Who should oilers go after in free agency

[La Bamba]

Last summer we had cap space and a 1 year window to load up. This summer we have less cap space and can't be dumb with it. There have been very few quality UFA's over the years. About 85% of the time they are dead weight within a year or two. If you're handing out a 2-3 year deal that's one thing.. but 5-6 on a guy like Grabner or Green (which they may easily get).. no way we can do that.

I don't mean you have to go big fish hunting on July 1st but signing guys like Vanek to 1 year deals will help the team a lot compared to just signing guys like Jokinen.

 

[Jumptheshark]

I agree and with fayne and korpikoski contracts off the books should help with that

Nurse. Benning. Strome. Slepyshev. Caggulia take up that money and then some

 

[Ck1]

Vanek would be a good acquisition for the 3rd line. He shouldn't cost too much money, maybe 3 M.

Nugent-Hopkins-McDavid-X
X-Draisaitl-Puljujärvi
Vanek-Strome-X
Lucic-Kharia-Kassian

X's:
1st line: Doesn't really mater who you put next to McDavid and Hopkins. Maybe Ty Rattie could stay on that line.
2nd line: Lucic might have a bounce back season but this position most likely have to filled through a trade.
3rd line: A free agent or prospect with speed could fit well on that line.

Anyone got any ideas for players who could fill those X's?

I would keep rattie with mcdavid been working so far maybe put aberg on the second line caggiula could slide n on third line all depending on if Yamamoto cracks the line up or not

 

[shoop]

Vanek would be a good acquisition for the 3rd line. He shouldn't cost too much money, maybe 3 M.

Nugent-Hopkins-McDavid-X
X-Draisaitl-Puljujärvi
Vanek-Strome-X
Lucic-Kharia-Kassian

Anyone got any ideas for players who could fill those X's?

Can Vanek still play top six minutes?

Caggiula-Khaira-Kassian is a pretty solid line so might as well keep it for next year.

Brutally expensive but Looch can still play third line minutes.

 

[Bryanbryoil]

I was just looking at some stats and it seems like James Neal has cooled off a good bit after a torrid start which led to an All Star game nod. 7-9-16 in his last 29 games vs. 17-10-27 in his previous 37 games.

'17-18 66gp. 24-19-43 -4 185sog.
'16-17 70gp. 23-18-41 -10 202sog.

What could we sign him for if he decided to come here?

 

[Spawn]

I was just looking at some stats and it seems like James Neal has cooled off a good bit after a torrid start which led to an All Star game nod. 7-9-16 in his last 29 games vs. 17-10-27 in his previous 37 games.

'17-18 66gp. 24-19-43 -4 185sog.
'16-17 70gp. 23-18-41 -10 202sog.

What could we sign him for if he decided to come here?

I can't see him going for less than 5M on a long term deal. Probably 6+

I'd be worried about going after him tbh. I think he's a guy who has a bigger name than he does ability to be a top producer. I question whether he's going to live up to his next contract. Will be 31 to start the year and likely isn't getting any better at this point of his career.

Then again, he has proven he can light it up playing with an elite centerman. Would likely be a good fit with either McDavid or Drai.

 

[Bangers]

I'd like to see the team wait out the initial wave of free agent signings. If Green doesn't get signed right away, he might be had for cheaper due to his age, injury history and the fact that he's more of a specialist at this point.

Cheap post-July 3rd signings are what the team needs.

 

[Bryanbryoil]

I can't see him going for less than 5M on a long term deal. Probably 6+

I'd be worried about going after him tbh. I think he's a guy who has a bigger name than he does ability to be a top producer. I question whether he's going to live up to his next contract. Will be 31 to start the year and likely isn't getting any better at this point of his career.

Then again, he has proven he can light it up playing with an elite centerman. Would likely be a good fit with either McDavid or Drai.

With his stats and age I wouldn't risk paying him $6 million AAV for more than a few years.

 

[Bryanbryoil]

I'd like to see the team wait out the initial wave of free agent signings. If Green doesn't get signed right away, he might be had for cheaper due to his age, injury history and the fact that he's more of a specialist at this point.

Cheap post-July 3rd signings are what the team needs.

It worked out well for us with Russell IMO. We could use some of those types of signings for sure.

 

[Asiaoil]

Vanek, one of the goalies mentioned (Halak/Ward), Roy, and and guys still around after week one is done who have some game left.

