Edmonton Oilers: Iiro Pakarinen Signing Takes Load Off

The Edmonton Oilers re-signed Iiro Pakarinen to a one-year deal worth $725,000, as per multiple sources.

With the transaction comes a lot of good things, including a better situation for the Oilers heading into the expansion draft and offseason. We break down what this signing means and how it helps the team.

Expansion Draft

Edmonton Oilers

In regards to the expansion draft, the Oilers fulfilled all of their requirements. By re-signing the Finnish RFA, Edmonton fulfilled the requirement of leaving two NHL forwards exposed. This means Peter Chiarelli can leave Pakarinen out in the open and now protect Mark Letestu.

With that being said, the Vegas Golden Knights will likely either go with Pakarinen or Benoit Pouliot. The rest of the Oilers players are either pending UFAs or players still trying to fully transition to the NHL. If either of those players is taken, it won’t be a significant blow.

In addition, having Pouliot off the roster solves many problems for Edmonton. He struggled this past season and didn’t add much scoring, and he struggled greatly on the backcheck. Taking that into account with his hefty $4.5 million AAV, seeing him go to Vegas will help the team clear space and find someone better.

Free Agency

When it comes to finding a replacement for either of the forwards exposed, it should be no problem for Edmonton. The team can select from a wide variety of quality wingers that can add scoring and depth to the roster. And, if Pouliot is the one who goes, the Oilers will have a lot more cap space to work with.

By the same token, Pakarinen would come back as a cheap option who can truly act as a 13th forward for the team. This is a solid signing; he’s a clutch player who has proven ability to score, and he’s cheap.

Making Room for AHLers

With a winger going to Vegas, the Oilers also have the option to bring an AHL player onto the opening night roster. Jesse Puljujarvi, who started off with the team in the fall but went to Bakersfield to further develop, could start the season in Edmonton.

This gives Puljujarvi the chance to prove his full-time worth with the team while also adding scoring and playmaking ability, as well as depth, to the Oilers forward lines.

In the end, the signing does a lot for the team.