Arbitration dates set for Edmonton Oilers forwards Jesse Puljujarvi, Kailer Yamamoto

The dates are set for Jesse Puljujarvi and Kailer Yamamoto’s arbitration hearings.

Puljujarvi’s case will be heard next Friday, July 29th, while Yamamoto’s will be heard on August 7th. The Oilers still have the ability to re-sign both players ahead of their date.

Some other arbitration related news dropped Thursday morning that could shift things for both players. The Pittsburgh Penguins re-signed Kasperi Kapanen to a two-year deal with an AAV of $3.2-million.

It could make things a bit more difficult for the Oilers given this new deal. Kapanen scored 11 goals and 32 points in 79 games this past season with the Pens. Puljujarvi had 14 goals and 36 points in 65 games. Yamamoto had 20 goals and 41 points in 81 games.

If Kapanen is making $3.2-million now, what does that mean for the Oilers? Well, it means it’s going to be hard to get Puljujarvi and Yamamoto for anything less, given both of them were more productive this year than Kapanen.

I’m of the mindset that Puljujarvi and Yamamoto are both well-worth AAV’s over the $3-million mark, so what will shake free? The longer potential trade winds blow with Puljujarvi, the more convinced I am that he will be on the Oilers’ roster on opening day.

The truth of the matter is that he’s a good player who has tons of value in the Oilers’ top-nine, no matter where he slots in. If the Oilers were to lose him via trade, the Oilers’ RW depth would be Yamamoto and one of Zach Hyman and Evander Kane. The Oilers may just be better off paying Puljujarvi, than losing him in a trade.

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