 

[TheNumber4]

Any and all free cap space should go towards our defence. We need one top Defenceman to have a decent NHL level defence again. That could change the entire complexion of our team. For wingers, we'll just have to bargain hunt and do better. Guys like Aberg and Rattie have shown us bargains on the wing could be found (not saying either will work out long term for us, but they are doing well enough that you take a couple more gambles)

 

[Ck1]

Going to get some backlash for even suggesting this but here goes. Trade Rnh for s.aho add pieces if needed then sign mark stone in free agency

Aho mcdavid poolparty
Stone Drai aberg
Caggiula strome rattie
Lucic khaira kassian

And add a halak or ward

 

[McDNicks17]

Going to get some backlash for even suggesting this but here goes. Trade Rnh for s.aho add pieces if needed then sign mark stone in free agency

Aho mcdavid poolparty
Stone Drai aberg
Caggiula strome rattie
Lucic khaira kassian

And add a halak or ward

Stone is an RFA.

 

[shoop]

Stone is an RFA.

Who needs draft picks?

 

[Ck1]

Stone is an RFA.

Missed that maybe go after a jvr or a d-man john Carlson

 

[Cypress]

lol Stone isn't going anywhere.

I'd add a winger like Vanek (veteran wing who can score and play), a 4th line center so Khaira can move up the lineup, and maybe see if there's any worthwhile and affordable PMD, but don't force it -- I think the D we already have will bounce back -- unless Klefbom's injury becomes a problem. Green would be nice if his injury is not a problem and we can get him for cheap and with short term. Seems pretty unlikely.

 

[Joey Moss]

I don't mean you have to go big fish hunting on July 1st but signing guys like Vanek to 1 year deals will help the team a lot compared to just signing guys like Jokinen.

A guy like Vanek is probably going to be looking for two years and honestly he could easily be next years Jokinen.

A 1 year deal on Vanek would be a steal considering he was a steal last year and prob will use that to his advantage in negotiations. Would be a risky signing IMO.

 

[VainGretzky]

Nurse. Benning. Strome. Slepyshev. Caggulia take up that money and then some

Are you kidding Nurse will be around Klefboms contract or 2 year bridge at about 3 per Benning might get 175 k than he is getting now Caggiula might get 275 k raise slepy 100 k at best none of these players will get anything huge so that leaves Strome who at most will get 833k more so Even with nurse at 4 , the remaining cap s will cost total 5.283 a Million to Rattie if he keeps it up burried in minors at no cap hat if he bombs next sseason So that leaves another 6 million left with all signed and not including cap hike, we most likely have 9 million to sign a forward and dman

 

[MinimaMoralia]

Adding Derek Ryan and Drew Stafford would do wonders for our bottom six.
Stafford still has some game when he's healthy.

 

[KCC]

That's what happened this last summer and look what happened lol

Chia needs to use the cap space he has to make improvements

So basically he has to try and use the cap space to get out of the mess he created. lol

 

[t0nedeff]

Vanek and Green to 1-2 year deals. You can sell Green on the fact he'll get premo pp minutes getting fed by a back to back art ross winner. He can have his numbers inflated and cash in after.

 

[shoop]

Adding Derek Ryan and Drew Stafford would do wonders for our bottom six.
Stafford still has some game when he's healthy.

There is nothing wrong with our fourth line. For a team so close to the cap there are a lot more pressing issues.

 

[TheNumber4]

Vanek and Green to 1-2 year deals. You can sell Green on the fact he'll get premo pp minutes getting fed by a back to back art ross winner. He can have his numbers inflated and cash in after.

Don't think a 32 year old Dman is going to sign a contract to bump his numbers so he can sign a payday contract at 35.

 

[FatherPucker]

Going to get some backlash for even suggesting this but here goes. Trade Rnh for s.aho add pieces if needed then sign mark stone in free agency

Aho mcdavid poolparty
Stone Drai aberg
Caggiula strome rattie
Lucic khaira kassian

And add a halak or ward

Aho still has 1 year left of his ELC and already putting up higher points than RNH ever has... you really think CAR would go for that?

 

[Jumptheshark]

Missed that maybe go after a jvr or a d-man john Carlson

JVR will be looking for 6 to 8 a year and we can not afford that