Elite finishers like Patrik Laine and Vladimir Tarasenko remain available, but Edmonton prioritizes financial flexibility. Accruing cap space now ensures the roster can strike for bigger upgrades mid-season.
There might be a tempation for the Edmonton Oilers to use their leftover cap space to sign another forward in free agency. Given that there is a need and a couple of names sitll on the market that could be enticing, it's understandable.
That said, expect the Oilers to resist the temptation. There's value in having the additional cap space in the event an opportunity presents itself.
The Options:
Patrik Laine
The case for signing him is straightforward: he still owns an elite shot and can produce goals at a first-line rate when healthy. At 28, and coming off injury concerns, he could be a bargain on an incentive-heavy deal for a team needing a pure finisher.
The concern is availability and limited impact elsewhere. He’s largely one-dimensional and has played just 186 of 410 games over five seasons, including only five last year.
Vladimir Tarasenko
The case for signing him is simple: he remains a productive middle-six forward, coming off a 23-goal, 47-point season with Minnesota. He won’t drive an offense, but he can provide reliable scoring depth and fit as a complementary piece on a contender.
The concern is durability and fit. He’s now on his sixth team in four years, raising questions about long-term value. At 34, he’s too young for a bonus-structured contract. But, at 34, he's not young. He's also a largely one-dimensional scorer at this stage.
The Better Plan:
Save the cap space and understand that an opportunity will come up where the Oilers can add during the season. There's been a few years in a row where a player has joined late. Even last season, the Oilers grabbed Jack Roslovic on the opening day of the regular season for a fraction of the price he could have cost.
If nothing pops up right away, don't panic. The Oilers can try to get Ike Howard to play a bigger role and if it doesn't pan out, see about trades and depth signings when the market starts to present new opportunities. All the while, the team can accrue cap space that they can use at the trade deadline.
If one of these players comes to the Oilers with a great offer that is hard to pass up, Stan Bowman should be all ears. But, this probably isn't the time to be chasing down either player.
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