Edmonton is No Good XII: "I Dunno.. it's Just Not Good."

[Reggie Dunlop]

"Every
Dark
Memory
Of
Northlands
Took
On
New

Introspection
Since

Nobody
Obviously

Got
Out
Of
Dodge"

[CaptainCrunch]

Looking at Capwages, mainly because its been awfully quiet on the Connor front.

The Oilers for this year it looks like have about 2 million left in cap space, with a pretty much set roster that might be about the same or slightly worse then this year, but with the leagues oldest team aging another year.

In 2026-27 The Oilers have almost 45 million in cap space, so it sounds easy but not so fast

Connor is going to push for the league max which could be up to 18 million. So lets reduce that down to about 27 million if he does sign, if he doesn't that's an entirely different story.

But the Oilers have 7 forwards under contract, with only one of them being a RFA deal in Podkolzin. So lets say he has a semi successful year this year, and god knows the Oilers will need it. Then he gets about 3, so they're down to about 24 million. And they have to find 4 forwards.

But not so fast, They will only have 3 blueliners under contract. Nurse, Bouchard, Emberton. They will need 4 blueliners. By that year and currently Nurse is not a top pairing blueliner, you really don't want Bouchard as a top pairing guy as you can't count on him in his own end and Emberton is likely a bottom pairing guy. So to remain competitive the Oilers are going to need at least a top pairing blueliner a good second pairing guy that can step into the top pairing, and a third pairing guy.

But the problem gets bigger, both of their goalies are gone, UFA's and they won't get away with cheaping out anymore.

So lets say that after all this, they sign 4 forwards at an average of 3 million, because honestly the Oilers don't have the benefit of bringing up cheap prospects to be productive, they don't have anything exciting on the farm.

so lets take the remaining 24 million and take out 12 million for the 4 forwards. So now they're at 12 million in open cap space.

So they get to work on defense.

they need a top pairing guy, lets say he's on the cheap, some aging wreck, or a guy they try to force in the role at $6 million, and then add another 5 million dollar high end second pairing guy, that takes them down to a million bucks in cap space. They still need two more blueliners, lets say they find those two bottom pairing buys at a bargain of 3 million dollars total. Now they're 2 million over the current cap.

They need a starting goalie, Lets say that they cheap out, and get one for about 4.5 million. Now they're 6.5 over, and then they have to add a backup, lets say that's 2 million. Now they're 8.5 over.

They're at the complete mercy of the cap going up by lets say 10.5 to give them some slack.

At the same time. That core continues to age and rot. McDavid will be over 30 in two years, Draisaitl 31, RNH 34, Hyman 35, Mangiapane 31, Janmark 34. Nurse will be 32.

The Oilers drafting with the exception of top top draft picks has been awful, they've gained next to nothing from round 2 on, no gems, no surprise developments, nothing.

If I'm McDavid, I'm looking at this and really thinking hard on the future of the Oilers in competitiveness. Its hard getting to the finals, harder still to win it. Its really hard to go to the finals two years in the row and expecting to get back there in a third year should be looked at as definitely having the odds stacked against it, especially with a team that doesn't look like its going to improve much.

Yeah, Howard could be a nice pickup to be honest, but again its really tough for a college player, who is used to playing half the amount of games in a way less physical league to make that jump. Savoie might be a nice piece, but he's not big, and I tend to think that there's a reason why he was traded by Buffalo so easily.

If the Oilers were smart, they'd already be thinking of the Connor off ramp strategy. Do you go into next year with a non committal McDavid and risk losing him for nothing for another cup run.

do you convince McDavid to sign a shorter term deal in exchange for trying to move him to the team of his choice next year? Or do you roll the dice on a rickety aging core with Connor leading the way.

If I'm an Oilers fan, I'm in a near panic mode right now. The Oilers looked terrible in the finals against the Panthers.

Looking at their cap situation, to me, You have McDavid at the height of his value, we'll see how much value, if Connor doesn't sign a deal and how many teams start clearing cap space. But the Oilers situation looks ugly man, just ugly.

