Fans sound off on Oilers off-season moves
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The locker room sale was not the only thing on the minds of Edmonton Oilers fans Saturday following a busy week for general manager Peter Chiarelli and the team in the midst of preparing for next season.
The Oilers traded seven-year veteran Jordan Eberle to the New York Islanders for 23-year-old Ryan Strome Thursday and re-signed Kris Russell to a four-year, $16-million deal the following day.
The Eberle trade cleared up cap space to re-sign Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid. But fan Kevin Chambers said he thinks they traded him too soon.
“The cap crunch isn’t this year coming up so I felt like we should have hung on to him for another year and then dealt him hopefully when his value was higher than it is right now,” he said.
In return, the Oilers got a younger Strome who Chris Welch said seems to have room to grow.
“I think putting him with the right team — and hopefully that’s the Oilers — that’s a good move by Chiarelli,” he said.
Ben Thomas said the re-signing of Caroline, Alberta native Kris Russell is “the greatest thing.”
“I think their win record is so much better with Russell,” he added.
The Oilers added seven players through the NHL Draft that wrapped up Saturday, picking five-foot-seven right-winger Kailer Yamamoto in the first round, 22nd overall.
Although he’s the smallest player ever drafted in the first round, fans are generally pleased with the pick and excited to see what the “little guy with a big heart” will bring to the table.
“I love the pick,” Chambers said. “We have the size but now we just need a bit more speed and skill.”
Welch said his dad grew up with Yamamoto’s family in Spokane and is excited to see how he fares as an Oiler.
“They just need to develop him the right way,” he said. “I think he’s got a little bit of scrap in him, too.”
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