Edmonton Oilers: A Trade For Problem Children Part Two

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EDMONTON, AB – NOVEMBER 13: Jujhar Khaira #16 of the Edmonton Oilers skates during the game against the Montreal Canadiens on November 13, 2018 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images) /

We could elevate Jujhar Khaira to the 3rd line where he belongs

Khaira broke out last season and was one of the few bright spots in a season in which so much went wrong with the Oilers.

But this season because Lucic has been so bad we have to stick him at 3rd line LW which bumps Khaira down to the 4th.

That would change if Lucic were gone.

And now here’s what wouldn’t change or change very little for both teams:

1. Cap hit and contract length

Both players are signed for this season and the next 4 – Lucic for $6 million and Neal for $5.75.

If the Oilers have to retain 250K of Lucic’s salary to even it out, I highly doubt that would be an issue as that’s very negligible in today’s NHL.

These numbers courtesy of Cap friendly: https://www.capfriendly.com/teams/flames https://www.capfriendly.com/teams/oilers

2. Ages are similar

Neal is 31 and Lucic is 30. Both are of the very same age, and neither’s struggles are due to skill declines that come with age as players that are 35+ come with. If it works, historically it should work for both players with maybe the exception of the last year of the contract for Neal – at which case you could easily stuff him in the AHL or waive him without much of a concern for roster management as it would be in a contract year.

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