[bc-chris]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

They will have a tough time icing a team that is equal to this year's. Here is their cap situation (including only one of Desharnais or Niemelainen):

8 forwards..... $43,525,000
6 defensemen $22,875,833
2 goalies......... $7,600,000
dead space...... $2,766,667

Total:............ $76,767,500
Space:............ $6,732,500

They need to sign one d-man (Bouchard) and 5 or 6 forwards. Kostin and McLeod are RFAs, so you assume they are signing them.

Even if you assume league minimum for the 5 forwards (I can't see Kostin signing for that), that leaves $2.9M for Bouchard. No way in hell he signs for that. If you assume something like $4M for Bouchard (still conservative), that leaves them able to sign 3 guys at league minimum, and still be 3 bodies short.

So no Janmark, no Ryan, no Bjugstad - all replaced with league minimum guys. And they STILL need to find about $3M, so they'll need to move Yamamoto (and replace with league minimum).

Next year (24/25) is exactly the same. Then Draisaitl becomes UFA. Yes, this was their window.

i tried bringing this up with a buddy that is an oiler fan (yea i know... friends with an oiler fan was my first mistake)

here is his reply...

i beg to differ. cap is going up, bouch will sign a bridge deal and just some depth 3rd and 4th signings for cheap. we already have holloway ready to slide in. our team will look very similar and pumped about it. another year older and wiser

that orange koolaid must be delicious!