GDT: #1 • "Wild Western Series: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly" • Canucks @ Oilers • Jan 13 • 8 PM • SN

[Snipes45]

RNH-McDavid-Kassian Kahun-Draisaitl-Yamamoto Archibald-Turris-Puljujarvi Ennis-Khaira-Chiasson Nurse-Bear Jones-Larsson Koekkoek-Barrie Koskinen Smith

No Russell in the lineup

Sorry, copied it from twitter quickly.

 

[ujju2]

Came here for this information. Thanks. Love these jerseys

Based it off of the Oilers twitter account.

 

[ToeMcDrag83]

Holy. Forking. Shirtballs.
It's game day.

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

As much as I sympathize, I'm not a big fan of the navy thirds either. They try way too hard to look like they're out of Tron or something. The 2017 set was almost perfect. Royal blue home, white road, WHA orange third. I also really like the reverse retros this year, but they need blue pants and gloves. Not a fan of the popsicle look.

I didn't like the navy blues either in pictures but in person I really love them. I do agree that the 17 set was perfect, and that the reverse retro this year is awesome as well but would look better without the orange pants and gloves. Honestly just go back to the Stanley Cup winning blues and keep it forever, with new alternates every other year.

 

[ujju2]

I didn't like the navy blues either in pictures but in person I really love them. I do agree that the 17 set was perfect, and that the reverse retro this year is awesome as well but would look better without the orange pants and gloves. Honestly just go back to the Stanley Cup winning blues and keep it forever, with new alternates every other year.

Agreed (except I prefer the orange WHA thirds to having new alternates each year). Wearing the WHA thirds in the playoffs was a nice touch too.

 

[ChaoticOrange]

Tippett has his flaws, but damn if I don't love the fact that he isn't shy to yank Russell from the lineup for better options.

 

[bellagiobob]

 

[AddyTheWrath]

I’m liking Koekkoek over Russell.

 

[Canovin]

I’m liking Koekkoek over Russell.

Still not understanding why he was re-signed

 

[jeffff]

All I want is to go to sleep knowing that the Oilers not only won but absolutely dominated them, an earth shattering, league exploded, ass kicking!! Like 10-2.

The pleasure would be immense and to be honest, a little overwhelming.

 

[OilerTyler]

Still not understanding why he was re-signed

We needed someone to expose in the expansion draft next year.

 

[nhlisajoke]

we should pick up Anderson off waivers

 

[Perfect_Drug]

All I want is to go to sleep knowing that the Oilers not only won but absolutely dominated them, an earth shattering, league exploded, ass kicking!! Like 10-2.

The pleasue would be immense and to be hoenst, a little overwhelming.

Tonight, McDavid is gonna break Sittlers record tonight.

 

[FlameChampion]

Still not understanding why he was re-signed

Yeah. I kinda get it but I kinda dont. I actually dont mind Russell and 1.25 mil isnt the end of the world. But could of they just signed someone like Koekkoek for 2years - 2mil to cover expansion and call it a day?

 

[Canovin]

We needed someone to expose in the expansion draft next year.

No guarantee Seattle will take him tho. That's the issue

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

Okay, Koskinen is starting. My bad. Good choice.

 

[CycloneSweep]

Looks like Russell out. Already lost his job?

 

[bone]

No guarantee Seattle will take him tho. That's the issue

That wasn't the thought. Edmonton had to have at least one player with enough games played in the last two seasons that is signed for next year. Russell fits that criteria, whereas it was possible no one else would have fit the criteria including Klefbom because of his injury.

Because the dollar value of the contract was low, I didn't mind the move for expansion draft flexibility, other than the fact it telegraphed that Russell wouldn't be traded.

 

[FlameChampion]

No guarantee Seattle will take him tho. That's the issue

Well you dont need Seattle to take him. You need someone to meet the requirements so you dont lose someone else that you want. But if Russell isnt really in your plans, it doesnt make a ton of sense to give him another year. But $1.25 a year isnt really a big deal even if he plays #7D. But at the same time you could get someone for 750k-1mil to play 7D too. And every little piece of cap helps, especially when you have guys like Kahun signing for 900k.

 

[ChaoticOrange]

No guarantee Seattle will take him tho. That's the issue

No, but we have to expose a D with the right number of games.

I can see Seattle taking Turris or Puljujarvi

 

[snipes]

Koskinen starting tonight and Koekkoek in for Russell.

I like it.

 

[McJadeddog]

We needed someone to expose in the expansion draft next year.

I think they also knew the long-term prognosis for Klefbom and wanted some potential help on the left side. But yes, the expansion draft was the reason for the 2nd year added to that deal for sure.

 

[CycloneSweep]

Imo I think, on paper the Koekkoek/Barrie pairing is better than Jones/Larsson

 

[Delicious Pancakes]

Yeah. I kinda get it but I kinda dont. I actually dont mind Russell and 1.25 mil isnt the end of the world. But could of they just signed someone like Koekkoek for 2years - 2mil to cover expansion and call it a day?

Next year's buried salary threshold is $1.125M. So from a cap point of view it's $125K of wasted cap space if he were buried in the minors next year. It's not a huge amount but if he's a 7th defenceman next year it's a bit of an overpay. Russell's a warrior and good team guy so maybe it's a reward for previous play (something Holland has gotten in trouble with before, cap death by 1000 cuts/small overpays).

 

[Oilception]

Am I the only one who didnt know Koekkoek was Canadian?

I figured he was Finnish or something.

Regardless, excited to see how he does!