The Edmonton Oilers are anticipated to be one of many NHL’s finest groups this season. In truth, within the eyes of many, together with a number of sports activities betting websites, they’re thought-about the favorite to win the Stanley Cup. That could be very thrilling for the group, although, like all groups, they’ve their warts.
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The Oilers are over the wage cap and nonetheless need to re-sign Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway. With restricted cap house, their blue line is missing in comparison with their stacked ahead group, and the most important purpose for his or her restricted funds is these 5 contracts.
Josh Brown
$1 million
Whereas the Oilers have had an excellent offseason thus far, one transfer that brought about many to scratch their heads was the three-year, $3 million contract given to defenceman Josh Brown. The 30-year-old has primarily been the seventh defenceman on any staff he’s performed for and averaged lower than quarter-hour of ice time within the 51 video games he performed in for the Arizona Coyotes final season.
Brown is among the worst defensemen within the NHL when it comes to analytics. He provides little offence and isn’t the best defender, both. He’ll add some toughness, although, and, who is aware of, perhaps he’ll impress in Oilers colors. Presently, nonetheless, the contract isn’t an amazing one.
Corey Perry
$1.15 million
Corey Perry has had an impressive NHL profession and will even garner some Corridor of Fame dialogue when he retires. That mentioned, it was clear final season, notably in the course of the playoffs, that the 39-year-old has misplaced a step or two. He was even pressured to look at some playoff video games from the press field.
Most believed the Oilers would transfer on from Perry this offseason. When it was introduced that he was returning, everybody assumed it might be a league-minimum deal or very near it. As a substitute, the Oilers provided him $1.15 million, which, whereas nonetheless not rather a lot, is greater than many really feel he deserves.
Evander Kane
$5.125 million
The previous two seasons haven’t been type to Evander Kane. He has struggled to remain wholesome, although, to his credit score, he’s usually performed by way of accidents to attempt to assist his staff in any approach attainable. That has, nonetheless, made him rather a lot much less efficient, notably when it comes to his greatest power – goal-scoring.
Now 32, the accidents which have hampered Kane’s profession have gotten a priority. There was some discuss that he would possibly start the season on long-term injured reserve, which might already put him behind the eight ball. There are far worse contracts within the league, however this one definitely hasn’t gone the way in which the Oilers entrance workplace had hoped.
Cody Ceci
$3.25 million
Many Oilers followers didn’t like Cody Ceci’s contract from the get-go, however that group expanded significantly in the course of the 2023-24 season, notably within the playoffs. The 30-year-old is a succesful third-pairing defenceman however has usually been pressured right into a top-four position on the Oilers, the place his weaknesses are sometimes uncovered.
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The Oilers will surely wish to get his contract off the books, although there are a couple of points right here. One is that groups know the Oilers are determined and will require additional compensation to commerce for him. The opposite is that it has been reported a number of instances that he’s beloved within the room, and delivery him out may damage staff chemistry.
Darnell Nurse
$9.25 million
To the shock of nobody, Darnell Nurse is on the high of this checklist. The 29-year-old not solely makes far an excessive amount of cash however can also be on the books for six extra seasons with a $9.25 million cap hit. Each the cash and time period make it considered one of the worst contracts within the NHL.
Nurse catches a ton of warmth in Edmonton due to his contract, which is unlucky since he’s a stable defenceman. He could be a top-four blueliner on any NHL staff, and if his cap hit was between $6-$7 million, he would garner a lot extra reward than criticism. That’s not the case, nonetheless, and it lands him on the high of the checklist.
Oilers Have Labored Round Tough Contracts
For a lot of groups, Nurse’s contract would destroy their window as a Stanley Cup contender. That hasn’t been the case for the Oilers, who’ve managed to be one of many NHL’s finest since he signed his monster deal. It may grow to be an even bigger drawback as soon as (or if) Leon Draisaitl, Connor McDavid, and Evan Bouchard signal their extensions, however at this level, it hasn’t damage them as a lot because it may need.
