The Edmonton Oilers got here inside a aim of the Stanley Cup again in June. Over the summer time, they sought to bolster their scoring depth to higher their possibilities within the postseason. The Oilers signed Jeff Skinner and Viktor Arvidsson as a part of their NHL Free Company haul. On the time, the strikes appeared like sensible signings.
The strikes themselves haven’t offered the very best outcomes on the ice. And but, the Oilers are in fine condition as a workforce. Edmonton is tied on factors with the Los Angeles Kings for second within the Pacific Division. At this fee, they’re staring down the barrel of a fourth straight assembly with the Kings in spherical one of many Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Edmonton is definitely trying to make some upgrades earlier than the 2025 NHL Commerce Deadline. As an example, they may stand so as to add some scoring depth. And a brand new physique on the blueline could not damage, both. The issue is Edmonton has little in the way in which of cap area. They’re projected to have a bit greater than $1 million to work with on deadline day, in response to PuckPedia.
Edmonton goes to should get a bit inventive with a purpose to make the strikes they wish to make. This consists of buying and selling a veteran participant off their roster in a cap dump. The Oilers have a major candidate to commerce because the 2025 NHL Commerce Deadline attracts nearer.
Jeff Skinner has not panned out for Oilers
Jeff Skinner got here to the Oilers with some hype round him. The veteran winger couldn’t stay as much as his 82-point 2022-23 marketing campaign. Nevertheless, he nonetheless offered stable offensive numbers. On a one-year contract, it appeared as if Edmonton was getting a little bit of a steal.
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40 video games later and any hype round him has died within the wind. Skinner has scored seven objectives and 15 factors throughout his Edmonton tenure. This locations him on observe for 14 objectives and 31 factors for the 2024-25 season. These totals are worse than his offensive output for the Buffalo Sabres in 2023-24.
Suffice it to say it has not labored out in Edmonton. In reality, he was even benched by the Oilers on December 29 due to his lack of offensive manufacturing. The veteran winger is a free agent on the finish of this season, however his worth has possible plummeted.
The Oilers ought to do what they will to commerce Skinner earlier than the NHL Commerce Deadline on March seventh. For Edmonton, this isn’t concerning the return. They want added cap flexibility to allow them to bolster the roster in different methods.
Buying and selling Skinner in a “hockey commerce” might be the way in which to go. If the Oilers goal a commerce candidate on a rebuilding workforce, they may embrace the veteran winger within the deal. His $3 million cap hit may assist offset a sizeable wage heading again to the Oilers. A promoting workforce could hesitate so as to add him to the lineup. Nevertheless, his cap hit may work to avoid wasting them a precious wage retention slot.
Skinner might be traded to a different workforce with a draft decide. It is a route Edmonton could hesitate to go down. They’re more likely to commerce draft capital so as to add to their roster. Transferring extra draft picks simply to shed wage might not be essentially the most desired transfer.
Skinner may rebuild his worth with a rebuilding workforce forward of NHL Free Company this summer time. The Oilers may add a wanted piece as they contend for a Stanley Cup. All in all, transferring the veteran winger could show helpful to either side in the long term.