The Edmonton Oilers aren’t afraid to offer their talented players money. Leon Draisaitl is one of the top-paid players in the league. Connor McDavid just re-signed for the same cap hit he’s had the last seven years, and Jake Walman is locked up for the prime of his career.
During the summer, news broke that the Carolina Hurricanes were threatening the Oilers with an offer sheet for Evan Bouchard. Elliotte Friedman has a new report that provides more details on the potential deal that could have been made. Interestingly enough, he reports that Bouchard could have earned more money than he did in Edmonton.
Evan Bouchard Paid More Than Connor McDavid?
In Friedman’s latest installment of his 32 Thoughts (the written version), he reveals some interesting details about the offer sheet that almost was. In entry number 11 of the piece, he explained the information.
“It’s believed the Hurricanes put together a one-year deal at a number higher than McDavid just signed for,” Friedman wrote in his October 7 piece for Sportsnet. “Then figure out an extension. They turned their attention to K’Andre Miller, and worked out a trade with the Rangers.”
For those keeping track at home, McDavid just signed an extension for $12.5 million. The Hurricanes were ready to offer Bouchard more than $12.5 million.
Just how high were they willing to go? There is no confirmation of the official number. However, at the time, the Hurricanes boasted approximately $27 million in cap space, according to Daily Faceoff. They currently hold $10.5 million in salary cap space.
Evan Bouchard’s Worth to the Oilers
GettyCould Bouchard have made more than McDavid?
When the Oilers extended Bouchard at the end of June, the two parties agreed to a four-year, $10.5 million-per-season contract. Only $4 million will be paid out as base salary, with the rest being distributed as signing bonuses.
After the first day of free agency, Oilers GM Stan Bowman discussed the importance of signing Bouchard.
“That was an important signing,” Bowman said to the media on July 2nd. “Bouch had a tremendous couple of seasons. He’s emerged as a very important player on our team. So getting him signed was critical.”
A few days earlier, Bowman made an appearance on a podcast and discussed the flaw that many fans and media see in Bouchard’s game.
“I think he takes way too much criticism,” Bowman said on the 100% Hockey podcast. “He doesn’t make more mistakes than others, his just get magnified for some reason. Yeah, he has turnovers, but so does everybody. It’s just weird. ”
“He does so many amazing things with our group.”
New Bouchard Contract Avoids Disaster in More Ways Than One
GettyKris Knoblauch has sent a message to his team.
The new contract that Bouchard agreed to is excellent for the Oilers. It allows the team to keep the player and retain him on a good salary.
Oilers Avoid Paying Bouchard Too Much Money
The first crisis averted was paying Bouchard too much money. Yes, they signed him for $10.5 million (which is a lot of money for us common folk); however, he could have asked for more.
Had Bouchard signed the offer sheet, the Oilers would have had to match it. With the sting of the Dylan Holloway & Philip Broberg offer sheet still resonating within the organization, adding another unmatched offer sheet would have been disastrous.
Paying Bouchard $12.5 million seems like a ridiculous amount of money. However, if push came to shove and the Oilers’ hand was forced, they would have matched that offer sheet.
And the ripple effect of that offer sheet would have guaranteed more trades. Forced trades to make room for the same players that they signed in free agency to add organizational depth.
Oilers Avoid Having to Replace Bouchard
GettyErik Karlsson
The other crisis averted is the one where they are forced to replace Bouchard. In this scenario, they accept the fact that north of $12.5 million is too much money for the young defender.
While $10 million would have been freed up, they would have needed to look to the trade market or free agency to replace him. However, replacing a point-per-game defender is no easy task.
Erik Karlsson would have to be the top choice to replace such a player. Multiple reports during the summer said he was available. If the Pittsburgh Penguins retained 25 percent of his $11.5 million salary in a trade, the Oilers could have acquired him at an $8.63 million cap hit.
Karlsson, 35, can still be an effective offensive blueliner, recording over 50 points in his last two seasons.
Regardless of what could have been, the Oilers have an impressive offensive blueliner who is here to stay.
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