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Is there a dance partner for Benoit Pouliot?
If there is, the Oilers will likely take advantage and move him for whatever return they can manage. Maybe they’ve got a deal with Vegas in the works that will see Pouliot act as Vegas’ selection in the expansion draft.
If they don’t, the Oilers may exercise a buyout option on Pouliot.
The NHL’s two-week buyout period starts today. Should the Oilers wish to buy Benoit Pouliot out of his final two years, they’d pay him to go away. Pouliot is due eight million dollars over two years (2017-18, 2018-19). If the club exercise the buyout option, they’d pay him 5.3 million dollars over four years.
The important part to keep in mind is that the cap hit would drop to 1.33 over those four years. If the Oilers really needed some cap space (about 2.6M this year and next), they could entertain this option. With the cap going up likely just a million or two in 2017-18, the Oilers may find themselves looking for every dime they can.