(Photo Credit: SinBin.vegas Photographer Brandon Andreasen)
In a rare occurrence, the St. Louis successfully pulled of an offer sheet for two quality young players from the Edmonton Oilers. At first glance, it seemed like a big loss for the reigning Western Conference champions, and a possible gain for the Golden Knights. Most would agree that Edmonton and Vegas are the two favorites to win the Pacific Division. Sure, Vancouver will be in the mix but their questions in net could hamper their chances at the division crown.
Many are praising St. Louis for aggressively pursuing a couple of promising forwards to their lineup while others support the decision by the Oilers front office not to match both qualifying offers.
The main reason for concern for Vegas and other Western contenders is their future flexibility at the 2025 NHL trade deadline. With more cap space than the Golden Knights, the Oilers could become a better option for pending free agents or frustrated veterans on losing teams. For example, would Detroit choose to ship Patrick Kane to the 2024 Stanley Cup runner up or to the 2023 Stanley Cup champions? In the end, it depends on who’s package is more enticing. With their recent addition of St. Louis’ 2nd and 3rd round draft picks, Edmonton might have enough to edge out other suitors like Vegas. Especially, with Kane’s affordable $4M cap hit. If the Red Wings struggle, Kane will be one of the biggest names to hit the trade market.
In a sense, the Oilers have taken over where the Golden Knights had been up until this offseason.
This week Oilers GM Stan Bowman explained why he feels his club is better off not matching the two offer sheets by St. Louis. Edmonton is clearly a team with unfinished business and is approaching next season as a Cup win or bust. Quite like the Golden Knights mentality after the 2018 playoffs. However, it seems like Edmonton is in a better position to go all in for their first championship since 1990.
It was nice to see that the Oilers are a destination for players that are focused more so on trying to win a championship. It was obvious that the players that chose to come to Edmonton likely (left) money on the table. This came down to a business decision relative to our short term as well as long-term viability for our roster with the salary cap. When you put this whole situation together, we feel like we’ve been able to … give us a lot of flexibility and options moving forward. – Stan Bowman, Oilers GM
Now it’s fully possible the Golden Knights have more plans before the puck drops on October 9th and there’s no doubt, they’ll get creative at the deadline. Both clubs believe they can win the conference and the league in 2025, and it could come down to deadline decisions. In reality, the Golden Knights didn’t get enough out of their early March acquisitions. Forward rental Anthony Mantha was benched in the postseason by coach Bruce Cassidy and Tomas Hertl couldn’t turn it around in time after a lengthy injury.
https://twitter.com/TSN_Sports/status/1778522872132280807
However, at the deadline Vegas put themselves in a better position for this season by taking on Hertl’s extended contract and committing to Noah Hanifin for eight years. Not sure Edmonton will find better options than those two in early March.
jeffrey m sutton
82-0-0
ThG
https://youtu.be/odcQlka2Pvw?si=35ZBkFBUjpO6g-Mh
God bless you all. Even TS
Rocco
Shut up ThG. This is a hockey site!
ThG
Fake ThG posting above
Emmanuel
They wont have cap space for a deadline add and if they did it means a big piece was out for months which means they are on the outside looking in. They likely would pick up a Blueger type to C the 4th line at best.
If they were 5th and say 3 points out should they add?
Im guessing the Pacific takes a BIG step back this year only 3 teams make it, in that case its gonna get dicey.
Rashaad
Other than not resigning Marchessault or trading Theodore for a winger, I don’t know what else they could have done this offseason to improve. A Theodore trade opportunity may not have presented itself.
The roster is in a transitional phase now and it’s time to get younger. They still have a decent team.
knights fan in minny
how decent do you think i think it will b a tough first 3 months
Emmanuel
Theyre counting on at least 3 wingers scoring 20 G that have never done it before and one that hanst done it in a few seasons and hes 29.
There also counting on health from a bunch of banged up guys.
Thats why I think they should have gotten more Kailer Yamamoto/Filip Zadina types. They are cheap and young and it maximizes your chance of a couple breaking out.
Rashaad
I didn’t say that they did not make him an offer. I’m just saying that they didn’t re-sign him.
I’m glad they didn’t re-sign him. You should read what I said before reacting.
Again, I didn’t say that they did not make him an offer. I just said that they didn’t re-sign him.
Are they better with him on the roster next year than without. Of course they are but long-term I think they made the decision to not resign him.
AGAIN, my post said that they did not re-sign Marchessault. That’s a fact as he is not on the team. I did not say whether they tried to or didn’t try to, or whether they made him an offer or not.
The hockey God
“Other than not resigning Marchessault”
you got that backwards, they made JM an offer, and JM did not “re sign” it.
Try again
NAM
VGK doesn’t have any draft capital to buy at the deadline. I assume Theo will be gone by then otherwise I could see a trade then, of course this team is injured a lot so we just have to wait and see what the state will be by then. Really I can even see a scenario where they just sell at the deadline. Regardless, buying at the deadline requires draft capital, in most case, especially to retain cap and I just don’t see it.