Matt Henderson: The Best UFAs From The Stanley Cup Finals Losers

First

First
- Snagglepuss

Second

I would love Pouliot on this team. He is everything we want and need for a 3rd liner. Big body. Enough skill to get points. Sound defensively and drives possession.

Not only that but it's nice to have somebody capable of moving up a line in case of injury. As we saw towards the tail end of the year scary things happen to this lineup when one of our better players is injured.

I would love Pouliot on this team. He is everything we want and need for a 3rd liner. Big body. Enough skill to get points. Sound defensively and drives possession.

Not only that but it's nice to have somebody capable of moving up a line in case of injury. As we saw towards the tail end of the year scary things happen to this lineup when one of our better players is injured.
- CrustyRooster

Agreed. I'd rather Pouliot on a good deal than Boyle. Boyle is a good 4C but will likely be paid too much. I'd rather keep Gordon at 3C for the same money.

Hopefully a busy couple weeks ahead for the oil. Pick up some pieces for our puzzle that we greatly need

Agreed. I'd rather Pouliot on a good deal than Boyle. Boyle is a good 4C but will likely be paid too much. I'd rather keep Gordon at 3C for the same money.
- Iggysbff

Pouliot has been on one year contracts for the last few years if I recall. I would offer him a 3 year deal, as long as money is ok. He can play up and down the line up. The guy oozes skill. Just needs to compete. I'd probably build in some bonuses to get the guy going though.

As for Stralman, we could definitely use a right shot NHL dman. Better than Fraser. I'd rather give Stralman tougher compeititon and easier on J Schultz until Schultz proves otherwise.

Hall RNH Eberle
Perron Anisimov yak
Pouliot grabovski Kulemin
Hendricks Gordon pitlick

Klefbom stralman
Marincin petry
Ferrence Schultz (lack of an idea about which potential UFA fits on the left side)

Scrivens fasth.

Not sure if this would fit under that cap at all but that forward group is playoff calibre. It would be a tough gamble to see if we could tread water with that defense though.

Brian Boyle please. I was hoping The Oilers would get him way back when he was still on the Kings.

"We had our pro scouts meeting Thursday and Friday. We had some good discussions there. This year there are not so many top free agents available. The guys who would normally be secondary targets are now the primary targets. It's a good year to be a UFA."

Gotta love MacT's brutal honesty...

Pouliot has been on one year contracts for the last few years if I recall. I would offer him a 3 year deal, as long as money is ok. He can play up and down the line up. The guy oozes skill. Just needs to compete. I'd probably build in some bonuses to get the guy going though.

As for Stralman, we could definitely use a right shot NHL dman. Better than Fraser. I'd rather give Stralman tougher compeititon and easier on J Schultz until Schultz proves otherwise.
- ystoil

These secondary pieces you have to be careful of the term- see Belanger, Eric

break the bank on Stralman. Play him on the top pair with someone like Coburn or Phaneuf

Coburn-Stralman
Marincin-Petry
Ference-Schultz

also go hard after Pouliot, but I bet he gets big money somewhere-maybe even NYR again

Hall RNH Eberle
Perron Anisimov yak
Pouliot grabovski Kulemin
Hendricks Gordon pitlick
Klefbom stralman
Marincin petry
Ferrence Schultz (lack of an idea about which potential UFA fits on the left side)

Scrivens fasth.

Not sure if this would fit under that cap at all but that forward group is playoff calibre. It would be a tough gamble to see if we could tread water with that defense though.
- CrustyRooster

* Insert Khaira please....
* Klefbom is a bottom pairing

Brian Boyle please. I was hoping The Oilers would get him way back when he was still on the Kings.
- ChetManly

I'd take him but I think someone is going to pay him way too much.

* Insert Khaira please....
* Klefbom is a bottom pairing
- saskoil21

Khaira has about a 1% chance of making this team next year if that...

I find it interesting that MacT wants to add 4 or 5 players. 3 in the UFA. He is right that it is a good year to be a UFA as there isn't a ton of depth on that list unless we see buyouts. Sounds like the CBJ rumor was a salary dump to Edm as they don't want R.J either. I am guessing Dub was the target. As it was said Gagner was in the deal that hasn't had traction in a while. I like that he is looking at the UFA market and plans on trading before then. I have a lot more faith in him this year.

Khaira has about a 1% chance of making this team next year if that...
- Iggysbff

That kid will be good... Just not sure if it will be with the Oil...

Khaira has about a 1% chance of making this team next year if that...
- Iggysbff

If we dont get any other bottom 6 fwds- I would not put alot of stock in Pitlick lasting more than the first 3-5 games of the season... TBH Khaira's 1% chance of making the team coincides with Pitlicks and him playing more than 25 games in the NHL... The kid is a bandaide... plain and simple...

I find it interesting that MacT wants to add 4 or 5 players. 3 in the UFA. He is right that it is a good year to be a UFA as there isn't a ton of depth on that list unless we see buyouts. Sounds like the CBJ rumor was a salary dump to Edm as they don't want R.J either. I am guessing Dub was the target. As it was said Gagner was in the deal that hasn't had traction in a while. I like that he is looking at the UFA market and plans on trading before then. I have a lot more faith in him this year.
- Hall Fan

He was great last year too, so it shouldn't come as a surprise.

That kid will be good... Just not sure if it will be with the Oil...
- saskoil21

We'll see if he can do anything with the Barons. Pitlick and Moroz are both still ahead of him.

If we dont get any other bottom 6 fwds- I would not put alot of stock in Pitlick lasting more than the first 3-5 games of the season... TBH Khaira's 1% chance of making the team coincides with Pitlicks and him playing more than 25 games in the NHL... The kid is a bandaide... plain and simple...
- saskoil21

I liked Pitlicks game last year. And so did Eakins. If he can stay healthy I think he has a great shot at making the team this year.

Khaira has about a 1% chance of making this team next year if that...
- Iggysbff

I'm not sure I would want Lander or Klefbom to play on the Oilers at the beginning of next year, nevermind a guy who could barely get it done in the WHL. I think your odds might even be generous.

* Insert Khaira please....
* Klefbom is a bottom pairing
- saskoil21

Ideally klefbom is in the AHL and is our primary call up all season. It's just I don't really know who we can get in FA that makes sense

I liked Pitlicks game last year. And so did Eakins. If he can stay healthy I think he has a great shot at making the team this year.
- Iggysbff

He was strong in his first few games. After coming back from injury he seemed to play hesitant hopefully the injury was lingering rather than mentally playing different to avoid injury if that makes sense

I'm not sure I would want Lander or Klefbom to play on the Oilers at the beginning of next year, nevermind a guy who could barely get it done in the WHL. I think your odds might even be generous.
- Matt_Henderson

Well to be honest its do or die for Lander especially... He might only be a career AHLer at best... and for Klefbom he is only bottom 6/7 for at least another season so yes AHL would be best for him... I did not hear of Khaira barely being an WHLer- source??