Comedy gold out of Edmonton

[forty_three]

The only bad thing about this signing is that it sets a bar for other teams trying to sing UFA defensemen (like Mike Stone and the Flames).

And it increases the trade value for veteran defensemen who are making less than that

 

[dash]

 

[dash]

I think they (Oilers media and fans) are sick and tired of being told the obvious truth - They have been gifted the best player since Crosby and it's not due to any master plan or fantastic trades by Oilers GMs over the past decade. I think they are truly looking for validation and there's none forthcoming.

/That said, getting Cam Talbot was a big step in the right direction, although they had Devan Dubnyk and almost ruined him.

Now in a fancy table...

 

[dash]

That would be leaving 2 million per season on the table with a $75 million salary cap.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

 

[dash]

He's a fantastic player, no doubt. Wonder how much that leaves for Dr. Drai?

 

[dash]

When all is said and done, the Oilers will be paying close to 55 shmill for 4 forwards (McDavid, Draisaitl, Lucic, RNH), 4 defensemen (Sekera, Klefbom, Larsson, Russell) and their starting goalie (Talbot). That's not a lot of money left to fill out the rest of your roster.

/In other words, they'd better start drafting well.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

When all is said and done, the Oilers will be paying close to 55 shmill for 4 forwards (McDavid, Draisaitl, Lucic, RNH), 4 defensemen (Sekera, Klefbom, Larsson, Russell) and their starting goalie (Talbot). That's not a lot of money left to fill out the rest of your roster.

/In other words, they'd better start drafting well.

Also Nurse is RFA next summer and if he stays healthy and breaks out that's another $4-5 shmill. Pat Marooon's probably a goner.

Oh, and that Cam Talbot guy is a UFA after 2018-19 too.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

I think these are by and large "good problems" to have but it may one day be hard to explain why they had to trade Draisaitl because they're paying Russell, Sekera and RNH a combined $16 million.

 

[dash]

I think these are by and large "good problems" to have but it may one day be hard to explain why they had to trade Draisaitl because they're paying Russell, Sekera and RNH a combined $16 million.

I just find it funny that a bunch of Oilers fans thought McJesus would be signing a contract under $10 million per season (9.7 to match his number was the general thought) and now twitter is on fire with him being greedy and not a team player.

 

[jstewismybastardson]

I think these are by and large "good problems" to have but it may one day be hard to explain why they had to trade Draisaitl because they're paying Russell, Sekera, Lucic and RNH a combined $22 million.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

I just find it funny that a bunch of Oilers fans thought McJesus would be signing a contract under $10 million per season (9.7 to match his number was the general thought) and now twitter is on fire with him being greedy and not a team player.

Oh is that happening?

Well, that's dumb.

/He probably would've signed for under $10 mil if he played literally anywhere else lol

 

[dash]

It will be interesting to see how this McDavid contract is structured once it is finally signed (bonus money versus actual dollars per year) because you gotta know we're headed for another lockout once the current CBA expires.

 

[dash]

Only one flaw with your premise, Elliotte - Draisaitl had a breakout season last year, but he's no Malkin.

Since Oilers fans are hoping Draisaitl-McDavid mimics Crosby-Malkin, let’s compare percentages. The first year both played under their second contracts was 2009-10. They combined for almost 31 per cent of the cap. Let’s say Draisaitl signs for $10 million. If the cap didn’t move at all for 2018-19 — stayed totally flat at $75 million — he and McDavid would be exactly there, at 31 per cent.

The first season both played under their third contracts was 2014-15. They totalled 26.4 per cent, even though Malkin got a raise from $8.7 million to $9.5 million. The cap had gone up, providing more flexibility.

Crosby and Malkin will combine for a little over 24 per cent of Pittsburgh’s cap for 2017-18. More importantly, it was 25 per cent in 2015-16 and just below that figure this past season. You may remember the Penguins won Stanley Cups in both those years.

You can win with two huge deals. I will bet on McDavid and Draisaitl being the right players. Growth is the key. If the cap rises, Edmonton rises with it.

http://SportsHoopla.com/y8yy8yqz

 

[forty_three]

Next year's candidate to have a resurgent season:

 

[puckhead]

That's it, whine about having the best player in the game fall in your lap.
Chances with him: slim because you can't build around him
Chances without him: see past 9 years.


Connor McDavid harming Oilers chances of winning with massive new contract, critics say

 

[dash]

That's it, whine about having the best player in the game fall in your lap.
Chances with him: slim because you can't build around him
Chances without him: see past 9 years.


Connor McDavid harming Oilers chances of winning with massive new contract, critics say

I thought to myself this has to be another Staples article before clicking on the link - and I was right.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

That's it, whine about having the best player in the game fall in your lap.
Chances with him: slim because you can't build around him
Chances without him: see past 9 years.


Connor McDavid harming Oilers chances of winning with massive new contract, critics say

#1: The amount of money he makes will always trump how many Cups he's won. Cups are nice. Money is much nicer.

#2: Stamkos didn't "settle for $8.5 million". That amount in the jurisdiction his team is located in is equivalent to $10-12 million in other markets. He is not taking a "hometown discount", because 99% of players don't take hometown discounts.

#3: The Pens didn't miss out on Cups from 10-15 because of Crosby and Malkin's salaries. They missed out on Cups because their goalie was shit, their defence was average at best, their coach was a moron and Crosby's brains kept getting mashed in.

And of course, the easiest way for this dumb issue to be a non-issue would be for the prick owners to give up the cap. Institute a luxury tax, allow a "franchise tag", give incentives for guys to stay with the team they signed their current teams rather than explore free agency. That will all work so much better than a hard cap.

 

[dash]

Still waiting for that Draisaitl offer sheet - Pretty sure the Oilers will match, but that's going to make it tough on them moving forward.

 

[dash]

James Foster‏ @YKJFosterYYC
So the OIlers are Chicago... except that they decided to skip the Stanley Cups and proceed straight to cap hell.