All the Edmonton Oilers in need of a contract for next season
The Edmonton Oilers have a number of players on expiring deals this off-season.
The Edmonton Oilers now have the opportunity to rebuild their roster if they would like to. A lot of the team’s contracts are coming off the books and that gives them the opportunity to move forward with a different-looking roster.
After getting swept out of the first round by the Winnipeg Jets, one would have to think anything is on the table. Here is every free agent and whether or not the team should focus on re-signing them.
Reminder: According to CapFriendly, the Oilers only have 22.165 million in cap space to work with. While yes that is a lot of money, it might go quickly with how many free agents the team has.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – 28 Years Old UFA (6M)
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins might be the biggest name on this list. His inconsistent play definitely is a liability against him, but overall the Edmonton Oilers are lucky to have RNH on their team. Personally, I think he deserves another contract with this team, I just do not know if I would make it that much bigger than six million.
Nugent-Hopkins has made it clear that he wants to stay in Edmonton. If the team can get that deal done for maybe 6.5 to 7 million then I guess it would be worth it. However, this cannot be a long-term contract. Nugent-Hopkins only put up 35 points this past season, and while it is a short season if he had played 82 games that would come out to about 51 points on the year, which is not great.
Keeping the contract at just a year or two would allow Edmonton to assess their assets later in the season and if they believe a trade of him would benefit the group then they can get it done later in the year or the off-season.
Alex Chiasson – 30 Years Old UFA (2.15M)
Alex Chiasson scored a playoff goal this postseason, so maybe he should be making 10 million and playing with McDavid…. no Chiasson is a solid bottom-six option should the Oilers want to keep him around for another season. The 30-year-old would have to stay around 2 million though.
Jujhar Khaira – 26 Years Old RFA (1.2M)
Jujhar Khaira has size and plays physical. The 26-year-old is a nice player in the bottom six when he is scoring goals and producing. Honestly, when it comes to the bottom six the team doesn’t have to tear everything down, rather just add a few more pieces. Khaira is someone that should stay on the team on a two or three-year deal for around 1.5 to 2 million.
Tyler Ennis – 31 Years Old UFA (1M)
The Tyler Ennis and Edmonton Oilers partnership is probably over. Ennis only played in two playoff games and didn’t do a lot on the ice. This team is going to go through some changes in order to move forward and feel confident in the group, and Ennis is one of those players that has to go.
Dominik Kahun – 25 Years Old RFA ($975000)
Kahun should get another contract. At times he was pretty good with Connor McDavid on the top line. In the postseason though it seemed as though Dave Tippett moved on from Kahun pretty quickly as his ice time dropped. Kahun is an RFA something this team probably is happy to see, and he shouldn’t cost them too much. The team could pay him 1.5 million or 2 for the next two or three seasons assuming he is not taking in the expansion draft.
Gaetan Haas – 29 Years Old UFA ($915000)
I mean I think this team does need to move on from some players in order to make room for new life in the group. Haas is a solid option to let walk.
Kailer Yamamoto – 22 Years Old RFA ($894166)
Yamamoto has 21 points this season. He probably shouldn’t be in the top six, but on this team he is. Yamamoto is the most reliable option to become a top guy someday with this team. So the longer the term the better.
Joakim Nygard – 28 Years Old UFA ($875000)
Nygard only played nine games this season, and it seems like there is a chance he won’t play anymore if he takes an offer overseas with his old team.
Devin Shore – 26-Years-Old RFA ($700000)
Devin Shore did not have a good season, but he is an RFA that the team could re-sign on a cheap deal. If Edmonton is looking to add some depth that can factor into the lineup during the season then sure keep Shore around. However, if they plan to make him a prominent player on the third line then consider bringing in a free agent.
Patrick Russell – 28-Year-Old UFA ($700000)
Patrick Russell did not play in the playoffs this past month, and he probably won’t be playing with this team next season. Russell did his part when he got a crack in the lineup, but it was not very memorable.
Adam Larsson – 28-Year-Old UFA (4.16M)
Four to six years, that is how long Adam Larsson’s contract extension should be. Larsson is coming off a deal making 4.16 million a season. Should he want to jump anywhere from 5 to 6 million I believe the Oilers should pay him. Larsson is one of the team’s top shutdown defenceman and can be for the foreseeable future.
Tyson Barrie – 29-Years-Old UFA (3.75M)
Tyson Barrie deserves to get paid, just not from the Edmonton Oilers. Barrie and the Oilers were a great partnership this season in which he put up 48 points in 56 games. However I do not think there is room for him on the blue line and considering he is a liability in his own end, it might be best to let him walk in free agency.
Dmitry Kulikov – 30 Year Old UFA (1.15M)
Dmitry Kulikov was the trade deadline acquisition by the Oilers when they sent a third-round pick to New Jersey for him. Personally, I do not think the team re-signs him. Edmonton has some good defencemen in house and passing on Kulikov will just give a different player an opportunity.
Slater Koekkoek – 27-Year-Old UFA (850000)
Slater Koekkoek missed a lot of time this season injured. The 27-year-old would be a good player to have around as the team moves forward most likely without Tyson Barrie. Koekkoek probably won’t cost the team that much money and they can give him a one or two-year deal depending on what the Oilers are looking for out of the defenceman.
Mike Smith – 39-Year-Old UFA (1.5M)
Smith deserved better this postseason. He kept the Oilers in numerous games and was rewarded with an offence that just couldn’t find the back of the net. Smith will let everyone know when he is done playing but hopefully, he has another year in him.
The off-season is just beginning. Who would you like to see Edmonton keep?