I don't see Sam signing an offer sheet for 5 from another team. It would have to be significantly more. With his GF being a local doctor he has roots in Edmonton. He would sign for 4.5-4.75 to stay rather than go elsewhere for a little extra.
- Iggysbff

Plus the fact that we get like two first of something, and if the team sucks

4. Weber? Ummm...No
I got bored and went to CapGeek. I must be reading this wrong, because what I'm seeing makes absolutely no sense. So the Preds owe Shea Weber over the next six seasons $68mil in signing bonus and $80mil in contract? $148mil over the next six years? That's ridiculous. The entire franchise isn't worth that much. They wouldn't be able to deal him even if they wanted to. Sick jerks who signed him to that deal. No wonder there was a lockout.
- Maxbone

maybe this was already explained... but no, they don't.

The $14M per year in salary INCLUDES the $13M in signing bonus each year. He gets $13M lump payment each year, plus $1M salary spread out over the season.

Total deal was 14 yrs/$110M, hence $7.85M cap hit.

Truth be told I'd rather keep Horcoff over any of those....
- Iggysbff

Zubrus or Cullen are the best bets imo. Antropov also makes a lot of sense for his ability to play C and then switch back to wing when Nuge gets back. All for the right price of course.

I'm not going to act like those guys are more talented than Horcoff, but since the economic situation seems to already have been made...

maybe this was already explained... but no, they don't.

The $14M per year in salary INCLUDES the $13M in signing bonus each year. He gets $13M lump payment each year, plus $1M salary spread out over the season.

Total deal was 14 yrs/$110M, hence $7.85M cap hit.
- Big_Lightnin

Ya Clouts isn't smart enough to figure that out.

Maybe he'll suggest the Preds buy him out. I mean if Weber retires early the Preds would get hit with cap recapture penalties in the future. So they should buy him out to avoid the risk....

Then the Oil would surely get him for cheap....

I recall a couple years ago when MAcT was on TSN "the quiz" and they had a question about Bozak. MacT said he is a solid 3C with the ability to fill in at 2C temporarily. So unless his opinion has changed I don't see him offering Bozak any stupid contract. 3 mill per max.
- Iggysbff

fair points, though, that was Bozak's rookie season. he wasn't playing 1 C at the time.

2 years at 1C (albeit by default) may have changed that.

Zubrus or Cullen are the best bets imo. Antropov also makes a lot of sense for his ability to play C and then switch back to wing when Nuge gets back. All for the right price of course.

I'm not going to act like those guys are more talented than Horcoff, but since the economic situation seems to already have been made...
- Morris

It would be minimal savings on the cap. But in real dollars wouldn't be any or much savings. We'd be paying Horcoff roughly 1.17 Mill for the next 4 years.

If you bring in Zubrus (who I cant stand for some reason) for 3 mill. the Oilers are only saving 330 K in real dollars for this season. Is that really worth it?

It would be minimal savings on the cap. But in real dollars wouldn't be any or much savings. We'd be paying Horcoff roughly 1.17 Mill for the next 4 years.

If you bring in Zubrus (who I cant stand for some reason) for 3 mill. the Oilers are only saving 330 K in real dollars for this season. Is that really worth it?
- Iggysbff

I suppose I was talking moreso of MacT's working figures than Katz's (ie. cap and not salary). And I would say having an extra 2.5 per over the next two years could do some great things for us. In terms of cap, would you rather Zubrus and Pascal Dupuis for 2 years or Horcoff?

The more delicate situation is that if all things are equal between Horcoff and some other successful 3rd line centre, the tie seems to go to the new guy. If we take MacT on his word, Horcoff is a little burnt out and both parties would rather fresh blood than another year as is.

I raised the exact same issue yesterday. It's a real eye opener and shows how much there is to do. I'm stuck on PRV playing on either the second or third line.

But lets hypothetically say we get the following players to fix the gaps here. I could see it look something like this:

Hall RNH Yakupov
- RNH won't be leaving anytime soon. Note that Yak & Ebs can be swapped.

Bickell Gagner Eberle
- I feel Bickell would be good for this line. It's likely that he wouldn't perform as well if he was on a line with a bunch of grinders. He would obviously also bring size to this line.

MPS Couturier/Steckle Horton
- This is where things get complicated. I have to wonder if Horton would be able to perform on this line. As far as Couturier goes, it's unlikely that we get him but we'll just have to see. Knowing MacT, anything can happen. Steckel is huge and can win faceoffs. But I would question his presence on the third line.

Smyth Lander Brown
- This is a disaster waiting to happen. But honestly, what choice do we have? I don't really want Smyth back this year. But that's just my opinion. If anyone has ideas with what to do with the fourth line please share.

