The Edmonton Oilers and Kailer Yamamoto have yet to come to an agreement on a new contract, and with the season right around the corner, rumors have begun to fly about why he still isn’t locked up with the team.
With Oscar Klefbom likely being placed on LTIR for the entire season, the Oilers will receive some much-needed cap relief and should have the money to be able to re-sign the young star in the making.
Yamamoto was selected in the first round of the 2017 NHL entry draft by the Oilers after putting up 99 points in 65 games during the 2016-17 season with the Spokane Chiefs. He drew early comparisons to Flames forward Johnny Gaudreau as they both are shorter players that don’t let their size scare them, and have similar play styles.
Yamamoto has tallied a total of 52 points over 105 games in his NHL career, all with the Oilers. Last season he recorded 21 points over 52 games while adding 26 PIMS with the team. As a young star in the making, and easily being penciled into the Oilers’ top-six forward group. Yamamoto has earned himself a new contract, and a bit of a raise.
So what are the chances the Oilers move Yamamoto, and what are the possible moves?
Trade rumors and mock trades have been popping up all over social media as fans began to speculate if Yamamoto wants more than the Oilers can afford. Kurt Leavins suggested that Yamamoto’s new contract could come in around $2.5M AAV, and he’d likely get locked up for only 1 or 2 years. With Jake Debrusk being connected to the Oilers, as they remain interested in him for the right price, the rumors of Yamamoto leaving Edmonton in exchange for the Bruins forward came into play.
The chances of Yamamoto being moved are quite slim, but definitely not outside of the realm of possibility, especially with how unpredictable the Oilers offseason has been. There’s a couple of possible trades that make sense IF the Oilers cannot afford to match what he wants and consider moving him.