Edmonton Oilers general manager Stan Bowman capitalized on the full $9.25-million cap hit relief from the Darnell Nurse trade to San Jose on July 1, signing multiple free agents and acquiring young defensemen without retaining any salary.
Key signings and acquisitions
Bowman used the freed-up cap space to sign UFA defenseman Ryan Shea from Pittsburgh to a five-year, $4-million AAV contract. He also brought in goaltender Frederik Andersen from Carolina on a one-year deal with a $1-million cap hit, plus up to $2.8 million in bonuses, potentially impacting earlier trade acquisition Devon Levi. Winger Kasperi Kapanen was re-signed for one year at $2.6 million, and UFA winger Max Jones signed for $850,000. Depth winger Mathieu Joseph, a 471-game NHL veteran and 2021 Stanley Cup champion with Tampa Bay, inked a $1-million deal.
Defensive prospects from Sharks
As part of the Nurse trade, the Oilers acquired defensemen Shakir Mukhamadullin (New Jersey's 20th overall pick in 2020) and Zack Sharp, a junior at Western Michigan. Mukhamadullin, 24, is an RFA after earning $1 million last season and will likely compete with fellow RFA Spencer Stastney for the seventh defenseman role. Sharp, described by Bowman as a late-bloomer and elite skater, was a target during scouting trips for Owen Michaels.
Cap space and roster outlook
The Oilers currently have $6.4 million in cap space with 23 signed players: 14 forwards, six defensemen, and two goalies (Andersen, Tristan Jarry, and Levi). Signing Mukhamadullin and Stastney would bring the defenseman count to eight, and re-signing RFA forward Colton Dach would total 15 forwards. The team still must decide on UFA Curtis Lazar, the only right-shot center from last season, likely for around $850,000.
No salary retention key to deal
Bowman emphasized the importance of no salary retention in the Nurse trade. “No salary retention was very important, and San Jose had the flexibility cap-wise,” he said. “To get Mukhamadullin and Sharp … that was big. We’re trying to add prospect on defence to our mix.” Nurse had added San Jose to his trade list after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Boston, and the Sharks did not require the Oilers to retain any of his cap hit, unlike other Eastern Conference teams.
