Well...not exactly...but that's our ceiling now it seems.
- Larsson_fan

I wish. Only problem with that theory is that you're expecting Klefbom or Larsson to be the next Keith or Letang.

Crosby head getting softer than a marshmallow
- Yeti1181

Pray for Squidney

I wish. Only problem with that theory is that you're expecting Klefbom or Larsson to be the next Keith or Letang.
- EdmHockeyMan

Larsson is going to be great for us

Pray for Squidney
- DDM-Coga

Apparently during a no contact practice too

Larsson is the tits, IMO, hence the handle.
- Larsson_fan

i think the trade is gonna get heat for a long time.
larsson isnt dynamic or a sexy player. super quiet and safe. (although i think he may start to take a few more chances when he gets comfortable and gets the green light)

hes even gonna make the odd mistake with so many tough minutes and so much forecheck in the west. probably glaring ones. and people are gonna freak when they realize we dont have drew doughty for hall.

but overall, i think hes gonna be great or the oilers.
ill put it down to klefboms rust, but i really tried to watch the two of them against the nucks and while klefbom is the real engine there, he was more mistake prone while larsson was so solid and the only guy back there that it didnt feel like i had to panic when they were in our zone (sekera is always solid too, just not perfect- but i just take that for granted now)

It's a 1-year deal. Start worrying if they resign him, but until then it's merely a means to reinforce the backend that they can actually count on happening. Whether or not they can acquire and sign Trouba isn't entirely up to them.

I'm gonna try to break this down:

They currently have 8mil in space.

This coming offseason Ference (3.25), Russell (3.1) and Hendricks (1.85) come off the books. That's a total of around 8 million. The only player that will need a raise is Draisaitl. Assuming he has a great season with 55+ points, then we'll assume he gets 6mil (though I doubt he gets that much in reality).

That still leaves them with 10mil in space.

The following year, they see Fayne (3.6), Letestu (1.8) and Maroon's (1.5) contract expire as well as Korpikoski's buyout (1). That's a total of around 8mil as well. Contracts that are up for substantial raises are McDavid (likely around 10mil), Nurse (high end around 4mil) and Davidson (high end around 3.5mil). That's a total of 17.5mil coming out of the 18mil they have in cap space. It's a tight squeeze, but far from impossible.

That'd leave them pretty much at the cap.

The following year, Eberle (6), Pouliot (4) and Talbot (4.2) expire. That's a total of 14mil, but we'll remove Talbot's as that money would have to go towards a goalie. Puljujarvi's contract is the only big raise as of now and even under the assumption that he hits his potential, we'd only be looking at 6mil for his second contract (and even that's high). Depending on what they do with Eberle, they've still got a good amount of space to work with.

That's ignoring the expansion draft (we'll lose something) or the possibility of trading a guy like Sekera. My point is don't worry too much about the cap until we've seen more of guys like Leon and Puljujarvi.
- MaximumBone

I really think that this will be our window when it comes to enhancing our cap space opportunities. Not only that, but the cap hit will probably go up 5m?

I don't expect Sekera to be here all 5 years. I'd say probably 3 more years before we see management take interest in moving him.

As for Ebs, if they do resign him, then Edmonton will be once again tight against the cap.

Good post nonetheless, but there are still some slight creaks that could provide some havoc cap wise. We just have to hope that Chia learned from his mistakes in Boston.

I wish. Only problem with that theory is that you're expecting Klefbom or Larsson to be the next Keith or Letang.
- EdmHockeyMan

neither of those guys are what he'll ever be. and as much for style as ceiling.


i think we should be hoping stralman. but even if its hjalmarsson, its not terrible.

Absolutely! We are now like Chicago with only one of Toews/Kane, or Pens without Malkin.
- Larsson_fan

If we're drawing parallels, maybe we're more like Boston, LA, or San Jose but with McDavid. Or how about Detroit in their most recent Cup win? Balance wins Cups in much the same way as top-end elite guys do. There's no one proven formula as far as forwards go. What is consistent is the strength of their D corps.

i think the trade is gonna get heat for a long time.
larsson isnt dynamic or a sexy player. super quiet and safe. (although i think he may start to take a few more chances when he gets comfortable and gets the green light)

hes even gonna make the odd mistake with so many tough minutes and so much forecheck in the west. probably glaring ones. and people are gonna freak when they realize we dont have drew doughty for hall.

but overall, i think hes gonna be great or the oilers.
ill put it down to klefboms rust, but i really tried to watch the two of them against the nucks and while klefbom is the real engine there, he was more mistake prone while larsson was so solid and the only guy back there that it didnt feel like i had to panic when they were in our zone (sekera is always solid too, just not perfect- but i just take that for granted now)
- HB77

Klefbom-Larsson has been solid thus far.
However, the big X-factor(s) in my view are Nurse and Davidson.

If we're drawing parallels, maybe we're more like Boston, LA, or San Jose but with McDavid. Or how about Detroit in their most recent Cup win? Balance wins Cups in much the same way as top-end elite guys do. There's no one proven formula as far as forwards go. What is consistent is the strength of their D corps.
- MaximumBone

Precisely. Could not have said it better myself.

