Quote:
Originally Posted by GioforPM
Crosby’s fell somewhat at 27 but he was still way above PPG and then threw out a 100 pt season at 31. Ad he picked up two cups in that period.
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In fairness to McDavid when comparing to Crosby, Crosby signed a front loaded 12 years deal for a $8.7 mil cap hit. This contract is illegal in today's NHL. If Sid signed 8 years for $88 mil and an AAV of $11 this could have been the difference of him winning those extra 2 cups.
But Sid would have made the playoffs and gone deep in the playoffs and maybe still won those cups. McDavid has made the playoffs once. He's 24 now and most generational talents hit their prime earlier than the rest. 21-22 usually is when it starts for guys like Gretzky, Lemieux, Orr, Sid and so on. IMO McDavid is as good as he can be. Sure he can play better both ends or win more faceoffs but that usually comes at the expense of scoring.
The Oilers have big decisions to make next off season as they have lots of cap space but cap space if only valuable if you spend it wisely and huge cap space is overrated if good players contracts are expiring.
$25 mil to spend but Nuge either walks and gets $8. So it's more it's really $17 mil to spend and you have 13 guys signed (assuming nuge stays)
Yaomoto is an RFA too. Not likely he gets huge money but if he gets the better linemates like he is so far he could get a deal for $3+. This leaves $14 million and 9 guys to sign
Koskinen's play is a huge factor for the Oilers too. If he can't take the #1 role and excel I do not see them being able to sign a cheap back up. Pencil in $2 mil for a back up. $12 mil left need 8 guys.
If you don't have prospects coming in for cheap then you need to sign depth vets that usually come in at $1 - $3 mil a year. Bouchard is the only guy I see on the team next year. Maybe Broberg but he may need a year in the AHL first and I'm not sure you wanna run out a bunch of rookie dmen in the same year when your anchors on d are Klefbom (always hurt), Bear, and Nurse.
I just don't see the Oilers having space to sign someone good again next year even though it appears they might.