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How Can The Edmonton Oilers Clear Cap Space This Summer?

By Adam Girard

EDMONTON, AB - DECEMBER 1: Kris Russell #4 of the Edmonton Oilers skates during the game against the Vegas Golden Knights on December 1, 2018 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images)
EDMONTON, AB - DECEMBER 1: Kris Russell #4 of the Edmonton Oilers skates during the game against the Vegas Golden Knights on December 1, 2018 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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VANCOUVER, BC – DECEMBER 17: Milan Lucic #27 of the Edmonton Oilers looks on from the bench during their NHL game against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena December 17, 2018 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images)”n /

The Name Not Mentioned

You may have noticed I didn’t mention one name, in particular, Milan Lucic.

The reason is that at a 6 million dollar cap hit and five years remaining on his massive contract; I feel the price to move him this summer will be too much to swallow for a team that needs to be using its assets to bring in players to its roster.

I feel the best time to move Lucic will be to package him with a first round pick at the 2021 Seattle Expansion Draft. By this time Lucic will only have two years remaining on his contract, and the Oilers should be competitive enough that the pick will be later in the first round.

Also, having Seattle take Lucic might also help protect a valuable asset on the team from being exposed and received in the draft. Seattle is close to Lucic’s hometown, and it’s clear he’d like to move on so I believe he would waive his no-trade clause for the Oilers to expose him.

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