Signing Evan Bouchard to a new contract is among this summer's priorities for the Edmonton Oilers. The 25-year-old puck-moving defenseman is an RFA with arbitration rights coming off a two-year contract with an average annual value of $3.9 million.
Bouchard is in line for a significant raise that could reach $10 million annually. The Edmonton Journal's David Staples cited NHL insider Brian Lawton suggesting Bouchard could receive an offer sheet if the Oilers fail to sign him quickly.
An offer sheet for Bouchard is possible if he's open to signing one. That seems unlikely given his recent comments about staying in Edmonton to win the Stanley Cup.
Assuming the Bouchard camp seeks $10 million annually, it would likely take an offer sheet of $12 million per season to tempt him. However, most teams with the cap space and the four first-round picks that could afford to pitch that offer aren't anywhere close to Stanley Cup contention. They include the San Jose Sharks, Columbus Blue Jackets and Anaheim Ducks.
Lawton made his comments before the Oilers traded Evander Kane and his $5.125 million for next season to the Vancouver Canucks. With Kane gone, they now have over $17 million in cap space, which should be enough to sign Bouchard to a big raise while leaving enough for other roster needs. Meanwhile, The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun reports Viktor Arvidsson and his $4.4 million AAV could be next on the trade block.
Meanwhile, the rumor mill was buzzing on Tuesday over the possibility of a major trade involving the Vegas Golden Knights. The Hockey News’ Julian Gaudio cited Cam Robinson of Elite Prospects reporting “some smoke out there,” claiming the Carolina Hurricanes were preparing to acquire Golden Knights' center Tomas Hertl.
Trading Hertl would clear the Golden Knights' share ($6.75 million) of his $8.125 million average annual value through 2029-30. He has a full no-movement clause until July 1, when it becomes a three-team trade list. It would stoke recent conjecture suggesting they're the favorites to sign Mitch Marner when the Toronto Maple Leafs right winger becomes a UFA on July 1.
However, Robinson later reported the Hurricanes didn't have any deals in place and weren't closing in on anything at present. Since then, the Golden Knights' cap space has shrunk by $2 million with their recent signing of Reilly Smith, and could drop by another $2 million once Brandon Saad is re-signed.
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