But yeah, I see our team fitting the mold of the Boston/SJ model.

Klefbom-Larsson has been solid thus far.
However, the big X-factor(s) in my view are Nurse and Davidson.
- EdmHockeyMan

Meh...in the long term....if either are anything more than bottom pair this season that's an over achievement.

neither of those guys are what he'll ever be. and as much for style as ceiling.


i think we should be hoping stralman. but even if its hjalmarsson, its not terrible.
- HB77

I know, I'm just exaggerating .

It would be a miracle if we end up with the next Hedman (Who I think Larsson has the best projection towards at max. pot.) in Larsson.

But maybe Hedman .75 is still good enough.

Apparently during a no contact practice too
- Yeti1181

Honestly it sucks since we are having the prime years of the best player of a generation being robbed from us

Protect McDavid

Honestly it sucks since we are having the prime years of the best player of a generation being robbed from us

Protect McDavid
- DDM-Coga

That's a few now for him....let's hope he doesn't become the Chris Benoit of the NHL.

Precisely. Could not have said it better myself.

But yeah, I see our team fitting the mold of the Boston/SJ model.
- EdmHockeyMan

As much as people scoff at them because they haven't won a Cup, San Jose has been one of the best run team's in the league for a long time. Vlasic, Burns, Braun and Martin is a good template to follow as far as what types of Dmen we should aim for. Looking at the surface level, I think we have 3 of them (Klefbom is our Vlasic, Larsson our Braun and Sekera our Martin). Now we have to find the hardest one.

Meh...in the long term....if either are anything more than bottom pair this season that's an over achievement.
- Larsson_fan

totally.

davidson just playing as he did last year without any improvement doesnt worry me much in a 3rd pairing role. even nurse alongside him in lower minutes isnt a huge concern just yet

but is our top pairing capable of standing up to the leagues best?
without that, we're pretty fuked as itll be sekera desperately trying to carry russel and the 2nd pairing struggling

I know, I'm just exaggerating .

It would be a miracle if we end up with the next Hedman (Who I think Larsson has the best projection towards at max. pot.) in Larsson.

But maybe Hedman .75 is still good enough.
- EdmHockeyMan

again, stralman. we're over the moon if larsson gets to that level.

hes so good. and so solid defensively.
hedmans truly elite, but stralman allows him to do whatever he wants when he wants. and he can anchor a pairing on his own too

totally.

davidson just playing as he did last year without any improvement doesnt worry me much in a 3rd pairing role. even nurse alongside him in lower minutes isnt a huge concern just yet

but is our top pairing capable of standing up to the leagues best?
without that, we're pretty fuked as itll be sekera desperately trying to carry russel and the 2nd pairing struggling
- HB77

It would be nice to have someone step up and make a solid 2nd pair partner for Sekeras, but not only are we asking for massive upticks in their game, but to do it on their off hand Asmara well. The prospects are bleak.

Meh...in the long term....if either are anything more than bottom pair this season that's an over achievement.
- Larsson_fan

Understandable, but still, Davidson and Nurse have the potential to do some damage THIS SEASON (at a top 4 level) if they can continue to develop on the same level they did last season, and that simply cannot be undermined in any manner, especially on an Oilers team that needs to finally form a solid defense in any way possible.

On another note, Davidson was quite good on the PK last season. I wonder if McLellan will continue to utilize him that that way or will he try something different involving Larsson.

Awe. You get angry if I send you an insult but you had no problem hurling one first?

This thread sucks these days.
- Iggysbff

You should have seen that Jizzca guy throw a tantrum in the FLames thread.

again, stralman. we're over the moon if larsson gets to that level.

hes so good. and so solid defensively.
hedmans truly elite, but stralman allows him to do whatever he wants when he wants. and he can anchor a pairing on his own too
- HB77

Stralman 1.25?

But in all honesty, a Stralman in Larsson is still damn good to me. Especially if he can actually keep us in games defensively.

Hello good folks
- Yeti1181

Understandable, but still, Davidson and Nurse have the potential to do some damage THIS SEASON (at a top 4 level) if they can continue to develop on the same level they did last season, and that simply cannot be undermined in any manner, especially on an Oilers team that needs to finally form a solid defense in any way possible.

On another note, Davidson was quite good on the PK last season. I wonder if McLellan will continue to utilize him that that way or will he try something different involving Larsson.
- EdmHockeyMan

There you go gushing again...Davidson pleasantly surprised last year as a bottom pair defender, and Nurse was a tire fire. Either of those doing damage in a top 4 role is a huge stretch. I hope they surprise.

As much as people scoff at them because they haven't won a Cup, San Jose has been one of the best run team's in the league for a long time. Vlasic, Burns, Braun and Martin is a good template to follow as far as what types of Dmen we should aim for. Looking at the surface level, I think we have 3 of them (Klefbom is our Vlasic, Larsson our Braun and Sekera our Martin). Now we have to find the hardest one.
- MaximumBone

But yeah, I've always liked how SJ built their team. I cannot see any fault in following their model.

Apparently during a no contact practice too
- Yeti1181

Guy has two cups, close to 90 million in earnings so far, not including endorsements, and plenty of international success.

If this continues, does he hang them up?