If the Edmonton Oilers can't make a trade, they'll need to execute a buy out.
The Edmonton Oilers are running out of runway between now and American Thanksgiving. They have eight games left between now and then. It's time to make hay before the sun sets.
Restricted by the salary cap, the Oilers don't have a lot of wiggle room to sign or trade players. It can be done, but it would take an incredible amount of work.
They also don't have the cap space to call up a player, despite having two players injured. The only reason they could call up Raphael Lavoie is because they sent down Philip Broberg.
Enter the b word - buyout. The Oilers have a few high priced contracts that could be bought out to create some cap flexibility.
Jack Campbell.Jack Campbell is probably top on the buy out list. To say that his tenure as an Oiler has left much to be desired would be an understatement.
According to PuckPedia, a Campbell buyout would leave the Oilers on the hook for about $1.5-million. That would save the team about $3.4-million this season. The one catch? The Oilers have the buy out on the books for eight years.
With the dire situation they find themselves in, they actually have to consider this. Having a buyout on the books for eight years is borderline egregious - but if they can't make a trade they will need to pursue this option.
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