WCSF: Vegas Golden Knights [PAC1] vs Edmonton Oilers [PAC2] Vegas wins 4-2

[Sofa GM]

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.

No one is taking Yamamoto or Ceci off their hands without a significant sweetener. Guessing it takes well north of $5MM even on a bridge deal for Bouchard. Still have to sign McLeod, he wont take the same as this year. And as you mention likely want to keep Ryan, Bjugstad and Kostin but wont be able to. Guessing they look at shipping out Kulak since he has some value at his contract value.

They are in a heap of trouble.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Derek Sutton

Have you included the $1.9 owing to James Neal in all this?

Yes. The 'dead space' includes $1,916,667 for Neal, plus the $850,000 for overages.

the reason my number is slightly different than CapFriendly, is that I included only one of Desharnais and Niemelainen (because only one of them will be on the 7 man roster, assuming no injuries)

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Looks like he did, but forgot carryover bonuses.

So, they actually have only $5.9m in space with Bouchard + a minimum of 5 forward to sign.

LOL

my numbers included both

[Sofa GM]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Yes. The 'dead space' includes $1,916,667 for Neal, plus the $850,000 for overages.

the reason my number is slightly different than CapFriendly, is that I included only one of Desharnais and Niemelainen (because only one of them will be on the 7 man roster, assuming no injuries)

I'm guessing both will be on the roster next year as they will move either Kulak or Ceci in the off season for cap reasons.

[FlamesAddiction]

The thing that was most apparent in this series for me, is how badly Woodcroft was outcoached by Cassidy. Cassidy spread his talent out, line matched almost perfectly, and stuck to the plan.

The Knights were able to adjust and employ sound defensive tactics, like in game 5 where they were able to pin the Oilers in their zone and kept the puck mostly behind the goal line most of the time. They weren't tempted to create scoring chances and risk losing possession. It's hard to imagine the Oilers playing with a bigger picture mindset. They only have one strategy, and that is to try an score at all costs. It also looked like Vegas capitalized a few times on what appeared to be set plays. With the Oilers, it's just a frantic mess hoping that Draisaitl or McDavid can do their thing.

I would actually be a little bothered if the Oilers got rid of Woodcroft and hired a coach that knows how to do more than just rely on the wonder boys and hope they pull though every time. Then again, I get the sense that those two might just be uncoachable anyway.

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

The thing that was most apparent in this series for me, is how badly Woodcroft was outcoached by Cassidy. Cassidy spread his talent out, line matched almost perfectly, and stuck to the plan.

The Knights were able to adjust and employ sound defensive tactics, like in game 5 where they were able to pin the Oilers in their zone and kept the puck mostly behind the goal line most of the time. They weren't tempted to create scoring chances and risk losing possession. It's hard to imagine the Oilers playing with a bigger picture mindset. They only have one strategy, and that is to try an score at all costs. It also looked like Vegas capitalized a few times on what appeared to be set plays. With the Oilers, it's just a frantic mess hoping that Draisaitl or McDavid can do their thing.

I would actually be a little bothered if the Oilers got rid of Woodcroft and hired a coach that knows how to do more than just rely on the wonder boys and hope they pull though every time. Then again, I get the sense that those two might just be uncoachable anyway.

Woodcroft's time management of Draisaitl and McDavid's ice time in the regular season was awful. It is the coaches job to make sure everyone is ready for the objective.

[dino7c]

It's amazing they had to kill those two just to be 2nd in the Pacific

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by dino7c

It's amazing they had to kill those two just to be 2nd in the Pacific

They were both a full minute above their career ATOI.

[Saqe]

In Edmonton there is no need for a team game. Two guys will get the job done!

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

https://twitter.com/user/status/1657971739207385088

I love this. I'm a big Eichel fan now.

I also like when he told Principe that eliminating the Oilers was "no biggie" or something to that effect.

[Sofa GM]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

They were both a full minute above their career ATOI.

That there is tactical coaching genius from the Beav.......

[nfotiu]

Originally Posted by Saqe

In Edmonton there is no need for a team game. Two guys will get the job done!

5v5, their lines are almost as likely to be scored on, as they are to score. He's coaching to win scoring titles and hart trophies, and not really to win games. And why does McDavid kill penalties? I notice him on the ice of a lot of key ppg against this playoffs, so he doesn't seem that good at it, but I guess he gets a short handed goal every once in a while, so good for his stats! But really, that should be an easy way to reduce ice if they had enough decent penalty killers.

[FlamesAddiction]

Todd MacLellan was the only coach that tried to get the Oilers to focus on a well rounded team game, but McDavid and Draisaitl tuned him out and did their own thing anyway. I don't think Woodcroft is a great coach, but I honestly wonder if any coach can coach those guys.

[nfotiu]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Todd MacLellan was the only coach that tried to get the Oilers to focus on a well rounded team game, but McDavid and Draisaitl tuned him out and did their own thing anyway. I don't think Woodcroft is a great coach, but I honestly wonder if any coach can coach those guys.

It would be amusing to see Sutter give it a try.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Todd MacLellan was the only coach that tried to get the Oilers to focus on a well rounded team game, but McDavid and Draisaitl tuned him out and did their own thing anyway. I don't think Woodcroft is a great coach, but I honestly wonder if any coach can coach those guys.

Obviously McDavid is going to have to add it to the job description, between player and ref.

[Eric Vail]

Originally Posted by Sofa GM

No one is taking Yamamoto or Ceci off their hands without a significant sweetener. Guessing it takes well north of $5MM even on a bridge deal for Bouchard. Still have to sign McLeod, he wont take the same as this year. And as you mention likely want to keep Ryan, Bjugstad and Kostin but wont be able to. Guessing they look at shipping out Kulak since he has some value at his contract value.

They are in a heap of trouble.

Maybe they buyout Campbell. They'd have to pay out $1.5 million for 8 years. They'd need to get another goalie, but they could sign someone like Antti Raanta for something like $3 million. In the short term, they'd free up $.5 million and get a better goalie. They don't seem like they care about the long term. Do free agent goalies want to sign in Edmonton?

[You Need a Thneed]

Bouchard just had 17 points in 12 playoff games, as a young defensemen.

He laughs and walks out the door if the offer starts with a 4, or even a 5.

Then they are left to sign 5 forwards to fill out a roster with ZERO cap space, so they will have to trade away players to save cap space.

Who can they get a significant amount for? I’m not sure anyone, unless they want to move Drai or something.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

They were both a full minute above their career ATOI.

After being really rested in the first. Something like 6-7 minutes a piece.

[Torture]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Obviously McDavid is going to have to add it to the job description, between player and ref.

I could honestly see the Oilers deciding to name McDavid as an assistant coach.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by nfotiu

It would be amusing to see Sutter give it a try.

Win win win. Edwards gets out of at least some of Sutters $8M. Sutter goes and breaks McDavid and Draisaitl. Oilers fall well out because it will be a clusterf..