Edmonton Oilers: Looking at expiring contracts – UFA edition

C Gaetan Haas, expiring contract $915,000

Originally brought in as a European free agent, Haas hasn’t really impressed much since he got here. Since then he’s played 92 games and has put up 7-6-13 over that time. I had him pegged for the fourth-line center this year, but he couldn’t stay in the lineup as a regular, and once Khaira got going he hit the pine.

Last season, he put up 2-1-3 in 34 games. His faceoff % got a little better, I guess, but he still only finished at 45.42% – an increase from 42.16% two seasons ago. He played three of the eight playoff games over the past two seasons, producing no offence at all. His +/- has regressed from -1 to -7.

Like his fellow European Joakim Nygard, Haas has the speed for the NHL but not the hands for it.

He was eighth on the team in PK ice time, though, at 1:49/game. As you would expect, he doesn’t spend much time on the PP to speak of. He also tied Nuge for 10th on the team in blocked shots with 29.

Chances he’s re-signed – 20%. Holland will be looking for more offence from his bottom six, and with two seasons under his belt we know now that Haas is not capable of producing enough of it in the NHL. He’ll probably go back to Switzerland and finish up his career there. I wouldn’t count him out completely, though, as Haas was a Holland recruit and GMs like to bring in their own recruits to the lineup. But Holland is too smart to overlook the weaknesses of this player. Blocking shots and PK time is not enough to bring to the table without being able to produce offence more consistently.

Predicted contract – 1 year, $900,000