Tom Gilbert, 6yrs, 24 million

by Jonathan Willis on Apr 11, 2008 1:52 PM MDT

Tom Gilbert was signed by the Oilers today to a 6-yr, 24 million dollar contract. Other players recently signed in similar dollars & years range :

CGY - Robyn Regehr - 20mil/5yrs (4)

CHI - Brent Seabrook - 10.5mil/3yrs (3.5)

COL - Brett Clark - 7mil/2yrs (3.5)

MIN - Brent Burns - 14.2mil/4yrs (3.55)

MIN - Nick Schultz - 21mil/6yrs (3.5)

SJ - Matt Carle - 13.75mil/4yrs (3.44)

STL - Barrett Jackman - 14.4mil/4yrs (3.6)

VAN - Kevin Bieksa - 11.25mil/3yrs (3.75)

Most of those guys compare fairly well with what Gilbert is, but most also have more of a track record. This signing isn't as bad as I first thought, but still isn't great. Worst of all, between the Oilers commitment to Staios and Souray, we're looking at 12.2 million a year in cap hit for the next three years. That's basically 25% of the cap on three defenceman, none of whom is really established as a top-pairing guy. My guess for next season:

Gilbert-Grebs-Staios-Souray-Smid-Greene-Roy, with the young guys and one of Allan Rourke/T.J. Kemp in the minors in case of injury. So long, Joni Pitkanen, we hardly knew you. (As a further note, it is a really, really, good bet that my prediction of Pitkanen going in a 1-for-3 trade comes true at the draft).

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Definitely not a terrible signing, but from what I have seen, I am leaning on your side - not great. (Of course, I have only seen him play a few times, and even then he wasn't my focus of attention, so that is based more on stats)

I heard Robby Nilsson got signed as well - TSN isn't working and I have to go, I'm curious as to what the damage there will be...

by Cams Habs on Apr 11, 2008 11:07 PM MDT reply actions

The Nilsson signing actually looks really good - 3yrs/5.5 million. By year three that deal should be a huge bargain, and it doesn't even look bad if he stays just as good as he is now.

by Jonathan Willis on Apr 11, 2008 11:41 PM MDT reply actions

If Souray wasn't signed, this signing would not have been all that bad.

Of course at that time, Gilbert's emergence wasn't reasonably foreseeable. Nor were the developments of other good young players.

by PunjabiOil on Apr 12, 2008 12:43 AM MDT reply actions

//If Souray wasn't signed, this signing would not have been all that bad.//

Thats bang on. That contract is going to be a boat anchor indefinitely.

by Jonathan Willis on Apr 12, 2008 10:01 AM MDT reply actions

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