After years of having to sign over-priced contracts for such “illustrious” free agents as Andrew Ference, Ben Eager and Benoît Pouliot, the Edmonton Oilers are finally starting to reap the profits of a winner’s dividend. When was the last time an Oilers team was able to sign players the calibre of Jeff Skinner, Viktor Arvidsson, and Adam Henrique for a paltry combined total of $10 million? Not since forever, that’s when. What would that trio have cost the Oilers before their newly-minted winner’s dividend kicked in? $15 million? More? Would they have considered the Oilers at all?
Oilers Benefitting From Winners Dividend
Leaving the “Decade of Darkness” Behind
It has been famously difficult for the Oilers to sign free agents. Start with Edmonton’s remote location. Add in their brutal winters. Mix in the fact that there is no state relief on taxes. Finally, and probably most importantly, there was the infamous “decade of darkness” when the Oilers missed the playoffs for ten straight years (2006-16).
Fortunately, those storm clouds have parted. Edmonton is now a desired location for NHL players.
And why not? First, the team showed last season they have a legitimate chance of winning the Stanley Cup. Second, there isn’t a better fan base in the league when the team is doing well. Finally, along with a deep supporting cast, there is the opportunity to play with the twin supernovas of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. As famed NHL insider Frank Seravalli says, “Winning is the best deodorant.”
A Large Number of Signings for a Limited Amount of Money
| NAME | POSITION | TERM IN YEARS | SALARY |
| Viktor Arvidsson | Forward | 2 | $4 million |
| Adam Henrique | Forward | 2 | $3 million |
| Jeff Skinner | Forward | 1 | $3 million |
| Mattias Janmark | Forward | 3 | $1.45 million |
| Corey Perry | Forward | 1 | $1.4 million |
| Connor Brown | Forward | 1 | $1 million |
| Josh Brown | Defence | 3 | $1 million |
| Calvin Pickard | Goalie | 2 | $1 million |
| Troy Stecher | Defence | 2 | $787,500 |
| James Hamblin | Forward | 2 | $775,000 |
| Noah Philp | Forward | 1 | $775,000 |
| Noel Hoefenmayer | Defence | 1 | $775,000 |
| Collin Delia | Goalie | 1 | $775,000 |
| Connor Carrick | Defence | 1 | $775,000 |
The Best Edmonton Oilers Signings
Jeff Skinner
Skinner was probably overpaid at $9 million per year with the Buffalo Sabres. That’s why they bought out the final three years of his contract. But at $3 million? That’s music! Skinner has five 30-goal seasons and one 40-goal campaign under his belt, and he’s consistently in the 50-60 point range.
What will those numbers look like playing alongside the likes of McDavid and Zach Hyman? Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent Hopkins? Viktor Arvidsson and Evan Bouchard? Skinner hasn’t experienced a single playoff game in his 14-year, 1,006-game career. Not only will Skinner be in “show me” mode, he’ll be surrounded by the chip-on-the-shoulder energy of an entire Oilers team that will want to show the league that last year’s Stanley Cup appearance was just the start.
As longtime NHL commentator Chris Johnston said on his podcast:
“Jeff Skinner had lots of options. “I know the Leafs were among the teams that had talked to him. They were trying to pitch him on the idea of playing alongside Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. He’s going to Edmonton clearly to win. I mean, he could sign for one year and $3 million in about 10 spots.”
Viktor Arvidsson
In terms of fit and price, there were few better free agent signings than Arvidsson in the entire NHL. Cap Friendly lists his top three comparables as Nino Niederreiter, Anthony Mantha and Andreas Athanasiou. There isn’t a team in the league that wouldn’t take Arvidsson over any of those three all day long.
After dealing with injuries in recent seasons, Arvidsson was looking for a stable environment where he could rediscover his form. The Oilers provide him with a top-six role and the opportunity to play alongside elite playmakers. No one will be shocked to see him bounce back to form and rejuvenate his career.
The Oilers playoff run was weighed down by the lack of a legitimate top-six forward to play with Draisaitl. His most common linemate by the end of the playoffs was Dylan Holloway, a player with exactly nine regular season NHL goals to his resume.
Arvidsson is exactly what Draisaitl needs, a shoot-first winger who doesn’t need power-play time to deliver above-average value. Add in a very reasonable $4 million cap hit. The two-year term is perfect, too, given the Oilers other upcoming contract considerations (Draisaitl, Bouchard, McDavid).
Adam Henrique
Of all the Edmonton Oilers signings, this was a huge get. The solid two-way Henrique was a hot commodity on the open market. At least three other teams circled around him.
According to TSN’s Darren Dreger on his The Ray and Dregs Hockey Podcast:
“Adam Henrique kinda went around the circle. Winnipeg offered I think three and a half times two for Henrique. Tampa Bay’s Jon Cooper gave Henrique a call. Coaches do that when you’re trying to lure a free agent now. St. Louis came in late. There were a number of teams that explored interest in Adam Henrique and he goes back to the Oil.”
Henrique himself said he turned down more money to stay with the Oilers:
“The group in Edmonton is a special group. I just had so much fun being part of it, and just wanted more of that. You want to complete what we didn’t complete this year. It really did rejuvenate me after being on a rebuilding team (Anaheim) for a number of years. Come November, December it’s hard to know you’re not going to be in the playoffs and you have to find a reason to play, things within, to be a difference maker on the team you’re on because you want good teams to want you. At the end of the day, we play hockey to win.”
The ultimate Oilers insider, Bob Stauffer of Oilers Now, wrote:
“I can 100% guarantee you that Adam Henrique was true to his word and turned down more money to return to the Edmonton Oilers and be a part of a team that has a legit chance to compete for the Stanley Cup.”
Henrique was willing to take a discount to be part of a team with a strong player core and a clear path to success.
A Strong Supporting Cast
This is where the Oilers are benefitting from winners dividends. Not only did the Oilers get significant pieces like Skinner, Arvidsson and Henrique to climb on board a rising ship, their recent winning record brought dividends in the depth re-signings of Calvin Pickard, Mattias Janmark, Connor Brown, Corey Perry, and Troy Stecher for below-market prices.
Pickard’s stock rose so high after replacing Jack Campbell as Stuart Skinner’s backup he probably could have signed in a half dozen other places. Janmark and Brown formed such an effective playoff third line with Henrique that teams would have jumped to sign any one or all of them together. Perry’s decision to return smells like a man betting on the Oilers to get back to the Cup finals again. Stecher could have found a team where he was guaranteed to be a top-six defenceman instead of a possible seventh man in Edmonton.
And yet they all chose the Oilers.
And we haven’t even got around to talking about the organisational depth signings of Connor Carrick, Josh Brown, Noah Philp, James Hamblin, and Noel Hoefenmayer buying in yet.
Winning Pays Off
The Edmonton Oilers signings were huge coming off winning. For a team without a General Manager, the Oilers sure managed to fill their coffers at bargain prices this off season. The only problem for this version of the team might be finding a suitable alliterative title to contrast with the “decade of darkness” that previously dogged them.
Suggestions anyone?
Main Photo: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
