A star player for the Oilers has extended his contract. Thanks to outstanding talent on affordable contracts, the Edmonton Oilers have their best chance of winning a Stanley Cup this upcoming season.
A star player for the Oilers has extended his contract. The Edmonton Oilers, who have a squad full of outstanding players on affordable contracts, are ready to contend for the Stanley Cup this upcoming season. This window of opportunity is critical because, once important players receive their contract increases, it will become much harder to sustain a competitive club.
According to a piece by The Athletic’s Dom Luszczyszyn, the Oilers are the second-best NHL team in terms of contract efficiency for 2024. Stated differently, the Oilers have certain players on their roster that are paid less than they are thought to be worth. First in line are the Florida Panthers.
A star player for the Oilers has extended his contract. The Oilers’ roster currently has $32 million more value than their cap hits, as Luszczyszyn notes. Thanks to a core that included Evan Bouchard, Zach Hyman, Leon Draisaitl, and Connor McDavid, who together only cost $30.4 million, they rank even higher than the Panthers the following season. This adds out to an astounding $26 million in annual excess from just these four athletes.
A star player for the Oilers has extended his contract. The Oilers’ Lucrative Contract Situation Won’t Continue Indefinitely
Nevertheless, this favorable circumstance is fleeting. Bouchard, Draisaitl, and McDavid’s contracts are about to expire. Both Draisaitl and McDavid are awaiting UFA status, and Draisaitl’s contract will expire following the 2024–2025 season. His pay will increase from $8.5 million to almost $13 million, with McDavid, Bouchard, and Stuart Skinner receiving larger hikes after him.
Thus, it is imperative that the Oilers use this season to take advantage of their current financial flexibility and mount a genuine Stanley Cup challenge.
A star player for the Oilers has extended his contract. Not All Excellent Contracts
Darnell Nurse’s expensive contract—which is regarded as one of the worst in the league—complicates the situation, and the $12.4 million in dead money sticks out like a sore thumb. These contracts aren’t going away this season, and if they persist for future seasons, the team’s salary cap predicament becomes more complicated.
A star player for the Oilers has extended his contract. The Oilers need to take advantage of this chance immediately. It will be more harder to assemble a strong supporting group around McDavid, Draisaitl, and Bouchard if their increases are secured. The Oilers have their best opportunity to date to build on their current personnel advantages and return to Edmonton with a Stanley Cup this season.
