[Signing] Oilers extend F Leon Draisaitl (8x$14M AAV)

[My2Cents]

I also thought Drai would go to UFA, but after seeing what he signed I am not surprised. He got the highest AAV of all time, got the extra 8 years and it’s all in signing bonuses so he will get his money. He wouldn’t be able to do better than that ever.

To me this looks like Drai putting an extremely hard stance saying ‘give me the moon or I walk’, and he intended to walk, and then the Oilers actually matched.

[butterfly]

Originally Posted by Whynotnow

We can’t become the cities where stars get drafted, play to UFA and then escape. What fun is that? I want both cities to have great teams that battle each other and that means keeping players.

The fun is that by the time they get to UFA they have peaked. Oilers had four choices, and three of them were defensible.

1. Do nothing and have one more shot at it (defensible)
2. Trade Draisaitl for a haul (defensible)
3. A Matthews type short term deal (as a Flames fan, the worst case)
4. Break the bank for all the decline years (yay)

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by direwolf

Drunk off the kool-aid

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Nm

[InternationalVillager]

Originally Posted by direwolf

Go ahead and underestimate Skinner and Arvidsson to your own detriment. Beyond delusion- those players have been really successful elsewhere and aren't really that old. Arvidsson was almost point per game in his return with LA last season from injury. Skinner has been point per game just before last year. I don't want the Oilers to win the Cup but to #### on their additions as bad hockey players is just nonsensical and not true at all. This isn't the E=NG thread. That's easily the deepest top 6 in the west. Possibly top 9.

Depends if Colorado gets Nichushkin back and how healthy Landeskog is.

Canucks objectively got worse. So the Flames fans only real hope is VGK, DAL or COL knocking out the Oilers in the playoffs.

[butterfly]

Originally Posted by InternationalVillager

Go ahead and underestimate Skinner and Arvidsson to your own detriment. Beyond delusion- those players have been really successful elsewhere and aren't really that old. Arvidsson was almost point per game in his return with LA last season from injury. Skinner has been point per game just before last year. I don't want the Oilers to win the Cup but to #### on their additions as bad hockey players is just nonsensical and not true at all. This isn't the E=NG thread. That's easily the deepest top 6 in the west. Possibly top 9.

Depends if Colorado gets Nichushkin back and how healthy Landeskog is.

Canucks objectively got worse. So the Flames fans only real hope is VGK, DAL or COL knocking out the Oilers in the playoffs.

You seem to be forgetting that you lost all the players who contributed to the legendary PK in the playoffs and replaced them with offensive minded wingers.

[Buff]

Originally Posted by InternationalVillager

Go ahead and underestimate Skinner and Arvidsson to your own detriment. Beyond delusion- those players have been really successful elsewhere and aren't really that old. Arvidsson was almost point per game in his return with LA last season from injury. Skinner has been point per game just before last year. I don't want the Oilers to win the Cup but to #### on their additions as bad hockey players is just nonsensical and not true at all. This isn't the E=NG thread. That's easily the deepest top 6 in the west. Possibly top 9.

Depends if Colorado gets Nichushkin back and how healthy Landeskog is.

Canucks objectively got worse. So the Flames fans only real hope is VGK, DAL or COL knocking out the Oilers in the playoffs.

Skinner wasn't all that successful. Individually maybe but he hasn't contributed to a winning team. He's never helped a team make the playoffs. For the sake of his streak I hope the Oilers miss the playoffs.

[InternationalVillager]

Originally Posted by Buff

Skinner wasn't all that successful. Individually maybe but he hasn't contributed to a winning team. He's never helped a team make the playoffs. For the sake of his streak I hope the Oilers miss the playoffs.

But that's not his role in Edmonton. The heavy lifting is done by McDrai, RNH, Bouchard, Ekholm, S. Skinner. In other places, he was expected to be one of the leaders at the front. Major difference.

[Goriders]

Well after this season math is going to start causing them problems. They are a very old team. Not sure where they will find the league minimum players to fill out the roster.

