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MAKING THE CALL ON THE RFAs
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Lowetide
Apr 26, 2016, 23:39 EDTUpdated:
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Edmonton Oilers have some decisions to make on restricted free agents this spring. Based on Peter Chiarelli’s own statements about what he wants his team to look like, we can probably make the call on most of them.
Bigger. Stronger on the puck. The Edmonton Oilers did get bigger under Peter Chiarelli and Todd McLellan in year one, and that is a trend we are likely to see again this summer.
  • Chiarelli: “There are teams that aren’t
    necessarily hard and heavy but they strip pucks. They’re hard on
    battles, they win more than their share of battles … they [can be] heavy
    but they’re not huge. A lot of that has to do with the coach, the
    philosophy of the organization, that’s part of what I hope to instill.”
Although we are very likely going to see several new faces, some of that battle is in fact on the Oilers roster, in the form of restricted free agents.
  • R Zack Kassian. $1,750,000 cap hit and $2,000,000 salary 2015-16. Although Kassian disappointed offensively (36gp, 3-5-8), there is little doubt he brought a very different look to the team. To my eye, Kassian started at a certain level and then faded. That might be explainable because of his unusual offseason and short training camp. I think PC will sign him, hoping to see him ready in camp. There remains some real potential with this player and he is still young enough to have a solid career.
  • R Iiro Pakarinen. $925,000 cap hit and $843,000 salary 2015-16. He impressed again this year with his buzzsaw style and high energy. I don’t know if he will ever score much (63gp, 5-8-13) but would bet money Todd McLellan has his name in pen for next season’s roster.
  • L Luke Gazdic. $800,000 cap hit and $850,000 salary 2015-16. The one tough player on the roster who may not have a path to next fall’s roster. He went 29gp, 1-0-1 but didn’t play much even when he dressed. Gazdic may get a contract, but it is not certain—despite his clear status as a bona fide enforcer.
  • D Jordan Oesterle. $925,000 cap hit and $792,000 salary 2015-16. The young college man impressed with his wheels this season and I think he might have a chance. One problem: He is blocked by a lot of lefty shooters. One positive: He is a mobile puck-moving defender on a team badly in need of one. There is an opportunity for him in Edmonton, he should be a strong option for a contract. He was 17gp, 0-5-5 during his NHL time.
  • D Adam Clendening. $725,000 cap hit and $725,000 salary 2015-16. Clendening has a lot going for him—shoots right, efficient offensively (20gp, 1-5-6) in a very small sample size—but his foot speed is going to be an issue. There is an outside chance he gets a contract this summer in Edmonton, but the Oilers are also probably looking for a major upgrade at RH puck-moving defender. 
  • R Tyler Pitlick. $751,000 cap hit and $761,000 salary 2015-16. It is a damned shame he cannot stay healthy, and this season saw him play well in Bakersfield when able (37gp, 7-14-21). He is still young enough to have a career—Pitlick is about one year younger than Zack Kassian—but you have to wonder if his future is with this organization.
  • L Kale Kessy $718,000 cap hit and $655,000 salary 2015-16. Interesting player. He is somewhat like Luke Gazdic, although four years younger. It is very difficult to project him onto next year’s roster with so little offense, but as with Gazdic, you never know. Very real chance they walk him in my opinion.
  • D David Musil. $894,000 cap hit and $833,000 salary 2015-16. Scott Zerr has been on the Lowdown several times, talking about his defensive acumen. As has always been the case, foot speed is the issue, along with his being one of 20 leftys on blue.
  • G Niklas Lundstrom. $848,000 cap hit and $698,000 salary 2015-16. The easiest call in the entire stack of RFAs, not his fault but Lundstrom was sent over to make the rosters even. 4gp, 3.90 and .872 as a Condors G, he will not return.
Keepers: Zack Kassian, Iiro Pakarinen, Jordan Oesterle, David Musil. Agree?
Kassian photo by Mark Williams.
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