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Oilers make key decision with Evan Bouchard contract after threat of offer sheet surfaces
Photo credit: USA Today Sports
The Edmonton Oilers are tight against the salary cap this offseason and need to pay a major raise to Evan Bouchard before an offer sheet comes - so a bridge deal may be in the works.
Connor McDavid is also in need of a contract extension this offseason, and he specifically mentioned Evan Bouchard as a key piece the team needs to re-sign. The Oilers will listen to the captain, and sign Bouchard.
Oilers working hard to sign Evan Bouchard, possibly to bridge contract
According to new reports from NHL insider Pierre LeBrun, the Oilers are concerned about other teams speaking to Bouchard after July 1st, and are in discussions on a shorter term deal to save on his annual value.
The Edmonton Oilers are tight against the cap but hope to sign Bouchard before next week, when other teams can reach out to the restricted free agent. I think all options are on the table as far as different types of contracts, but I believe what may end up making the most sense is something around the four-year range.
A four-year deal would give Bouchard, 25, a healthy raise and allow him to have his next negotiation at 29, when he's still at the peak of his career and the salary cap will have skyrocketed. A four-year deal also would not cripple Edmonton on the cap compared to what the AAV would look on an eight-year deal.
- Pierre LeBrun
A four-year deal would give Bouchard, 25, a healthy raise and allow him to have his next negotiation at 29, when he's still at the peak of his career and the salary cap will have skyrocketed. A four-year deal also would not cripple Edmonton on the cap compared to what the AAV would look on an eight-year deal.
- Pierre LeBrun
While LeBrun does note the possibility of an offer sheet, Evan Bouchard also actually has to sign the deal with another team - and there's no indication he wants to leave Edmonton.
The Oilers will be able to open up some salary cap space this offseason, and have no reason not to sign Bouchard to a long term contract. He's eligible for arbitration on a 1 year contract that would likely pay him $10M.
According to other insider reports, Bouchard isn't seeking much more than $10M on a long term contract. With the salary cap rising past $110M in the next few years, Bouchard will be easily worth at least $11M. Signing him long-term has the potential for this contract to age even better over time.
That said, it won't be easy with the Oilers cap crunch this offseason.
Hopefully the Oilers don't panic with Bouchard's deal, and are able to get him locked up long term now. His price will only be increasing if the decide to bridge him another 4 years.
| POLL | ||
JUIN 25 | 1205 ANSWERS Oilers make key decision with Evan Bouchard contract after threat of offer sheet surfaces Do you think the Oilers will give Bouchard another bridge contract? | ||
| Yes | 789 | 65.5 % |
| No | 416 | 34.5 % |
| List of polls | ||
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