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As Oilers and Kassian component methods, Ken Holland completely ready to undertake get now mentality

As Oilers and Kassian component methods, Ken Holland completely ready to undertake get now mentality

Keep in mind when the draft made use of to be about obtaining young players so your group could be great a single working day? 

Properly, last but not least, the Edmonton Oilers ARE very good. And now, the draft is about so considerably extra than slapping a ball cap on another refreshing-confronted youthful prospect. 

On the working day the Zack Kassian era ground to a close in Edmonton, a contemporary new rugged winger walked by that very same revolving door, as the Oilers welcomed massive Reid Schaefer. 

Out went the 6-foot-three, 211-pound, veteran appropriate winger to Arizona — most importantly, with his $6.4 million dollars owing in tow — and just after dropping down three slots in the draft, in came the 6-foot-three, 213-pound still left-winger Schaefer, a neighborhood kid who couldn’t wait to listen to the Oilers contact his title. 

“Born and raised in Spruce Grove,” the purple-headed Schaefer said. “When I heard my title, it was a aspiration appear genuine.” 

The Oilers also had to cough up a third-rounder in 2024 and a 2025 second-rounder to Arizona, the expense of dumping a fourth-line participant who was eating up $3.2 million for the subsequent two seasons. 

For some context, when the Toronto Maple Leafs dealt Patrick Marleau and the last yr of his $6.25 million contract to Carolina, they surrendered the 13th overall select in the draft, when swapping a seventh for a sixth-round decide on. 

On Friday, the Leafs traded goalie Petr Mrazek and his $7.6 million owing, to Chicago. They gave Chicago their 25th pick over-all, and took the 38th pick back again. The difference? Chicago requirements a goalie — they experienced none signed for the coming year. 

In the Kassian deal, Edmonton dropped just a few spots, acquired the player they ended up all set to select at 29th, and will component with two draft picks that are not in Spherical 1. Individuals picks are the cost of making an attempt to get now. 

“I really like Zack. He does a great deal of the major lifting for us,” explained GM Ken Holland. “But the pandemic hits and the cap’s obtaining tighter —  we experienced to … reduce some cap place, and give us an opportunity to do something over the future couple of times.” 

Holland signed Kassian to a 4-calendar year, $12.8 million offer just prior to the pandemic. Then the cap froze, the Oilers obtained more and more greater, and Kassian became an overpaid fourth-line player. There is a participant on most rosters who signed that summer time that is overpaid these days, in fairness. 

“In lifestyle, you make the decisions primarily based on the details you have at the time,” Holland stated. “And when the details alterations you have bought to roll with the punches. Following summer months, if the cap retains heading up $1 million a 12 months, it’ll be an individual else (trading a negative deal). I did not want to invest in out Zack, so in this article we are.” 

Schaefer is a huge, depth winger in the Tanner Pearson mould. Very good size, good shot and can skate. 

Who is aware of how a participant like this a single develops, or the place he’ll perform in the lineup just one day? 

Schaefer describes himself as “a huge, two-way ability ahead with that offensive upside. I can engage in up and down the lineup, play the off wing. I consider I’m really flexible.” 

He grew up with an Oilers sweater in his dresser, and always had a favourite participant he’d look at from the family him in Spruce Grove, a bed room neighborhood which lies just west of Edmonton. 

“There was Shawn Horcoff expanding up,” he stated of his favorite Oilers. “But nowadays, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are outta this planet.” 

His Seattle Thunderbirds missing to the Edmonton Oil Kings in the Western Hockey League remaining, which meant he was in city throughout the Oilers playoff run, viewing the Oilers recreation at a downtown Joey’s cafe. 

“The coaches would not let us go to the check out get-togethers. In all probability a superior choice,” chuckled Schaefer. 

With due respect to Schaefer, the most critical product of business on Holland’s plate this thirty day period is the acquisition of a commencing goaltender, and clearing up the crucial cap place demanded. 

Kassian’s $3.2 million can help a ton, and the extra time that passes the more it seems like defenceman Duncan Keith may perhaps indeed choose to retire. That would obvious one more $5.5 million. 

It is also turning out to be clear that Mike Smith is keen to obtain the closing yr of his deal on the Extended Time period Damage checklist. And with Stuart Skinner cemented as the Oilers No. 2 this coming period, that leaves Edmonton and Toronto in the current market for Darcy Kuemper or Jack Campbell. 

We suspect Toronto will target Kuemper ahead of Campbell, but the Oilers were being very hot following 32-year-old Kuemper when Arizona put him on the trading block final summer months. The Oilers misplaced out to the Colorado Avalanche then, but you have to question if he’ll acquire yet another run at the Stanley Cup winner? 

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