A Trade That Would Help the Oilers, and the Avs Will Have Cap Issues

A Darnell Nurse – Morgan Rielly trade makes sense for the Edmonton Oilers

Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Sun: The Edmonton Oilers have 31-year-old Darnell Nurse under contract through 2029-30 at a $9.25 million salary cap hit. He has a full no-trade that kicks to a 10-team no-trade clause after next season.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have 32-year-old Morgan under contract through 2029-30 at a $7.5 milion cap. He’s got a full no-movement clause.

A swap makes the most sense to help out with the Oilers salary cap situation. Tie Domi helped GM John Chayka get hired in Toronto, and Tie’s done Max, who plays for the Leafs, grew up with Nurse.

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The Colorado Avalanche will have very limited salary cap space for next season

Corey Masisak of the Denver Post: The Colorado Avalanche are set to take a good run at the Stanley Cup this season, and the core of this roster is under contract next year as well. The salary cap is going up by $8.5 million for next season, but the Avs have $2.3 million of that taken up by Brent Burns overages from his bonus structure.

The Avs have $2.98 million in projected cap space with 17 players under contract. Jack Drury and Zakhar Bardakov are RFAs, with Joel Kiviranta, Alex Barre-Boulet, Jason Polin, Brett Kulak, Brent Burns and Nick Blankenburg as UFAs.

Offseason questions for the Avalanche

Will Cale Makar sign a huge extension? He’s got a year left and is eligible this offseason to sign an extension. Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov has the highest cap hit at $17 million, but the cap ceiling will be way higher when Makar’s extension kicks in.

Will they be able to re-sign Brett Kulak? Could take two or three years at around $3.5 to $4 million. The Avs may need to move out salary.

Will they be able to re-sign Jack Drury? He’s an RFA and has been a really good fourth-line center for them. They could go with Nic Roy, Parker Kelly or Bardakov instead. A longer-term deal may require salary to go out, or they could look to trade him.

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Will Brent Burns want to play again and would the Avs want him back? He’s 41 years old and may want to chase Phil Kessel‘s Ironman record – he’s 57 games behind. A one-year, $1 million incentive deal could get it done.

How will the Avs create some salary cap flexibility? Ross Colton has a year left at $4 million and could play in someone’s middle-six.

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