Offseason Outlook: Oilers returning to glory days
With the offseason underway for a number of teams and the remainder set to join them in a few weeks, we're looking at what's in store for each club in the coming months.
2016-17 grade: A+
The Edmonton Oilers took a huge step forward this season. The club reached the postseason for the first time in 11 years, and came within a single win of advancing to the Western Conference Final.
Connor McDavid won the NHL scoring title, while Leon Draisaitl looks to be the Evgeni Malkin to McDavid's Sidney Crosby. Cam Talbot was stellar despite a heavy workload, and, for once, Oilers fans aren't concerned about the draft lottery results.
Free agents
There are a couple of notable names here, but Draisaitl and, to a lesser extent, Kris Russell are the priorities.
| Player (Position) | 2017-18 Status | Age | 2016-17 Cap Hit | '16-17 Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Desharnais | UFA | 30 | $2.8M | 14 |
| Matt Hendricks | UFA | 35 | $1.85M | 7 |
| Zack Kassian | RFA | 26 | $1.5M | 24 |
| Leon Draisaitl | RFA | 21 | $925K | 77 |
| Jujhar Khaira | RFA | 22 | $875K | 1 |
| Iiro Pakarinen | RFA | 25 | $725K | 4 |
| Tyler Pitlick | UFA | 25 | $725K | 11 |
| Kris Russell | UFA | 30 | $3.1M | 13 |
| Eric Gryba | UFA | 29 | $950K | 6 |
| Griffin Reinhart | RFA | 23 | $863 333 | 0 |
| Andrew Ference | UFA | 38 | $3.25M | 0 |
| Anton Lander | RFA | 26 | $987K | 4 |
2017 draft picks
| Round | Picks |
|---|---|
| 1 | 1 |
| 2 | 0 |
| 3 | 2 (Own+Blues) |
| 4 | 1 |
| 5 | 2 (Own+Canucks) |
| 6 | 1 |
| 7 | 1 |
Summer priorities
Sign Draisaitl to a long-term deal
Draisaitl just had his coming out party. He was a force all season, but especially in the playoffs, leading the team in scoring with 16 points. It would be wise for Peter Chiarelli to lock up the restricted free agent long term before his value goes up.
Related: Projecting Leon Draisaitl's next contract
The market for his services has quietly been set, with the likes of Johnny Gaudreau, Nathan MacKinnon, and Mark Scheifele all inking deals recently in the ballpark of six-to-eight years at an annual salary of $6 million to $7 million.
Draisaitl could be better than each of those players, so getting him inked to a deal like that could end up being a bargain down the road.
Ink McDavid to long-term extension (duh)
Unlike the Draisaitl contract, this one will likely include very little negotiation. McDavid is already one of the best players in the league. You're going to have to pay a near-max dollar amount for him, but he's proven through less than two full seasons in the league that he's totally worth it.
McDavid is eligible for an extension July 1. Lock him up and reap the benefits - there's not much else to it.
Get Puljujarvi NHL ready
The Oilers appeared to get a steal in last year's draft after the Columbus Blue Jackets surprised some by selecting Pierre-Luc Dubois third overall. It had been widely projected that pick would be used to select Jesse Puljujarvi.
The Oilers jumped on the chance to take the skilled winger, and the move appeared to be an instant win when the 18-year-old scored in his first career NHL game.
However, inconsistency followed, and he shortly landed in the AHL. There, he showed more promise, tallying 12 goals and 28 points in 39 games. There's no doubt Puljujarvi has the skill and potential to be great, and if he can take a step forward next season, the Oilers will have another tool and more willingness to trade one of their other forwards, such as Eberle or Nugent-Hopkins.
2017-18 Outlook
The Oilers made a dramatic jump this season. They finished with 33 more points than the previous season and were one win back of the Pacific-leading Anaheim Ducks.
McDavid won the scoring title and Talbot proved he can handle the responsibilities of a No. 1 netminder. Then there's Draisaitl, and the improved defense core.
The Oilers finally played like the team many envisioned for so long. Their days of missing the playoffs appear to be in the rear-view mirror for now, and they should be expected to challenge for a division title and perhaps the Cup next season.
A few minor tweaks could go a long way, but even without that, Edmonton should be in a good position to compete with the league's best for years to come.
Offseason Outlook Series
COL | VAN | NJD | ARI | BUF
DET | DAL | FLA | LAK | CAR
WPG | PHI | TBL | NYI | WSH
TOR | CGY | BOS | SJS | STL
NYR | EDM | MTL | ANA | MIN
CBJ | CHI | OTT | PIT | NAS
LGK
(Photos courtesy: Action Images)