Do the Oilers Have the Next Brian Dumoulin Bubbling Under in Bakersfield?

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Oil on Whyte (Lynch)

Edmonton Oilers: All The Players Playing For A Contract This Next Season

…according to CapFriendly, the Edmonton Oilers are projected to have just 6.9 million dollars in cap space next offseason…
That is not a lot of space to work with, especially when we look at the list of players that need contracts…
- Kyle Turris (UFA),
- Josh Archibald(UFA)
- Jesse Puljujarvi (RFA)
- Ryan McLeod (RFA)
- Brendan Perlini (RFA)
- Kris Russell (UFA)
- William Lagesson (RFA)
- Mikko Koskinen (UFA)
- Alex Stalock (UFA)
McLeod probably won’t need more than a million and Puljujarvi might be able to ask for a bit more depending on how this season goes.
One would expect that a guy like Josh Archibald will probably be let go and probably also Kyle Turris.
Any type of deal this team makes this season will definitely have to be for players that can help them on expiring deals.
The Oilers do not have the cap space to take on more money for the next couple of years to come.

BLH’s Thoughts: If the Oilers are going to make some trades this year, expect them to move out salary that would normally be on their roster next season if they weren’t traded. That could be Devin Shore, Zack Kassian, Mike Smith, Slater Koekkoek, or Oscar Klefbom.

Koskinen, Russell, Stalock, and Turris won’t be coming back and I’m not sure William Lagesson gets qualified IF he’s with the club at the end of the season.

I would be willing to bet that Josh Archibald will be re-signed though. He’s a very important part of the team’s PK.

As for the RFAs, I think that the club will have an easier time with Jesse now that his agent and Connor McDavid’s agent are working under the same umbrella.

McLeod will be bridged on the cheap and Perlini is probably in the same boat as William Lagesson unless he comes in and proves himself to be a better option than Dylan Holloway and Devin Shore going forward.

Oilersnation (Lewis)

ON’s 2021 Prospects Countdown – No. 16: Philip Kemp

Position: Defence
Shoots: Right
Nationality: United States
Date of Birth: Feb. 12, 1999
Drafted: 2017, No. 208 overall (EDM)
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 203 lbs

Kemp doesn’t produce much offensively, but the value in his game comes from tight, steady defensive play. Quick, puck-moving defencemen have been in vogue in the NHL in recent years, but there’s certainly still room for a big, physical defender who can shut things down.

“He’ll never be a ‘wow’ player but he’s a big, rangy, competitive defenceman who is incredibly bright. Probably not top three, or in top-two pair but can he be uncomfortable for opponents in his zone, breaking up a play. And the puck going the other way, can he get that puck moving in an effective way? Yeah, I think Phil has developed his game to that point.

“He’s also grown up and played with really good players. What I worry about with players who haven’t done that is they think they’re better than they are and they’re not. And they don’t have any understanding what their role is playing with top-end players.

“That’s why Ben Lovejoy was a good player for the Pittsburgh Penguins. That’s why Brian Dumoulin has found his way to the NHL and been steady. That’s an important quality. Phil knows how to play with good players. He has really, really improved.” – Craig Button (TSN)

BLH’s Thoughts: With regards to the Oilers search for their next shutdown cycle-breaker, I like Kemp in this role more than I do Filip Berglund. I like his size and the fact that he can play with elite hockey players because I believe that to be a skill on its own. The fact that Kemp has worn a letter on his uniform and been part of leadership groups all throughout his playing career also intrigues me and it wouldn’t surprise me if he was wearing one in Bakersfield soon.

The Daily Goal Horn

Next summer the Predators have two key players that are heading for UFA status. Both Filip Forsberg and Mattias Ekholm will be able to cash in, but GM David Poile is trying to get them extended. According to published reports, conversations have started with Ekholm.

“I think shortly before training camp we’ll reach out to Filip Forsberg and [Mattias Ekholm] camp and sort of get a lay of the land as to where Filip’s thoughts are right now,” – Predators GM David Poile (NHL.com)

(Kirill) Kaprizov reportedly has a deal on the table with CSKA Moscow that would kick in September 1 if he can’t come to terms with Minnesota. According to Frank Seravalli, there’s been no offer made since April.

“I have talked to him a bit and hope it works out. I do not interfere in his contract talk, I just hear how it goes. We talk together as friends. But if it was up to me, I think it works. Once you make it to the NHL; even though the KHL is a good league, there is something special about the NHL.” – Mats Zuccarello via VG