NHL Rumor Shooting: Reports link oil man with Ekblad without adding up – Hockey Writer – Edmonton Oiler
Despite recent speculations linking the Edmonton Oilers with veteran defender Aaron Ekblad, there is no reason to believe that general manager Stan Bowman and CEO Jeff Jackson are seriously considering he is a top free agent target. The Oilers are currently playing in the Florida Panthers, so everyone can get a good idea of Eckbrad. But it’s not necessarily his drama, which is why the Oilers don’t participate in free agent discussions.
Report NHL NetworkDavid Pagnotta and EJ Hradek tied Edmonton to the Maple Leafs and the Detroit Red Wings, and Ekblad seemed to be a free agent advance. Ekblad wants to stay with the Panthers, but reportedly they just want to bring him back the reduced hats. The team brought Seth Jones, so if Ekblad left, they had a backup plan.
Ekblad is currently carrying $7.5 million in AAV and is believed to be looking for something in the next deal close to that number. Florida prefers contracts of $6 million or less, by comparison.
If Ekblad goes public, he will undoubtedly attract people’s attention. The Oilers are just unable to spend money because the usefulness may decline over time.
Ekblad is the wrong price
The appeal of a well-known defender like Ekblad is understandable. But, for the Oiler, he doesn’t make much sense.
As a big, left and right-handed defender, there is growing concern that his pairing with Gustav is swelling his effectiveness in Florida. If the oilers spend about $7 million a quarter (they don’t have to save), they want someone who supports others.
In short, the oilers are unable to make $60,000-$70,000 gambling on defensive players, especially when they already have players to pay attention to in the roster and have the potential to fit the cost better. If the Panthers felt they could find another suitable place at a lower price, why would the Oiler rush out and surpass? Even in lower AAVs, the true value of Ekblad could be close to $5.5 million a year over four years – oilers could be in the case of about $4.5 million, based on other businesses they need to take care of, which is a more realistic ceiling.
Oilers have other promises
The oil workers will spend a busy summer in front of them. Their direct and urgent needs after the Stanley Cup final included negotiating with Connor McDavid and reaching a deal with Evan Bouchard. Even if salary caps rise, these salary will be a lot of contracts, and the oilman has little room to fill the depth on the roster. Players Edmonton may need to sign include Corey Perry, Kasperi Kapanen, John Klingberg, Jeff Skinner, Connor Brown and Trent Frederic.
Related: The Oilers beat the Panthers in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals 3 Keys
They are not on larger tickets like reclamation projects or Ekblad’s. In other words, the Oilers just don’t have a balance of $50,000-7 million.
Signing up for Ekblad will assume unnecessary cap risk to teams already operating near the ceiling. Ekblad will remain steady for several seasons (he is only 29), but it’s not only impossible to spend money and meet free agents’ demands for potentially declining injury problem assets – it’s illogical.
While the Oilers will certainly explore all the ways to improve the lineup, if he leaves the Panthers, don’t expect them to be serious players in Aaron Ekblad’s raffle. The numbers don’t support it, don’t fit it, and it’s too expensive for a defensive player who might already be behind him in the best year.
The only way this happens is that Ekblad aims at the oil man and is willing to sign short-term deals with less money. The chances of this happening are slim.
