Looking like the Oilers are going to wait and sign Zach as a free agent on Wednesday which means a maximum 7 year term. Toronto placed a higher value on the cap savings Edmonton would gain with the 8th year in a sign and trade, than the Oil are willing to pay in a draft pick.
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Oilers choose a higher cap hit over giving up an asset in a sign and trade for Hyman
By Jon Steitzer
Jul 24, 2021, 11:27 EDTUpdated: Jul 24, 2021, 11:34 EDT
Ken Holland gives master classes on bad decisions so we shouldn’t be too surprised about his decision today to choose to pay Zach Hyman more over a 7 year term instead of making a deal with the Leafs for a sign and trade today.
The Oilers are likely looking at about a $500k per year higher cap hit as a result of their refusal to budget off their instance of only paying a 6th round pick to get Hyman.
Earlier this offseason the Rangers acquired Barclay Goodrow’s negotiating rights early from Tampa and then signed him, but there are two major differences here.
The first is that Zach Hyman is a better player, the second is that a sign and trade also involves the Oilers acquiring an asset from the Leafs in the form of the 8th year that lowers the cap hit.
As much as assets are great, there was really no reason to do the Oilers a massive favour at that price.
If Dubas finds himself hard up for late round picks, there are plenty of middling prospects or depth players the Leafs can flip add to the long shot portion of their prospect pool.
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