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Free Agency Begins - Kane, Kulak, Campbell, and more |
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It's going to be a fun day everyone!
Things started off late last night as Evander Kane announced that he would be staying with the Oilers on a four year deal with an annual AAV of 5.125 million. My biggest concerns with signing Kane were that the team was going to commit too long on too expensive a deal in order to keep the scoring winger; in my opinion they did not do either. In a perfect world a 3 year deal would have been preferred but the fact that the actual cap hit is kept close to 5 million is a nice bit of work.
In 43 games last season with the Edmonton Oilers, Kane put up 22 goals and 39 points. In the post-season he kept up his torrid pace with 13 goals in 15 games. Kane is not much of a playmaker or a passer but he is perfect volume shooter for Connor McDavid. The Oilers need to be in win now mode and Kane is a player who can help accomplish that. The biggest concern now is whether his off-ice antics once again start to rear their ugly head.
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Soon we should be hearing about a Jack Campbell signing, likely a five year deal at 5 million. Campbell is a decent bet for the Oilers as long as he can stay healthy and should at the very least provide the Oilers with steady goaltending around 0.914%.
With those two signings and factoring in the Klefbom and Smith LTIR situations, the Oilers have roughly 11 million to sign their RFA players and bring in a left shot defenseman to replace Kulak. It may even be Kulak who circles back to the Oilers if he doesn't like what he sees in free agency.
I'll update here as the day goes on!
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Couple fun things to report before I had out for a few hours.
First off apparently Edmonton did discuss Patrick Kane with the Blackhawks but at this time the Hawks are not interested in moving Kane. No clue what a Kane trade would even look like but it is telling that Holland is looking to add more top six help even after signing Evander.
Secondly it appears that a Connor Brown trade to Edmonton is looming. The return? Warren Foegle, Jesse Pulujarvi, or Tyson Barrie is my guess. We will see.
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BRETT KULAK SIGNS
The biggest concern I had going into free agency was what the Oilers were going to do if Brett Kulak walked away from the team. Luckily we do not need to worry about that as Kulak has signed a highly team friendly deal at 4x2.75 million. Kulak was on many nights during the post-season the Oilers most steady left shot defender, playing a smart simple game. Looking around the NHL at guys like Gudbranson and Chiarot getting 4+ million on long term deals this was an absolute homerun by Ken Holland.
JACK CAMPBELL SIGNS
Jack Campbell coming to Edmonton has not been a secret for the last few days but now the contract is official as the former Toronto netminder signs a 5 year deal worth 5 million a season. Campbell is coming off a 0.914SV% season with 49 games played. Campbell has put up steady numbers throughout his career but it's only been in the past season that he has been given the reigns as a true starter. Edmonton is hoping he will continue his trajectory and provide solid netminding for the team.
CALVIN PICKARD SIGNED
One more need the Oilers had is a third string goalie to play in the AHL and if necessary be a callup as a backup. A few names such as Tokarski and Stalock were signed and Edmonton went in a similar route in 30 year old Calvin Pickard. Pickard posted a 0.875SV% in 3 games for the Red Wings last season and a 0.918SV% for the AHL Grand Rapids Griffens in 43 games.
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While Campbell is the only "new" name that has joined the team, the Oilers have massively succeeded in Free Agency so far by keeping some of their key players from their last playoff run in Kane and Kulak and signing them to team friendly deals which still allow them to make more additions.
In his post Day 1 presser, Holland alluded to the fact that he was not yet done and Connor Brown's name remains out there as a viable option. For now the Oilers have avoided to shoot themselves in the foot and still have options for improving further.
Edmonton Oilers Blogger • 
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