Subj : Oilers News and Rumors: Salary Cap Talk and Hosting the Stanley Cup
To   : All
From : The Hockey Writers
Date : Fri Jul 03 2020 04:40 am



In an Edmonton Oilers news and rumors update, it appears Edmonton has been
chosen to hold the Conference Finals and the Stanley Cup Finals should the
playoffs resume and bring an end to the season. There are also questions about
what the Oilers will do now that a flat salary cap seems to be certainty over
the next three seasons. Are there any big concerns for the Oilers?

Oilers Chosen Over Toronto to Host Cup Finals

According to Bob McKenzie of TSN - who has been covering the news of the CBA
talks over the last 24 hours - Edmonton has been chosen as the host city for
most of the big playoff moments due to their low numbers of positive COVID-19
cases.

Rogers Place Arena (Alexscuccato (CC BY-SA 4.0
(https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)), from Wikimedia Commons)

McKenzie writes:

With Edmonton and Toronto being chosen as the two NHL Hub cities, the question
most often asked now is, which of the two will play host to the Stanley Cup
final and Conference finals? The answer, apparently, is Edmonton.

McKenzie later said that the problems with play-by-play reporting during a
pandemic is that things can change so quickly, what';s up-to-date one minute
isn';t the next. He then noted, "...it has now been suggested to me that while
EDM is quite likely to host the Stanley Cup final, it can't be called fully
locked in at this moment in time."

Related: The Best Free Agent Signings in NHL History

Salary Cap Questions for the Oilers

Part of McKenzie';s reporting on Thursday included a note that the expected
date for free agency in 2020 is November 1. And, with news from Elliotte
Friedman yesterday that the expected salary caps for the upcoming seasons are
$81.5 million in 2020-21 and 2021-22 and $82.5 million in 2022-23.�(see Twitter
thread here), that means the Oilers, like many teams, will have some decisions
to make.

Andreas Athanasiou, Edmonton Oilers (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

The Oilers have a number of players to re-sign this offseason with just over
$10 million available in which to do so. Those names include Andreas Athanasiou
(RFA), Ethan Bear (RFA), Matt Benning (RFA), William Lagesson (RFA) Mike Green
(UFA), Mike Smith (UFA), Patrick Russell (UFA), Tyler Ennis (UFA), and Riley
Sheahan (UFA).

There have been some concerns about Sheahan';s ask as a free agent and what he
thinks is an elevated role. There';s also thought that only one of Matt Benning
or Mike Green would be staying. Athanasiou will require an investment but the
Oilers aren';t about to let him go after giving up two second-rounders to land
him. The only way that happens is if he';s absolutely atrocious in the
playoffs. At that point, the Oilers may have to cut bait.

Related: 11 NHL Teams Without a Stanley Cup

Future Headaches for Oilers

The issues might not necessarily be this coming season. It won';t be easy
making everything work, but in the not-too-distant future, GM Ken Holland will
have to deal with a few hefty contracts. They include Ryan Nugent-Hopkins,
Darnell Nurse, Adam Larsson, and Kailer Yamamoto.

One solution might be to try and move defenseman Kris Russell. With a signing
bonus paid out to him already, Russell is a player that could be attractive to
a team looking to hit the cap floor but worried about spending money. One thing
to keep in mind is that Russell has a clause where he can be traded to only 15
other teams this year. And, those are teams he must approve. That complicates
matters just a touch.

Nugent-Hopkins Joins Oilers in Phase 2

The Oilers welcomed Nugent-Hopkins to skating with the team today. He';s now
part of the Phase 2 group.

🗣 NUUUUUUUUGE!

RNH is back in Edmonton & participating in Phase 2 skates with many of his
#Oilers teammates.#LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/BAXcuC8QW2- Edmonton Oilers
(@EdmontonOilers) July 2, 2020

Catch up on all the latest NHL Rumors

The post Oilers News and Rumors: Salary Cap Talk and Hosting the Stanley Cup
appeared first on The Hockey Writers.

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheHockeyWriters/~3/L7wqW51WZ7A/
--- SBBSecho 3.11-Linux
* Origin: Palantir * palantirbbs.ddns.net * Pensacola, FL * (24:110/7)