After the deadline, we get our first look at the problems that will need to be solved during the offseason and the room available to make it happen. Edmonton has quite a bit of cap room, but have to sign defensemen Justin Schultz and Jeff Petry and save room for some big additions at 2C and 1D.
50-MAN LIST (MARCH 7)
- G Ben Scrivens
- G Viktor Fasth
- G Richard Bachman (rfa)
- G Tyler Bunz
- G Laurent Brossoit
- G Frans Tuohimaa
- D Jeff Petry (rfa)
- D Justin Schultz (rfa)
- D Martin Marincin
- D Andrew Ference
- D Phil Larsen (rfa)
- D Oscar Klefbom
- D Brandon Davidson
- D Martin Gernat
- D David Musil
- D Brad Hunt
- D Darnell Nurse (sliderule)
- C Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
- C Sam Gagner
- C Boyd Gordon
- C Anton Lander (rfa)
- C Will Acton
- C Travis Ewanyk
- C Jujhar Khaira
- L Taylor Hall
- L David Perron
- L Matt Hendricks
- L Luke Gazdic (rfa)
- L Jesse Joensuu
- L Roman Horak (rfa)
- L Ryan Hamilton
- L Curtis Hamilton (rfa)
- L Kale Kessy
- L Mitchell Moroz
- R Jordan Eberle
- R Nail Yakupov
- R Tyler Pitlick (rfa)
- R Andrew Miller (rfa)
I have excluded Mark Arcobello (who is listed on capgeek) because he’ll be UFA this summer. There’s also a chance they walk a couple of rfa’s (Curtis Hamilton, Andrew Miller) and trade away some of the current group. Current UFA’s Mark Arcobello, Mark Fraser, Ryan Smyth, Anton Belov, Ryan Jones, Denis Grebeshkov and Ben Eager may or may not return. Current sliderule contracts for Jujhar Khaira and Mitch Moroz graduate and will count.
POSSIBLE ADDITIONS
- D Aaron Ekblad: If the Oilers pick him, I believe he’ll be in the NHL. It may push Darnell Nurse back another year.
- C Marco Roy: He is eligible to sign, but may return to junior. Roy’s season has been filled with injuries ala Marc Pouliot.
- C Bogdan Yakimov: MacT loves the guy, he might come out of the Russian wilderness this fall.
- D Ben Betker: He’s big and mobile, Oilers love him I can tell.
- D Erik Gustafsson: The Swede has enjoyed a good season, suspect they’ll sign him. The one item to remember is he was drafted before MacT arrived as GM.
- D Joey Laleggia: He has one more year of eligibility if it comes to that, Edmonton has a lot of pro blue.
- R John McCarron: I’d bet money they sign the big forward.
- D Dillon Simpson: I spoke to Guy Flaming (who spoke to Simpson on-air) and he got the feeling that the young man plans to sign with Edmonton.
- F Kellen Jones: I don’t think he signs with Edmonton.
My guess? Ekblad, Yakimov, Gustafsson, McCarron and Simpson all turn pro as Oilers this fall.