Oilers off season round up

The Oilers finished last season as the #2 team in the league, behind only their division rival the Vancouver Canucks. After winning their first playoff series in years, the Oilers bowed out to that same Vancouver Canucks team. During the offseason, GM Braithwaite had to figure out a way to give his team the edge over their division rivals. That involved retaining key RFA's, making a couple trades, and filling some holes with...UFA's(get your mind outta the gutter).

First trade saw Edmonton ship out Vezina winner Sergei Bobrovsky for Claude Giroux, as Hellebuyck seems ready to take the role of starter next year, and Giroux adds some offensive punch on the forward group.

Second trade saw Jack Eichel get moved for Alexander Barkov. Both are young, elite #1 centers, but Barkov fit the 2-way bill of the team a it better.

Next up was the draft, Edmonton had the 6th overall pick from a trade with New Jersey a couple years ago, and the elected to select Noah Dobson, the 2-way defender from the QMJHL. they also selected Ty Smith, and Nicolas Beaudin in the first round, creating a great group of defensive prospects. Edmonton also selected defenceman Adam Ginning, center David Gustafsson, Center Ben Jones, Left Wing Maxim Mamin, and Goalies Joel Hofer and Ivan Prosvetov, as well as adding Ian Scott and Zach MacEwan through trade.

Edmonton also signed all their key NHL RFA's to long term deals. these deals were.

Alexander Barkov - 7.85x4

Johnny Gaudreau - 6.85x4

Rasmus Ristolainen - 5.65x4

As well as retaining some young talent for their farm team. Edmonton is extremely happy to have retained these players long term.

UFA period was relatively quiet for the Oilers. with the top 9 being full, and the top 6 defenceman being set in the NHL. But one glaring hole stood out, the backup goaltender position.

The Oilers were reportedly in on Halak, Miller, Dell, and Kasdorf.

"Seeing the deals Miller and Halak got, we are happy they aren't in Edmonton as that was just out of our price range" said GM Braithwaite

GM Braithwaite reportedly spoke to GM Heard about his offer for Aaron Dell and lead Heard to believe he offered way more than he actually did for Aaron Dell. GM Heard just believed him for some reason, like a freaking dolt. And Signed Dell to a dummy contract.

"Our offer was 1.2x2...LOL Corey"

The Oilers finally got their backup in Jason Kasdorf, who for reasons unknown to man, has some pretty good ratings.

Also signed by Edmonton were the following

Ben Street - 745,000x2
Derek Grant - 750,000x2
Victor Antipin - 950,000x3
Chad ruhwedel - 850,000x2

To fill out the roster the Oilers added Reto Berra, A couple scrubs I've never heard of and David Booth.

When asked about David Booth GM Braithwaite said

"Yeah, you know that guy who thinks believing in things means you want to do 9/11...yeah we signed that idiot"

The Oilers feel there isn't a single whole in their roster, with a strong top 9, a solid 4th line, an incredible Dcore, and solid goaltending.

"We intend to win the division, then the conference, then the championship this year, anything else is a failure..and We feel we have the edge over Vancouver this year, because Holtby showed up to camp looking like a literal tub of lard, so we are in the clear."

The Oilers have some spots to win between Reto Berra and Jason Kasdorf, as well as a some competition between Ben street and Derek grant, as well as Jesse Puljujarvi contending for a spot on the NHL roster with Reid Boucher, but the opening roster is expect to look like this.

W. Karlsson - Barkov - S. Reinhart
Giroux- Malkin - Laine
Gaudreau - Backlund - Steen
Soderberg - Grant/Street - Boucher/Puljujarvi
ex. Who cares.

Giordano-Ristolainen
McDonagh-Muzzin
Brodie - Pesce

Hellebuyck
Kasdorf/Berra