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Morning, folks!
Waking up this morning to find out that my understanding of the NHL’s expansion rules was actually wrong has thrown me for a bit of a loop. Apologies for the delay.
Yesterday, I thought that Oscar Klefbom would be protected from expansion if he didn’t meet those criteria, which was incorrect. It just means they would need to find another D who would. Enter Kris Russell and his 1-year extension.
Honestly, I still don’t like it. Sure, he’s finally making the money he should have been making for the last few years, but he’s still a replaceable D who drags offense, and he’ll still be making twice what replaceable D should be making.
That he fills the expansion requirements is a bit of a hollow victory, all things considered.
So, what does this mean for expansion? Well, if the Oilers go 7-3-1, they’ll expose (and almost certainly lose) one of Oscar Klefbom, Ethan Bear, Darnell Nurse, or Caleb Jones. If they go 4-4-1? Jesse Puljujarvi.
Unless, they make a trade:
This seems to be the correct line from where I sit, too.
— Carter & Blindsay Award Winner (@CopperandBlue) October 22, 2020
Something like:
7-3-1
McDavid, Draisaitl, RNH, Yamamoto, JP, (Nurse Return), Best Value F Remaining
Klefbom, Bear, jones
Koskinen https://t.co/FCvWNh5x0u
What say you?
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