Three Things The Edmonton Oilers Need To Accomplish Still

Sign RFA Ryan McLeod

Ryan McLeod is a RFA who does not have arbitration rights. He had his breakthrough season last year with the Edmonton Oilers scoring 9 goals and adding 12 assists in a bottom six role. His role changed throughout the season. A lot of it had to do with where Ryan Nugent-Hopkins was playing.

McLeod would be the 3rd line centre in the scenario where Nugent-Hopkins was playing in a top 6 winger role. After the signing of Evander Kane the Edmonton Oilers did not use Nugent-Hopkins as a winger as often.

With the 3rd line centre position given to Nugent-Hopkins, McLeod would move into any of the other bottom 6 roles. Depending on the game and how the line-up looked that day chose where he would play.

If the Edmonton Oilers wanted a fast 3rd line he would play winger in that spot with another quicker player on the opposing side. If they wanted a fast 4th line, McLeod found himself centring that line. He is a very solid utility player.

For a bottom six player the Edmonton Oilers are going to need lots of them to be the utility style of player. They have already added one this off season in Mattias Janmark. This is a player that is going to likely replace the spot left by the Zack Kassian trade.

McLeod is also a solid penalty killer. His quick foot speed and his reach make his a very effective killer also. He also gets time on the second unit powerplay, not that they get a lot of time, but it is still a spot for him.

I have this as the number one point on this list simply because it is the easiest to accomplish, its not like McLeod is going to be asking big money. I would assume he lands somewhere around $1 million, $1.25 max. It’s his second contract so he can’t expect to much from it.