The Edmonton Oilers reclaimed Raphael Lavoie on waivers Wednesday. Had they been the one staff to take action, it may have been an actual win for the group because the Oilers may have moved Lavoie all the way down to the AHL with out having to make use of waivers. Sadly for Edmonton, one other staff — it may very well be a rival messing with the Oilers — reportedly put a declare in on the ahead. As such, Edmonton both has to maintain Lavoie on the roster, or threat waivers once more.
The second won’t be an enormous concern, assuming the Oilers imagine the staff who did so didn’t really need the participant, however to make it laborious for the Oilers to make strikes or accrue cap house.
As a result of waiver claims work in reverse order of final season’s standings, Daniel Nugent-Bowman experiences that it needed to be one of many Colorado Avalanche, Vancouver Canucks, Boston Bruins, Winnipeg Jets, Florida Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes, Dallas Stars, or New York Rangers who additionally put a declare in. However, seeing because it was fairly apparent the Oilers had been going to try to get their ahead again, it could have been comparatively protected to take action, figuring out Edmonton would get the participant and it could damage their wage cap scenario.
Now, as a substitute of getting over $1 million in cap house, the Oilers solely have $287,000. With regards to accrued cap house, it’s an enormous distinction all through the season. Edmonton’s incapability to construct up extra cap house on the deadline is helpful for everybody. Maybe a staff did this deliberately.
Are the Oilers Prepared to Name The Rival’s Bluff on Lavoie?
If the Oilers don’t intend to play Lavoie and need him within the AHL, they’ll need to name the bluff of no matter staff did this. If the Oilers imagine that staff received’t put in a declare once more, they need to really feel safe to ship Lavoie down. However, if Edmonton believes a type of groups actually needed Lavoie, the Oilers will threat dropping him once more.
How snug are the Oilers of their feeling that one other staff was simply messing with them? Already the topic of two gives sheets this summer season, the Oilers need to know that groups aren’t above making their life tough.
Subsequent: Early 2024-25 Season Predictions an Unfortunate Curse for Oilers?