[dissentowner]

To me it's a beautiful sight.

[mile]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1949143163479941301

[Reggie Dunlop]

[Party Elephant]

It would be really funny tho

[Reggie Dunlop]

Natural Gas Odor:
A natural gas-like odor has been reported in north Edmonton, prompting investigations by Edmonton Fire and Rescue Services and utility companies. While the source of this particular odor remains a mystery, it is not believed to be related to the city's natural gas infrastructure.

[sarge]

Originally Posted by mile

https://twitter.com/user/status/1949143163479941301

No thanks!!! The Flames don’t want a legendary whiner/diver/embellisher/stick grabber/loser who is a tire fire defensively and is only concerned about personal stats…

[Locke]

Its a preposterous thought-experiment either way, if for whatever reason McDavid McDefected to the good part of Alberta he wouldnt even make it past Red Deer and they'd never find his body.

[memphusk]

Originally Posted by Locke

Its a preposterous thought-experiment either way, if for whatever reason McDavid McDefected to the good part of Alberta he wouldnt even make it past Red Deer and they'd never find his body.

Or his sweatpants!

[Locke]

Originally Posted by memphusk

Or his sweatpants!

Oh...I think they'd find those. Probably being work on Kevin Lowe's head while he uses McDavid's shoes as gloves.

[Mr.Coffee]

He won’t end up being worth the next contract.

[stamps]

It would be really weird but would have to sign him IMO.. not going to happen though.

[FlamesAddiction]

His wife's snob bar would immediately be burned to the ground in Edmonton.

Honestly, I would do it. It would be the ultimate troll on the Oilers, especially if he ended up winning a Cup in Calgary.

I mean it's so far fetched that it would ever happen, but I have no doubt that if he goes to free agency, every team with cap space will be putting an offer out there, including the Flames.

I am resigned to never seeing the Flames win another Cup in my life time. At this point, any thing that brings drama and lolz is good enough.

Make no mistake though, McDavid could carry this team pretty far. I also have faith that the coaches here could get him to cool it with the cheating, not overplay him, and not make him be captain.

[Hockey-and_stuff]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

His wife's snob bar would immediately be burned to the ground in Edmonton.



Honestly, I would do it. It would be the ultimate troll on the Oilers, especially if he ended up winning a Cup in Calgary.



I mean it's so far fetched that it would ever happen, but I have no doubt that if he goes to free agency, every team with cap space will be putting an offer out there, including the Flames.



I am resigned to never seeing the Flames win another Cup in my life time. At this point, any thing that brings drama and lolz is good enough.



Make no mistake though, McDavid could carry this team pretty far. I also have faith that the coaches her could get him to cool it with the cheating, not overplay him, and not make him be captain.

The butthurt from up north would be delicious enough on the signing alone, but could you imagine if he won the Cup here after so many years in Edmonton?

Oilers fans would never recover, it would destroy a generation of fans. What a dream that would be.

Sent from my Pixel 7 Pro using Tapatalk

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by Hockey-and_stuff

The butthurt from up north would be delicious enough on the signing alone, but could you imagine if he won the Cup here after so many years in Edmonton?

Oilers fans would never recover, it would destroy a generation of fans. What a dream that would be.

Sent from my Pixel 7 Pro using Tapatalk

And then trade him to the Leafs so they can get a cup, then Leafs trade him to the Canucks so they can get a cup, and they trade him to the Sens so they can get a cup and they trade him to the Jets so they can get a cup and finally to the Habs.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

And then trade him to the Leafs so they can get a cup, then Leafs trade him to the Canucks so they can get a cup, and they trade him to the Sens so they can get a cup and they trade him to the Jets so they can get a cup and finally to the Habs.

No. Maybe the Sens and the Habs. No Leafs, Canucks or Jets.

[jaikorven]

No Habs either...yuck.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by jaikorven

No Habs either...yuck.

Habs were my favorite team growing up. They were awesome.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

No. Maybe the Sens and the Habs. No Leafs, Canucks or Jets.

No half measures. Need the full spread for maximum impact.