Is Evan Bouchard Being Financially Squeezed by his own Teammate?

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Ryan Hall
July 26, 2023 (11:09)

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As the summer progresses, the Oilers find themselves in a challenging situation due to cap constraints. Having already given away two players earlier in the summer to free up space, they now face the task of signing their two remaining important players.

According to Frank Seravalli, the contract of Ryan McLeod, who is currently in arbitration, will play a crucial role in Evan Bouchard's deal.

Seravalli explains,

"They only have so much cap space, and whatever amount McLeod receives will directly impact what they can offer Bouchard. Any extra dollar going to McLeod means less for Bouchard."

Seravalli also noted

«I'm sure he feels that he got squeezed last year, played the role of the good soldier, and now says, 'look, I have arb rights, Bouchard doesn't � he's going to have to be the one who gets squeezed, not me. And the fact that you have all these other contracts on your books, that's not my problem."

There is a high possibility that McLeod will receive a substantial raise from the arbitrator, given his performance during his third season with the Oilers. As the 40th overall pick in the 2018 draft, he played 57 games, scoring eleven goals, providing 12 assists, amassing 23 points, and maintaining a +4 rating.

Once the arbitration case is settled, all eyes will be on Evan Bouchard's contract negotiations, which are by far the most significant concern for the team this offseason. There is also a looming concern that another team might present an offer sheet to Bouchard, making it difficult for the Oilers to retain him due to their financial constraints.

General Manager Holland hopes to sign Bouchard to a bridge deal that would offer some cap flexibility. However, it seems that this possibility might have already diminished, and the upcoming weeks could prove quite challenging for Holland and the Oilers.