Oilers GM Stan Bowman declares major change at 2 positions: Who will be shipped out?
Photo credit: Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers have been right on the cusp of a Stanley Cup for two seasons, but GM Stan Bowman's comments indicate major changes are coming to get them over the hump.
Connor McDavid seems to be backing the plan for significant overhaul in pursuit of the Cup. According to Elliotte Friedman, McDavid is pressuring the front office to go all-in every year.
GM Stan Bowman says goaltending and forwards will be deeply evaluated this offseason
At today's end of season media availability, GM Stan Bowman assured there will be a significant overhaul to the roster this offseason, mostly coming at forward and in net.
This will be Bowman's first full offseason as General Manager, and he'll be looking to out his stamp on the roster. The defence is basically set to return entirely, but the rest of the team will see major change.
The Oilers have a slew of expiring free agents, and on top of that, could reportedly ask Evander Kane and Viktor Arvidsson to waive their trade protections. Of course, they need a goalie too.
One area that Bowman identified as a necessary change was an injection of youth into the roster. Corey Perry had a great year, but it's frankly an embarrassment that a 40 year old was the Oilers best winger in the Cup Final.
Who Stays and who goes this offseason for the Oilers?
The Oilers have 7 players on expiring contracts: Corey Perry, Jeff Skinner, Connor Brown, Kasperi Kapanen, Trent Frederic, John Klingberg, and Evan Bouchard.
Kapanen, Frederic, and Bouchard all meet the Oilers priority of getting younger, and should be retained. Corey Perry could return in a lesser role, which leaves Skinner, Brown, and Klingberg on the outside.
The Oilers will go through a bit of a cap crunch while paying a significant raise to Bouchard, but trading Kane and Arvidsson will free up space for the Oilers to pursue free agents - and an upgrade in net.
While up against the cap, the Oilers need to turn to the kids to provide some value on the roster. Matthew Savoie is a near lock to make the roster next year, David Tomasek will be a bottom six option, Noah Philp and Sam O'Reilly could contend for a spot too.
Assuming the obvious moves and subtractions, next year's roster currently looks something like this:
Nuge - McDavid - Hyman
Podkolzin - Draisaitl - Savoie
Henrique - Frederic - Perry
Janmark - Tomasek - Jones
Podkolzin - Draisaitl - Savoie
Henrique - Frederic - Perry
Janmark - Tomasek - Jones
An upgrade to Draisaitl's left wing would once again be nice, as well as one on Max Jones on the 4th line. Perry should not be relied on to play such a big role again in his age 41 season, either. Some tough decisions will need to be made up front.
In goal, it's obvious now to everyone that a true upgrade is needed. There can't be uncertainty about the starting goalie in an elimination game of the Cup Final. Finally, there will be a new goalie added in Edmonton this year - maybe even two.
| POLL | ||
JUIN 20 | 1020 ANSWERS Oilers GM Stan Bowman declares major change at 2 positions: Who will be shipped out? Do you think the Oilers will acquire another star forward this offseason? | ||
| Yes | 715 | 70.1 % |
| No | 305 | 29.9 % |
| List of polls | ||
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