Darnell Nurse signed for 8 years at $9.25m per year

[Puck_Pun]

Because if Edmonton needs anything, it's more big long term contracts

[pilldoc]

Problem is the Oilers if they want to make a serious run the playoffs they need to invest in a decent goalie...... they are have no room for that.

 

[JR Ewing]

I spent 20 years watching the Oilers draft and develop players before seeing them leave in their prime because they couldn't afford to pay them the going rate. I spent those years watching them sometimes have a farm team and sometime not have one, loaning players to teams that would take them on as a favour, all because they couldn't afford to have a farm system.

 

Darnell Nurse is coming off of two bridge deals where the team told him to show them that he's worth a lot of money. He went and did that and, for sure, the contract isn't team friendly, but he's a core player on the team locked up long term, and I'm not getting how that's a problem.

 

As @pilldoc said: goaltending is a much bigger issue.

 

[JR Ewing]

Looking at Edmonton's long term deals:

 

McDavid - every team in the NHL wishes they had this problem. He's the highest-paid player in the NHL, and he's not being paid close to what he's worth.

Draisaitl - a risk the day that Chiarelli signed it, but $8.5M for him is a steal.

Nurse - I described his situation above, but again: not a bargain, but they clearly see him as a core player, and I think every team in the NHL would share that opinion.

Nugent-Hopkins - provides two-way play and value for the AAV of only $5.1M, and his style of play should up well as he ages.

Hyman - the contract which is an issue. He was a UFA without a previous relationship with the team or city, so it doesn't come at a bargain. I think it's much more likely than not that he follows the Wayne Simmonds mold of aging, making years 5 thru 7 riskier. Those seasons, his pay is mostly in the form of signing bonus, so it makes dealing him a touch easier.

 

 

[pilldoc]

4 minutes ago, JR Ewing said:

Darnell Nurse is coming off of two bridge deals where the team told him to show them that he's worth a lot of money. He went and did that and, for sure, the contract isn't team friendly, but he's a core player on the team locked up long term, and I'm not getting how that's a problem.

 

 Not saying Nurse doesn't deserve a raise.  Just that cap space is getting smaller with his $9 million contract kicking next year.  Turris and Archibald are UFA next year along with Russell / Stalock and Koskinen.  Puljujarvi is a RFA.  I figure they want to resign Puljujarvi.  As of now they would have a cap space of roughly ~ $7 million dollars.

 

Goalie Free Agents for next year:

[JR Ewing]

8 hours ago, pilldoc said:

 

 Not saying Nurse doesn't deserve a raise.  Just that cap space is getting smaller with his $9 million contract kicking next year.  Turris and Archibald are UFA next year along with Russell / Stalock and Koskinen.  Puljujarvi is a RFA.  I figure they want to resign Puljujarvi.  As of now they would have a cap space of roughly ~ $7 million dollars.

 

Goalie Free Agents for next year:

 

Part of the reason the Oilers find themselves in this pickle is because Peter Chiarelli decided it was much more important to sign Mikko Koskinen and Zack Kassian to long-term deals adding up to almost $8M in salary, when he could have done so with Nurse for less money. It's just extra salt in the wounds when we see that it's going towards a 4th line winger and a goalie who gives the team quality starts less than half the time. Finding takers for these contracts is critical.

 

There is also about $4.5M in relief coming, as Oscar Klefbom will be placed on LTIR. Unless a miracle occurs, his arthritis problems have ended his career.

[JR Ewing]

Ryan Whitney's take: