The Oilers are in cap hell in the worst possible way right now. With holes at a number of positions, the Edmonton Oilers as they are today quite simply cannot address these issues. For the purpose of today's blog, we are going to travel to a magical place where Edmonton has found a way to offload Lucic salary to a few different teams and shipped Russell away for a 4th round pick. Well done Mr. New General Manager!

Edmonton is not the only team that has cap issues. In the salary cap world, every team has tough decisions to make in order to ensure their roster is cap compliant, while at the same time trying to ice a contender every season.

Today we are going to start in the Atlantic Division and look at some players that Edmonton could target from teams that may need to shed salary. An additional note; it is being estimated right now that the cap will increase by another three or four million dollars a season. Before anyone rushes to the comments to say I am dumb and Team X will not need to trade Player Y, I am aware. These are not guaranteed players to be moved. I am simply noting that an opportunity may exist.


BOSTON BRUINS


Player To Target: Charlie Coyle


The Bruins are in a decent position cap-wise right now. Their biggest issues in the coming years will be how the likes of Krejci, Bergeron, and Marchand continue to produce now that they are on the other side of 30, but as of now that is a non issue. They also have Pasternak signed to an absolutely steal of a deal.

There are two notable RFA's the Bruins will have to sign this summer; Charlie McAvoy and Daton Heinen. McAvoy had a strong rookie season, but has struggled with injuries which have kept him out of the lineup for almost half of this season. A bridge deal in the 3.5 range seems likely for him. Heinen meanwhile, had an impressive rookie season of 47 points but has taken a step back this year with some reduced icetime and 33 points. In total, the Bruins should be able to sign both of these men for under 6.5 million.

Charlie Coyle was playing top 6 minutes for Minnesota on the wing but has now found himself centering the Bruins third line and has a mere 3 points through 14 games with Boston. Coyle makes 3.2 million dollars next season as well and the Bruins may want to look for a cheaper option, especially considering Coyle should have value around the league.

For Edmonton Coyle could be a solid middle six option, versatile enough to either provide some offense on the right wing in the top 6, or be pushed down the lineup into a third line centre position.


BUFFALO SABRES

Player To Target - Rasmus Ristolainen

You have to feel for Buffalo, as they have been in a very similar position to Edmonton over the past 5 years. They have collected a talented young core of players like Dahlin, Eichel, Reinhart, and Ristolainen but haven't been able to form a team around them that has been able to compete.

Jason Pominville comes off the books for Buffalo this summer, freeing up just over 5 million in salary but the big question in Buffalo will be the status of Jeff Skinner. Skinner has been something of a revelation for the Sabres and could score 40 goals for the first time in his career. Buffalo will clearly want to resign the 26 year old winger but with how contracts have exploded in the last two years, he will likely cost north of 8.5 million.

The time might be right for Ristolainen to shake free from Buffalo. The 24 year old right shot defenceman has always been a strong producer of points, but his defensive game has always been suspect. +/- means absolutely nothing to me, but it still does to many around the league and his -42 this season has certainly caught his own managements attention.

Buffalo may be one of those teams who makes change just for the sake of trying to shake things up, and with the young Montour and Dahlin on the blueline, moving Ristolainen may seem more viable.

TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

Player To Target - Yanni Gourde

I honestly have no clue how Tampa keeps doing it. They are able to continuously surround their top talent with new up and comers, all while staying within the cap. The big question for the Lightning will be on their backend, as four of their defencemen are set to be free agents this summer. Stralman, Coburn, Girardi, and Rutta are all free agents and while I can't see Tampa signing all of them, they will need to replace them.

Yanni Gourde is one player that may shake loose from the Lightning. He has had a bit of a down year and is shy of his 64 point season from last year, he is a 20+ goal scorer and makes just over 5 million a season. He was just signed to this deal in November meaning Tampa clearly sees him as part of their future, however with no NMC attached to his contract he could still be moved for the right price.

TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS

Player To Target - Kasperi Kapanen

I know some have tried to spin the Leafs as a team that is not going to have to move on from any players because of the cap... yes they do and yes they are. Toronto has plenty of decisions to make, most notably with pending RFA Mitch Marner who has had a stronger campaign than future 11 million dollar player Auston Matthews.

The young Kasperi Kapanen is at 42 points through 71 games and will also need to be signed this summer and while he won't merit the same salary as a Marner or Nylander, if his agent is smart he will be looking to cash in. The potential is there for Toronto to gain some strong assets for a player like Kapanen who while skilled in his own right, has garnered more points due to the teammates he is playing with. From an Oilers perspective, finding a way to lock up a young right winger who will fit into the McDavid cluser should be a no-brainer.

What say you readers? Are there any other players in the Atlantic you can see shaking loose this summer?

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