Once again, please note this is all hypothetical.
- mbxiphos1527

I suppose I was talking moreso of MacT's working figures than Katz's (ie. cap and not salary). And I would say having an extra 2.5 per over the next two years could do some great things for us. In terms of cap, would you rather Zubrus and Pascal Dupuis for 2 years or Horcoff?

The more delicate situation is that if all things are equal between Horcoff and some other successful 3rd line centre, the tie seems to go to the new guy. If we take MacT on his word, Horcoff is a little burnt out and both parties would rather fresh blood than another year as is.
- Morris

If we are talking about taking 2.5 Mill cap space out of the 3C spot and using it better elsewhere than I'm all for it. That means any talk of signing Bozo for 3 C should be squashed. Anything over 3 Mill for a 3 C is wasted IMO.

Maybe Marc Staal. At least the Oilers wouldn't need to give up a kidney to get him

yes they would

I suppose I was talking moreso of MacT's working figures than Katz's (ie. cap and not salary). And I would say having an extra 2.5 per over the next two years could do some great things for us. In terms of cap, would you rather Zubrus and Pascal Dupuis for 2 years or Horcoff?

The more delicate situation is that if all things are equal between Horcoff and some other successful 3rd line centre, the tie seems to go to the new guy. If we take MacT on his word, Horcoff is a little burnt out and both parties would rather fresh blood than another year as is.
- Morris

I feel like we need to stay away from players that are 32 and older. The majority of them slow down at that age. That's why I don't think we should invest in a player like Mark Streit or even keep Ryan Smyth for that matter. I like the idea of Dupuis. He's one of the players that haven't slowed down tremendously yet, and he could play the second or third line easily (depending where they put PRV). And of coarse, if we're unable to sign Bickell (which is very likely).

well i read it... and can say percentage of the blog worth reading is 0%
- Rockhead_37

Yes, the Oilers don't have to trade good pieces for a good player. But, this is usually the case when a player demands a trade to a certain team or teams. I don't see any player placing the Oilers on his list, so the Oilers would have to give in order to get.
- RedwingsAreKHL

Try drinking a bottle of windex before you lick any more windows.

Hartikainen = J.F. Jaques

Dominates at the AHL but can't put it together in the NHL.
- oooilersss

Exactly... we need better players not fringe NHL players.

I feel like we need to stay away from players that are 32 and older. The majority of them slow down at that age. That's why I don't think we should invest in a player like Mark Streit or even keep Ryan Smyth for that matter. I like the idea of Dupuis. He's one of the players that haven't slowed down tremendously yet, and he could play the second or third line easily (depending where they put PRV). And of coarse, if we're unable to sign Bickell (which is very likely).
- mbxiphos1527

I feel like we can get a pretty impactful two years out of a lot of guys. Ideal if a guy is a 28 year old proven winner who can lead, but there's not a lot of those guys around.

Exactly... we need better players not fringe NHL players.
- Reveen

Agreed, I think his was a position that was going to be upgraded this off-season anyways.

I feel like we can get a pretty impactful two years out of a lot of guys. Ideal if a guy is a 28 year old proven winner who can lead, but there's not a lot of those guys around.
- Morris

True enough. But when those two years are up then we have to replace them again. That was the problem with bringing back Smyth I find.

Agreed, I think his was a position that was going to be upgraded this off-season anyways.
- Morris

He's not a big loss

Agreed, I think his was a position that was going to be upgraded this off-season anyways.
- Morris

Sign Nathan Horton to play second line LW and trade for Sean Couturier to play third line center.

Sign Nathan Horton to play second line LW and trade for Sean Couturier to play third line center.
- Reveen

If that could be pulled off, the new arena would have a MacT statue in front

Sign Nathan Horton to play second line LW and trade for Sean Couturier to play third line center.
- Reveen

one can dream bro!!

and trade for mcdonagh and sign scuderi...

Sign Nathan Horton to play second line LW and trade for Sean Couturier to play third line center.
- Reveen

That would be the ideal outcome. But the two questions are can we sign Horton as well as convince him to come here, and what is the asking price for Couturier?

That would be the ideal outcome. But the two questions are can we sign Horton as well as convince him to come here, and what is the asking price for Couturier?
- mbxiphos1527

Horton is looking at least 5 to come here. maybe even close to 6. its a longshot we get him.

couturier probably wouldn't be traded from how much I hear they love him in philly

That would be the ideal outcome. But the two questions are can we sign Horton as well as convince him to come here, and what is the asking price for Couturier?
- mbxiphos1527

Give Horton 5 million x 5 years
Use the 7th OA as trade bait to acquire Couturier

You guys are forgetting about Tim Connolly being UFA. theres your guy................Scrivens for Linus needs to happen.