BY ALIN MATEESCU – FAN FUEL BLOGGER
With the NHL and NHLPA reaching an agreement in principle on a new CBA, it is now time to examine each team’s roster as they head into a likely 48 game season. Here is my look at the Edmonton Oilers and the possible questions facing their roster, their cap space, their unrestricted free agents and their restricted free agents. Salary cap and cap space provided by capgeek.com.
Salary Cap: $62,933,333 (13)
Cap Space: $7,266,667
Players Signed: 24
UFA: D – Bryan Rodney
RFA: none
The Edmonton Oilers have a young and dynamic group of forwards thanks to their years of futility, but the club won’t see the playoffs until they upgrade their blueline and goaltending.
The additions of Nick Schultz and college sensation Justin Schultz should help, but a veteran top-pair defenseman is much needed. With $7,266,667 in salary cap space, the Oilers could deal for a blueliner, but odds are that none with the pedigree the Oilers need will be available.
They could try to use that cap space to swing a trade for a goalie, however. Word is that they are interested in Vancouver Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo. The Canucks would never send a goaltender of Luongo’s calibre to a division rival. The Kings’ Jonathan Bernier is a possibility — depending on what Los Angeles’ asking price is and their willingness to trade him within the same conference.
Alin Mateescu is a full-time Front-end Web Developer with a passion for Online Marketing, Digital Media, and Web Development. Web Strategist. Sports junkie. Creator of iTalkHockey blog network. Managing Editor at RumorMeThis.com and RumorMeThat.com. Find out more about me at about.me/alinmat
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