Former NHL defender James Wisniewski stirred the debate this week by shooting the Edmonton Oilers’ decision to sign Evan Bouchard to a four-year AAV contract of $ 10.5 million. On the Empty Netters podcastWisniewski did not hide and said wholesale: “If you want fu- win, that’s not the man you are going to draw to the next level.”
Instead, he suggested that the oilers would have been smarter to exchange Bouchard and use the money to acquire two $ 5 million defenders-one for the Power Play and one for closing tasks.
But would that actually make Edmonton better?
What would the Bouchard -exchange look like today?
On the surface there is logic in the diversification of dop spending. A $ 10.5 million cap is steep, especially when Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl already contain mass salaries. The spreading of money across the Line -up has its merits, assuming that that chance even exists.
Wisniewski said that almost everyone could get power play points with the two best attacking stars in the game. We know that is not true, but can another attacking talented defender do it? Someone like Shayne Gostisbeere for $ 3.2 million is the type of player Wisniewski, hinted that he would rather have. We know that Carolina is looking for a big swing and is linked to Erik Karlsson. Bouchard would be a nice one, if that is the kind of deal they are trying to make.
Hypothetically the hurricanes could move Gostisbeere and Jaccob Slavin and take just over a million extra salary. The oilers would take $ 9.6 million back and save $ 900k on their books, but two defenders receive for the price of one.
You could claim that the hurricanes get the best player on the market. It could also be claimed that the oilers are better off with these two blueliners versus only Evan Bouchard. Gostisbeere posted 45 points in 70 games played last season. It would be interesting to see what he could post in Edmonton.
Bouchard, however, is elite due to different statistics. He is not just a Power-Play specialist. He stimulates offense, suppresses opportunities and excels in the late season.
With the CAP that is expected to rise above $ 110 million soon, the Bouchard deal could well agree. Exciting him for quantity above quality would weaken the upper end of the Blue Line. There is also the issue of No-Move Clauses that should be considered in most trading morticals.
The idea of Wisniewski can ensure a lively debate, and there are probably other teams outside of Carolina who have what he could consider as a better way to build the schedule of the oilers.
But in reality, are the oilers better to enter a 25-year-old elite defender?
Next: 2 scenarios where oilers can insist on unthinkable McDavid -trade
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