Seems like they are dead set on making fire wagon hockey work. It will be interesting to watch the salary cap work.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by InternationalVillager

But that's not his role in Edmonton. The heavy lifting is done by McDrai, RNH, Bouchard, Ekholm, S. Skinner. In other places, he was expected to be one of the leaders at the front. Major difference.

Does Katz have someone bring you your propaganda payment or do you have to drive up to Edmonton to get it?

[Inferno]

That's alot of years being pissy with the Edmonton media after getting knocked out of the playoffs or missing them all together.

I won't feel sorry for the ###### though. He had his chance to leave and wouldn't take it.

[butterfly]

Originally Posted by Goriders

Well after this season math is going to start causing them problems. They are a very old team. Not sure where they will find the league minimum players to fill out the roster.

Seems like they are dead set on making fire wagon hockey work. It will be interesting to watch the salary cap work.

I hear Barrie and Yamamoto are available.

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

Does Katz have someone bring you your propaganda payment or do you have to drive up to Edmonton to get it?

Maybe it is Katz

[Groot]

Originally Posted by InternationalVillager

But that's not his role in Edmonton. The heavy lifting is done by McDrai, RNH, Bouchard, Ekholm, S. Skinner. In other places, he was expected to be one of the leaders at the front. Major difference.

A team that didn't need the cap space at all decided they wanted him away from their team so badly that they'll pay him not to be there. For 6 years, where they could've waited a year and shaved time off the buyout penalty. But they didn't care. He's absolutely useless when he's not scoring and the Oilers problem wasn't scoring.

There problems are with their depth and their supposed amazing 3rd line, best in the West possibly according to you, combined for 32 goals last year. Their 4th line will be, as always, a wasteland of whoever sits on the bench for 90% of the game. Their defense got worse, and it was already a weak spot. Who's their 2nd pairing? Where would you rank that in the West?

Arvidsson is a gust of wind away from another injury. Missing nearly a season with a back injury, coming back for 16 games and then missing the remainder with another injury.

And none of these players are getting any younger.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Think we found us a closeted Oilers fans who is giving it away.

It’s like the Trumpers slowly showing up.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by Groot

A team that didn't need the cap space at all decided they wanted him away from their team so badly that they'll pay him not to be there. For 6 years, where they could've waited a year and shaved time off the buyout penalty. But they didn't care. He's absolutely useless when he's not scoring and the Oilers problem wasn't scoring.

There problems are with their depth and their supposed amazing 3rd line, best in the West possibly according to you, combined for 32 goals last year. Their 4th line will be, as always, a wasteland of whoever sits on the bench for 90% of the game. Their defense got worse, and it was already a weak spot. Who's their 2nd pairing? Where would you rank that in the West?

Arvidsson is a gust of wind away from another injury. Missing nearly a season with a back injury, coming back for 16 games and then missing the remainder with another injury.

And none of these players are getting any younger.

Common he nearly was a PPG when he came back.

Let’s wait to see what he has to say about his teams defence.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by InternationalVillager

But that's not his role in Edmonton. The heavy lifting is done by McDrai, RNH, Bouchard, Ekholm, S. Skinner. In other places, he was expected to be one of the leaders at the front. Major difference.

Lol Skinner had 5 more points than Fogele who brings much more aside from offence

[Saqe]

Skinner looked all but washed last year. Then you look at his playoff "pedigree" and the style of play... I don't understand hyping him up. At all.


edit: Buffalo is paying him 20+ million to NOT play for them. Let that sink in.

[Redrum]

Originally Posted by InternationalVillager

But that's not his role in Edmonton. The heavy lifting is done by McDrai, RNH, Bouchard, Ekholm, S. Skinner. In other places, he was expected to be one of the leaders at the front. Major difference.

That's true. Racking up points is covered for the Oilers, and there's no room left on their one PP unit. Good thing Skinner has so many other facets to his game...

[Jason14h]

The oilers chances for the next 5 years are higher with Leon then without .

It absolutely possible (probable even) last year was their best chance but if you have McDavid and Drais you always have a punchers chance in the playoffs