{"id":84357,"date":"2020-08-30T10:08:02","date_gmt":"2020-08-30T14:08:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/?p=84357"},"modified":"2020-08-30T02:00:24","modified_gmt":"2020-08-30T06:00:24","slug":"edmonton-oilers-free-agent-targets-for-2020-21-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2020\/08\/30\/edmonton-oilers-free-agent-targets-for-2020-21-season\/","title":{"rendered":"Edmonton Oilers Free Agent Targets For 2020-21 Season"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Edmonton Oilers<\/a> had a bitter end to a rather promising 2019-20 NHL regular season. <\/span>Heading into this off-season many questions surrounds this team. As general manager Ken Holland<\/a> <\/strong>definitely has his hands full. Who will the Edmonton Oilers free agent targets be for next season?<\/span><\/p>\n

Areas of improvement include; better goaltending, a more mobile defence and better center depth in the bottom-six.<\/span><\/p>\n

As the Oilers look for ways to improve, trades and drafting is always an option. However, the free-agent market might be another option Holland explores as there might be potential targets that help Edmonton improve next year.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

2020 Edmonton Oilers Free Agent Targets<\/span><\/h2>\n

The 2020 free-agent market pool isn\u2019t particularly deep but there might be a few players that could positively impact the Oilers next season.<\/span><\/p>\n

Obviously, big names like Alex Pietrangelo<\/a><\/strong> and Taylor Hall<\/a> <\/strong>could help any hockey team, let alone the Oilers. But realistically speaking, the Oilers are tight on cap-space, so Holland might not be willing to break the bank to go after those big names.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

After all, it might be more logical for him to target complementary players that mesh well with his stars (Connor McDavid<\/a><\/strong>, Leon Draisaitl<\/a><\/strong>).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

With that said, here is a look at some potential free agent targets that might be on the Oilers\u2019 list this off-season.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Tyler Ennis for Secondary Scoring<\/span><\/h3>\n

As mentioned in a previous article<\/a>, a name like Tyler Ennis<\/a><\/strong> could be a player the Oilers are looking to re-sign,\u00a0 so we won\u2019t go into too much detail here.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

All in all, Ennis is a skilled veteran winger, who is a decent depth forward that could be used anywhere in the top-nine. Whether paired on the top line with McDavid or playing somewhere as a middle-six wing, Ennis is a decent complementary offensive option to consider.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite only making $800,000 last season, the 30-year-old managed to score 16 goals and 35 points. In that, he is likely going to get a raise so it remains to be seen how much that will be.<\/span><\/p>\n

If the Oilers can get Ennis back at a reasonable price, perhaps somewhere below the $1.3- 1.5 million range. Ennis might be a great free-agent target for Oilers to go after.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Robin Lehner for Goaltending Depth<\/span><\/h3>\n

Goaltending is another area of improvement for the Oilers. Mike Smith<\/a><\/strong> did not fare well in his only appearance for the Oilers\u2019 qualifying round, and he posted subpar numbers (2.95 goals-against-average during the regular season.<\/span><\/p>\n

At 38-years-old, the Oilers might move on from Smith and look to get younger. Perhaps finding a younger goalie who can come in and compete with Mikko Koskinen<\/a><\/strong> as a 1B option.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In that, a name like Robin Lehner<\/a><\/strong> might be a free agent target that interests the Oilers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite playing behind a bad Chicago Blackhawks<\/a> team this season, Lehner put up decent numbers (.918 save percentage). On top of that, he seemed to have found another gear for the Vegas Golden Knights<\/a>, as he has looked impressive during the team’s current playoff run.<\/span><\/p>\n

It remains to be seen whether the Knights will look to re-sign Lehner, if not he will likely garner interest from teams around the league.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

At 29-years-old, Lehner should still have a few years of good hockey left in him. Therefore, he should be considered an upgrade from Mike Smith.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lehner is making $5,000,000 this season, so he will likely cost the Oilers a pretty penny. If Edmonton does decide to go after him, they might have to move out some salary to make room for him.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Sami Vatanen f<\/a>or Upgrade on Defence<\/h3>\n

