Oilers' Running Out of Time For Big Decision
Edmonton Oilers have many options to consider before the clock on the dual offer sheets runs out.
Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports - Oilers' Running Out of Time For Big DecisionEDMONTON -- At 7:30 AM on August 20th, a decision must be made.
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This decision is whether or not the Edmonton Oilers will match or accept compensation on one of (or both of) Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway. Some recent moves make the full picture a bit cloudy.
For starters, they acquired forward Vasily Podkolzin (from the Vancouver Canucks) and defenseman Ty Emberson (from the San Jose Sharks). Now the Oilers have less than 24 hours to decide what to do about Broberg and Holloway.
Here are their options:
Take Compensation For Both
This seems like the least likely of the four main options. Many hockey pundits and fans will be greatly surprised if this is the result. Plus the two trades made on Sunday will stand out as strange, given that trading away Cody Ceci was seen as a move to create more salary cap space.
Never say never, as the Oilers could be thinking that they might take compensation from both players to package together for another trade. However, this course of action appears highly unlikely.
Match Both Holloway & Broberg
Matching both offer sheets for Holloway and Broberg is appearing more likely by the day. The Sunday trades make it a more likely possibility.
If the Oilers match both players it won't take much to become cap compliant. Putting Evander Kane on LTIR and sending a player to the minors who makes $850,000 or more, will allow the Oilers to start the season under the cap. Once Kane is healthy, they would need to make another trade to make it work.
Match Broberg, Take Compensation For Holloway
Another scenario would involve the Oilers matching for Broberg and taking the compensation for Holloway. It would signal that the team values a potential top four defenseman over a top nine forward.
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Considering that team defense is a requirement for success, this isn't a bad strategy. Holloway would more than likely see top six minutes for the St. Louis Blues. He could spend the duration of his contract boosting his value and then be primed for a pay raise once the two-year agreement has expired.
Match Holloway, Take Compensation For Broberg
The last major possibility is that the Oilers match on Holloway and accept the second round pick for Broberg. A second round pick is a poor return on investment for a top-10 draft pick, and potential top-four defenseman.
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Holloway is the cheaper contract, so it's easier to stomach his cap hit. With the additions of Jeff Skinner and Viktor Arvidsson, Holloway's positioning in the top six is all but vanished. Unless one of the two new recruits will play on the team's third line, it will be Holloway who plays in the bottom six.
No matter which way this goes for the Oilers, there will be a ripple effect. The clock is ticking and the Oilers need to face the music.
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