The Edmonton Oilers have made a notable move by acquiring forward Vasily Podkolzin from the Vancouver Canucks. This trade involved the Oilers sending a 2025 fourth-round pick, previously acquired from the Ottawa Senators, to the Canucks. This transaction comes as the Oilers are navigating salary cap constraints and uncertainty over their young prospects’ futures, specifically Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway.
Vasily Podkolzin, the No. 10 pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, joins the Oilers with a two-year contract valued at $1 million annually. Last season, Podkolzin registered two points in 19 games with the Canucks and scored 15 goals and 28 points in 44 games with their AHL affiliate. Over his 137 career NHL games, he has accumulated 18 goals and 35 points, showing potential that Edmonton hopes to harness.
Oilers Managing The Cap
The Oilers’ acquisition of Podkolzin is strategic, considering their current salary cap dilemma. The team is more than $350,000 over the cap, which puts them in a tight spot as they navigate their roster ahead of the new season. The addition of Podkolzin is part of a broader off-season strategy that has also seen Edmonton bringing in forwards Viktor Arvidsson and Jeff Skinner, along with defenseman Josh Brown.
In addition to these new assets, the Oilers have re-signed critical players including Connor Brown, Adam Henrique, Mattias Janmark, and Corey Perry, and extended defenseman Troy Stetcher. These moves indicate a concerted effort to solidify the team’s depth and skill, hoping to build on their recent success after making it to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final, where they fell to the Florida Panthers.
Offer Sheets Challenge
A significant aspect of Edmonton’s current roster management involves handling offer sheets for Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway, presented by the St. Louis Blues. Broberg received a two-year offer sheet worth $4.58 million annually, while Holloway is considering a two-year, $2.29 million annual deal. According to section 10.3 of the NHL collective bargaining agreement, the Oilers have until Tuesday to match these offer sheets or risk losing both players to the Blues.
Failing to match the terms would result in the Blues compensating the Oilers with a second-round pick for Broberg and a third-round pick for Holloway. This scenario presents a complex decision for Edmonton, balancing the immediate financial constraints against the potential future contributions of Broberg and Holloway.
Blues' Cap Space Advantage
The St. Louis Blues, with over $7 million in cap space, are in a favorable position to absorb both Broberg and Holloway's contracts if the Oilers decide not to match the offer sheets. This leverages St. Louis’s relatively healthier cap situation, posing a significant challenge to Edmonton’s management as they weigh their options.
For the Oilers, retaining Broberg and Holloway could be crucial for maintaining a competitive edge in the upcoming seasons. Both young players have shown promise and could play pivotal roles in Edmonton's future. However, the current cap situation leaves the team in a bind, having to make critical decisions under financial constraints.
As the deadline to match the offer sheets approaches, Edmonton's front office faces a crucial period of decision-making. Will they find a way to balance their salary cap while retaining their burgeoning talents, or will they opt for the draft picks compensation, potentially reshaping their strategy for the coming seasons? The coming days will be pivotal in determining the Oilers' roster composition and their cap management strategy for the future.