Sami Vatanen<\/strong><\/a> could be an interesting name on the Oilers\u2019 free-agent target list this off-season.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The 29-year-old spent most of this season with the New Jersey Devils<\/a> before joining the Carolina Hurricanes<\/a> as a rental at the trade deadline. In 47 regular-season games with the Devils, Vatanen scored five goals and 18 assists for a total of 23 points.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Heading into the off-season, Vatanen is one of the few proven offensive defencemen on the market. He is a smooth-skating right-handed D-man who is a reliable puck-mover as well. Definitely, something the Oilers could use for their blueline.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

At 5\u2019-10″ and 185 pounds, the Oilers probably won\u2019t be using Vatanen in a shutdown role. But rather an upgrade for a blueliner that can quarterback the powerplay. As 10 of his 23 points were scored on the powerplay, Vatanen could be fit right in on the Oilers’ first powerplay unit.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Ideally, plugging Vatanen into a second pairing role would give the Oilers more skill on the backend. Additionally, it will buy players like Evan Bouchard<\/a><\/strong> and Ethan Bear<\/a><\/strong> more time to develop in sheltered minutes.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He was a $4,875,000 cap-hit last year, so it might cost the Oilers at least that much or a little more to get him signed. But having him on the team should improve the Oilers\u2019 blue line.<\/span><\/p>\n

With the market being thin for a proven right-handed puck mover, could the Oilers free up cap enough space to make Vatanen a legitimate target?<\/span><\/p>\n

Dylan DeMelo f<\/a>or Defensive Depth<\/h3>\n

Besides Vatanen, a name like Dylan DeMelo<\/a><\/strong> might be a more reasonable free-agent target for the Oilers to after on defence.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

DeMelo is a San Jose Sharks<\/a> draft pick that was part of the Erik Karlsson<\/a><\/strong> trade a few years ago. As an Ottawa Senator<\/a>, he gradually developed into a reliable NHL defenceman.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We saw DeMelo net a career-high of four goals, 22 points with -1 rating in 77 games for the Senators back in 2018-19. Those are rather respectable numbers considering how Ottawa was the worst team in the NHL that year.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Perhaps one of the more underrated right-shot defencemen in the free-agent market, DeMelo could be a solid target that benefits the Oilers\u2019 blueline significantly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He is a decent playmaker and an above-average passer. Add that to good breakout decisions, DeMelo would help improve the Oilers transition game from the backend.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

At 27, he is not that old and might have a little more time to improve. Projected to be a 4-6 defender, he could make a positive impact on the team’s second or third pairing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Some may even argue that DeMelo is an upgrade from Matt Benning<\/a><\/strong>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Statistically, DeMelo is a positive player as he was able to average a +3 rating in 49 games with the Senators last year.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

DeMelo is coming off a $900,000 salary, so price-wise he should come at a cheaper price-point than Vatanen. Ideally, the Oilers would get him at around the $1 to $1.2 million mark.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Erik Haula f<\/a>or Center Depth<\/h3>\n

Erik Haula<\/strong><\/a> is another free agent target that could be a fit for the Oilers. The 29-year-old has bounced around the NHL over the past few years and finished his season with the Florida Panthers<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite only appearing in only 48 games for the Carolina Hurricanes<\/a> and Florida, Haula finished the year with 12 goals, 12 assists, and 24 points.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If he played a full 82-game season, he could have finished with over 20 goals and 45 points. Those stats are rather decent for a player that is also considered a very reliable defensive centre.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He could be a decent target for the Oilers to go after to fill the 3C role. Adding Haula would give the Oilers more options down the middle.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We can\u2019t forget that Haula finished with 29 goals and 55 points in 76 games for the Vegas Golden Knights just a couple of seasons ago. So in many ways, he is considered a high-end third-line centre around the league.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It also doesn\u2019t hurt that Haula has a career face-off win percentage of around 51%. Making him that much more valuable. Needless to say, adding Haula would significantly improve the Oilers’ centre depth, something they have been looking to do for a long time.<\/span><\/p>\n

Haula is coming off a contract that paid him $2.75 million. Assuming no one overpays for him, the Oilers might have a chance to get him at a reasonable price. Somewhere around the $3 to $3.5 million could do it.<\/span><\/p>\n

Main Photo:<\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>