Jeff Petry signed a one-year deal worth $3.075 million. He will be a UFA next season, and if the Oilers do want to sign him to an extension they can’t until January, 2015.

After seeing what UFA D-men received on the free agent market, I can understand why Petry’s camp elected to sign for one season. The Oilers now have another season to evaluate him.

A one-year keeps him as a potential trade candidate as well. The Oilers can’t afford to lose him in free agency for nothing. This signing won’t put a stop to the trade rumours, but I don’t think the Oilers are in any rush to move Petry. If the proper deal presents itself, they have to think about it, but if I’m the Oilers I play Petry as a 2nd pair D-man and see how he performs, rather than playing him over his head in the first pairing.

This deal makes financial sense for one season, but it doesn’t give the Oilers much long term security and that is an issue.

What do you think of the signing?