Growth Plan: Projecting the Edmonton Oilers’ safety listing for the 2021 enlargement draft

Welcome to the Growth Plan, our summer time sequence projecting the protected lists for the 30 NHL franchises who will take part within the June 2021 Growth Draft.
Over the following two seasons, each workforce – save the Vegas Golden Knights, who can be exempt – can be planning for the arrival of the NHL’s 32nd franchise and Seattle GM Ron Francis will start to think about the choices for his inaugural roster. As such, over the course of the following 30 days, we’ll profile one workforce, in alphabetical order, and forecast their potential listing of protections and exposures, in addition to tackle every workforce’s enlargement technique, no-brainers, powerful choices and what classes they realized from the 2017 enlargement course of.
This train requires some necessary floor guidelines. The 2021 Growth Draft will observe the identical guidelines because the 2017 Growth Draft, however some assumptions are mandatory. These are the rules adopted:
No pre-draft trades
All no-movement clauses are honored
Gamers who will turn out to be restricted free brokers in 2020 or 2021 stay with present groups
Gamers who will turn out to be unrestricted free brokers in 2020 or 2021 both stay with present groups or are left off lists solely (eg. Nicklas Backstrom protected by the Washington Capitals, Tyson Barrie not protected by Toronto Maple Leafs or every other workforce.)
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Are you able to think about having two 100-point superstars and but not come shut to creating the playoffs? That’s the Edmonton Oilers for you. Sure, everyone seems to be drained about listening to how the workforce had 4 first-overall picks in six years and have received one playoff sequence since 2006, however you must suppose that it’s finally going to get higher… proper?
A slew of unhealthy contracts and the shortcoming to draw high expertise has plagued this workforce for nicely over a decade. Mikko Koskinen’s $four.5 million AAV till 2021-22 was a baffling resolution that led to former GM Peter Chiarelli getting fired simply days later. After all, there was Milan Lucic and his $5.2-million cap hit that Chiarelli couldn’t work out what to do with throughout his tenure that handicapped the workforce’s wage efforts and there’s no marvel why the Oilers haven’t grown out of their droop. However the GM Ken Holland-era is right here, and with 13 gamers set for the free-agent market after subsequent season, the roster might look considerably totally different than it does as we speak. What does the workforce need to play with at this level?
PROTECTED (7F, 3D, 1G)Forwards:
Connor McDavid
Leon Draisaitl
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
Kailer Yamamoto
Tyler Benson
Cooper Marody
Jesse Puljujarvi
Defensemen:
Oscar Klefbom
Darnell Nurse
Caleb Jones
Goaltender:
NOTABLE EXPOSURES: Adam Larsson, James Neal, Mikko Koskinen
STRATEGY: Save for a handful of the apparent names, the Oilers want as a lot of a refresh as potential. It’s arduous to lose a commerce the minute it occurs, however that’s precisely what occurred when the workforce acquired Adam Larsson for future Hart Trophy winner Taylor Corridor in 2016. Larsson nonetheless has worth as a top-four defenseman, nonetheless, however as a UFA in 2021 and the topic of commerce rumors over the previous yr, the Oilers might really feel snug transferring on from him due to the younger defensive expertise within the group. Edmonton must be specializing in its youth – the fellows they aren’t instantly dashing to the NHL – and Caleb Jones might take his spot within the lineup after exhibiting super progress during the last yr.
Not having to waste spots to maintain prospects Ryan McLeod, Philip Broberg and Evan Bouchard is good, however there’s nonetheless lots of work to do. Up entrance, the workforce will look to maintain as many younger gamers collectively throughout what looks like a unending rebuild, however a state of affairs that’s sure to bear fruit sooner or later. Kailer Yamamoto has had a so-so professional profession to this point however shouldn’t be left behind at this level. Tyler Benson isn’t removed from his transition to the NHL after an excellent AHL marketing campaign, Similar goes for Cooper Marody, an actual risk to make Edmonton’s opening evening lineup in October. In Jesse Puljujarvi’s case, rumors surrounding his future in Edmonton have swirled for months, but when he’s nonetheless round in 2021, he’s price holding round, even when it’s simply to swap him at a later date.
However to maintain these 4, it’s with the understanding that James Neal goes unprotected. After his season in Calgary, that’s all tremendous and dandy, however he’s a confirmed 20-goal scorer and if he hyperlinks up with Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid, he would possibly discover his approach again to what made him such a commodity over the previous few seasons. If Neal does stand up and will get picked up, that’s $5.75-million a yr off the books till the top of 2023 – signal Holland up. After all, like with the remainder of the lineup, it’s all only a bunch of “what ifs” at this level.
THE NO BRAINER: McDavid’s NMC received’t kick in till 2022-23, the identical yr Draisaitl will get a modified NTC/NMC. So, sure, they’re absolutely the no brainers that the Oilers must preserve. However Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is a ahead the Oilers can’t let get away. He’ll be a UFA in 2021 which suggests the Oilers wouldn’t want to guard him, however Holland ought to do every little thing of their energy to verify he sticks round as soon as his seven-year deal is up.
THE TOUGH DECISION: The Oilers have a plethora of younger prospects, however none that seem like able to make the leap to the massive workforce anytime quickly. So who’s the best choice to guard? Stuart Skinner is without doubt one of the finest goalie prospects the Oilers have had in a while, and at 20 and set for a task with the Bakersfield Condors, he’s younger sufficient the place the Oilers might be affected person with him. Shane Starrett, one of many AHL’s finest goaltenders final season, is ready to run the crease in Bakersfield this season once more however he’s 25 and expendable. Plus, let’s be reasonable: Seattle isn’t taking considered one of Edmonton’s goalies, so does it actually matter? Simply defend your younger asset and concentrate on constructing elsewhere.
LESSON LEARNED: Don’t straddle your workforce with horrible contracts. Sure, Holland made some questionable signings in Detroit, however the mess Chiarelli created – howdy, Lucic – took its toll on the workforce’s progress. The Oilers are unlikely to deliver Kris Russell again after his $four million AAV expires in 2021 and if Larsson isn’t introduced again and Neal is moved someway, that’s simply over $13 million in cap aid. That’s enormous for when the workforce has to fret about Marody, Yamamoto, Benson, Jones and Ethan Bear in 2021 and Broberg, Bouchard, McLeod and Dmitri Samorukov the next yr.
Up Subsequent: Florida Panthers
Earlier: Anaheim Geese | Arizona Coyotes | Boston Bruins | Buffalo Sabres | Calgary Flames | Carolina Hurricanes | Chicago Blackhawks | Colorado Avalanche | Columbus Blue Jackets | Dallas Stars | Detroit Purple Wings |
(All wage cap data by way of CapFriendly)
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Tags: edmonton oilers, enlargement, nhl, seattleConnect: In regards to the AuthorSteven EllisSteven Ellis is a Digital Content material Producer for The Hockey Information. He spends his free time listening to music you would not like and watches obnoxiously-long motor races.