Quote:
Originally Posted by N-E-B
I really think we as a fan base need to come to terms with the fact that McDavid will be an Oiler for a long time. He's not going anywhere any time soon. Wishful thinking is all that is.
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Its dependant on McDavid's career desires too.
I don't think he's going to take a discount to stay in Edmonton long term, especially with the marketing around him and the money that Edmonton makes because of him.
Because of his contract unless you've got a very good GM, and your drafting and development is solid, you're going to end up with a fairly thin lineup.
If you are suddenly spending lets say 20 million of a 80 million dollar cap on two players its going to be tough to do anything but rotate talent through and then fill the rest with cheap players.
The luxury of signing 6 million dollar free agents will probably come to an end.
If you suddenly have another 6 million dollar person on the top line or a 25 million dollar top line. Then you have 10 million dollars or more on a top defensive pairing and 5 or 6 million bucks on a goalie you're sitting at 41 million with a need to get 14 other players.
Its not an easy balancing act.
Pittsburgh works because they fill their lineup with cheap veterans and younger guys but Sid isn't even the highest paid player on the team, Malkin is. And they don't have a lot of high priced talent on that team. They have Kessel at 6.8, Letang at 7.8 and Fleury at 5.75.
The Oilers aren't going to be able to have Draisaitl, Eberle, Lucic, Hopkins, at 6 or more each and then have McDavid at 12. Especially with a top 3 blueline averaging 4.2 million.
The other biggest problem with the Oilers is that their pipeline is thin. They'll be a nhl team that might be NHL and even very good NHL on their top line and top pairing and starting goaltending. But be a below average NHL team or worse in their bottom 3 lines bottom 2 pairs and backup goalie.