The Edmonton Oilers failed to live up to the hype surrounding the team heading into the lockout-shortened season, but that has more to do with unreasonable expectations than the team’s shortcomings.
Let’s face it, the Oilers are a young group loaded with talent and it’s only a matter of time before they are a perennial playoff team. But it takes time to teach young talent how to succeed over the course of a season, and the Oilers certainly endured some tough lessons in 2013.
It’s all part of the process, and the Oilers’ youth movement appears to be heading in the right direction.
Now it’s up to new Oilers general manager Craig MacTavish to fill the gaps.
WHO SHOULD RE-SIGN
Projected cap room: $16,460,833 (via capgeek.com)
The biggest priority for MacTavish in his first summer on the job is figuring out what to do with restricted-free-agent centre Sam Gagner.
Gagner was second on the team with 38 points in 48 games (prorated to 65 points over a full season) and led all forwards in ice time, averaging 19:24 per game.
Just 23 years old, Gagner has improved his points per game total in each of the last four seasons and is in for a big raise on the one-year, $3.2-million deal he signed last summer – the second short-term deal he has signed since his entry-level contract expired.
With Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle cashing in last season, the Oilers will have no choice but to pay Gagner his dues or trade him for help elsewhere.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
Ryan Whitney, defence: He is a goner. Whitney made it clear he was unhappy with how things ended in Edmonton.
Mark Fistric, defence: Fistric fit in well with the Oilers in his first season with the team and is a capable third-pairing defenceman. You won’t find much better value in the open market.
Nikolai Khabibulin, goaltender: Khabibulin played fairly well in limited action this season, but he’s old and frequently injured. Expect the Oilers to look elsewhere for a backup.
Jerred Smithson, centre: Not a terrible fourth-liner, but not a priority either. Was 55 per cent in the faceoff circle this season.
Ryan Jones, left wing: A fan favourite whose offence took a dip in an injury-riddled season. Could be back if the price is right.
Lennart Petrell, left wing: Third-liner could be replaced internally or with a more serviceable free agent.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
Sam Gagner, centre: He’ll be back. Good young centres don’t come cheap, but the Oilers have plenty of cap space.
Magnus Paajarvi, left wing: Made strides in his first full, albeit shortened, campaign. Just starting to scratch the surface.
Theo Peckham, defence: Only played four games after missing significant time with a hip flexor injury. Brings much-needed toughness on the back end.
FREE AGENT FITS
Marek Zidlicky, defence: The Oilers lack experience and mobility on the blue line, and Zidlicky brings both.
Grant Clitsome, defence: Great name aside, Clitsome is a mobile defenceman in the prime of his career and had more points this season (19) than every Oilers defenceman other than Justin Schultz.
Ian White, defence: White played his way into coach Mike Babcock’s doghouse at the end of the season, but he can move the puck and is a right-handed shot that can log second-pairing minutes and help the power play.
Eric Nystrom, left wing: Nystrom is your typical economical third-liner who can kill penalties and chip in offensively.
Raffi Torres, left wing: Torres played his best hockey as an Oiler, so perhaps a return to the City of Champions can help the hard-hitting winger rediscover his game. Would bring a lot of bang and energy to the Oilers’ third line.
Jason Labarbera, goaltender: Low-maintenance backup to replace an aging Khabibulin.
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