Edmonton Oilers: 7 Affordable Free Agents That Would Help The Team

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DENVER, CO – APRIL 07: Kyle Brodziak #28 of the St. Louis Blues skates prior to the game against the Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center on April 7, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. The Avalanche defeated the Blues 5-2. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images) /

The Centers

Kyle Brodziak (C) – 34 years old

Another ex-Oiler, right? Brodziak is a tough customer who is a right-hand shot. He plays an old-school brand of hockey that most Oilers fans can appreciate. Last campaign he made $950k.

Brodziak averaged around 32 points a year during his 3-year stint in St.Louis. I wouldn’t expect him to carry that on given his age, but I also wouldn’t expect him to fall off of the Earth either even if history tells us the opposite.

The Former Wild and Blue would help out in the sandpaper and veteran leadership department. He’d be handy on faceoffs (last year his FO% was 52.1), and since the Edmonton Oilers are going to make the playoffs (knock on wood), they’ll need post-season warriors like Brodziak.

Possible cost: $1.8M – $2.25M over two years

Brian Gibbons – (C) – 30 years old

Gibbons came out of nowhere last season eh? The way his career was trending before New Jersey called him up said to me that this guy was going to be a career AHLer, but he surprised everyone. Gibbons played 59 games for New Jersey and posted a solid 26pts. He only cost the Devils $650k last year.

Brian Gibbons, to me, would be a very serviceable 4th line option for the Edmonton Oilers on the wing. He’s not good on the dot nor does he have fantastic possession numbers (check both out here), but he spent a considerable amount of time on the PK for New Jersey (8th in the NHL) last season, over 165 minutes, and that being an area that the Edmonton Oilers need to improve upon means Gibbons would be a welcome addition.

Possible cost: $1.75M – $2M over two years

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