nurse, Benning
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See, here's the thing you don't understand. You need to maintain your pipeline when you have players with massive contracts, because you need those cost controlled contracts to balance out the massive contracts at the top end. You may have McDavid & Draisaitl signed for the next eight years, but during that time you're eating up almost 1/3 of your salary structure on two players. One is guaranteed to be a star, but the other could quickly become a boat anchor if he can't produce on his own.
The fact that you suggest that so much of your roster is under 25 is a good thing shows how much you are missing the above point. Here's your wakeup call.
Oilers are spending $61M on 13 players next season. They have about $13M to sign at least nine players, many of which are RFAs requiring raises to keep. Worse, in 2019-20, the Oilers have committed $55M to nine players. That leaves about $19M to sign 13-14 players!!! Of course that number is going to change dramatically as a result of the RFAs signed from next summer (seven total), but it looks like the Oilers will be even more cash strapped. It gets even uglier from there. But you can look at those
numbers yourself.
To the amazing depth of players under 25 on the Oilers, here's another cold slap of a wet towel in the face.
Nuge (24) - Draisaitl's contract has all but killed Ryan Nothing-Happens in Edmonton. Worse, he's going to be given away for nothing. He is not a $6M player, and the Oilers can't afford to eat any salary on him, or take a bad contract back to add extra value. "The Nuge" will be sent packing this season at some point, and the return is going to be underwhelming. If you think Eberle brought back nothing, wait until "The Tenderness" is traded.
Strome (24) - this is going to be delicious to watch unfold. Strome was underwhelming in Long Island, and that is being polite. The Oilers need him to step up and fill the offensive gap left by Eberle, but they also need him to be mediocre at best, so they can get him signed to a reasonable extension next summer when he becomes a RFA. They are going to have to qualify him, so you can expect to see a raise on his $2.5M salary to something no worse than 10% north of that. If he actually puts up some decent numbers this year, that salary is going to go way up, which the Oilers can't afford. Even more delicious in this mess, Strome will have arbitration rights, so if he does have a big year, the Oilers are that much more ####ed.
Caggulia [sic] (23) - I've never seen so much hype over a 7 goal scorer. Interestingly enough, Caggiula is another one of those Oilers who is going to be a RFA next summer. Another player requiring a new, and more expensive contract.
Slevyshev (23) - Sleepy is yet another player needing a new contract next summer. The Oilers may catch a break here and be able to pay him league minimum, as that's the type of player he is. Or he may get wise and see he can make a lot more playing rec hockey back in the KHL and bolt for greener pastures. What is really sad, as bad as Sleepy is, the Oilers don't even have a replacement for him waiting in the minors to take his role.
Puljujarvi (19) - this is the biggest double edged sword in the Oilers armory. The Oilers desperately need him to develop into a secondary scorer, but they desperately need him to not develop until they get him signed to an extension. If he becomes a 20-25 goal scorer in the next two seasons, the Oilers are going to have to pay him bank, and they don't have the cash to do it.
Larsson (24) and Klefbom (24) - this is the only thing the Oilers have going for them right now. Larsson and Klefbom are signed to good contracts. They help control the costs on the blueline and will be their work horses. The problem is neither are top pair defenders. They are a solid second pair, but pressed into that first pair responsibility, they are going to wilt under the pressure. They will take the Oilers as far as Talbot can carry the remainder of the blueline.
Nurse (22) - another soon to be RFA that is going to inflate the salary. There's the rub of building these buys up to be something special, when they really aren't, you have to pay them when their salaries come due. The Oilers may catch a break here, because he's been so mediocre that they may be able to sign him to a low bridge contract. Anything over $1.5M and you're overpaying for what he's brought so far.
Benning (23) - the Drake Caggiula of the Oilers backend. Over-hyped for what he brought to the table. Reminds me a bit of Jokipakka for the Flames. Played well in sheltered minutes, but couldn't handle the heat of a larger role. Yet another RFA to be dealt with next summer. Benning is a player you should have four or five of in the minors to step in and play a similar role, but the Oilers currently have none. You have Keegan Lowe as your most likely available defender. Ouch.
You also forgot Broissoit (24). You need a goaltender to step in and provide some support for Talbot. Eight games ain't going to cut it. To get that, you're going to have to pay for that. You can count on a lot more than the $750K you're spending now. But that is part of the problem. The Oilers are banking on playing a 10 man roster and riding it as far as they can go.
When teams talk about windows those widows are based on the budget and quality players they have some control over. For the Oilers, that window is this season. Let that sink in. The Oilers window is this upcoming season. Why? Because they overpaid their youth, overpaid a couple free agents, and haven't built up a system to support that core. The numbers don't lie, and the salary cap is now your greatest enemy. Even with the increbile gifts given to the Oilers, they are going no where because Chia Pet is just a horrible manager.