When the team you support hasn’t been in the playoffs in a decade, the off-season can be the most exciting part of the year.
It’s certainly the case in Edmonton this summer. On Tuesday, soon-to-be unrestricted free agent forward Milan Lucic and defenceman Jason Demers were in Edmonton as the Oilers tried to woo the two players before the start of free agency on Friday.
NHL teams are allowed to meet with unrestricted free agents between June 25 and 30, leading up to the start of free agency on July 1, although they aren’t allowed to discuss contract specifics.
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Edmonton hockey fans posted photos and videos on social media of Lucic and Demers around the city.
Things got really crazy when it was reported that Lucic and Demers had already committed to signing with the franchise.
The report sent hockey fans into a frenzy on social media.
Lucic later denied the report, but that didn’t stop fans from speculating online.
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The 28-year-old left winger is one of the most coveted free agents this year. He would give Edmonton a skilled winger with size and toughness, which the team has been lacking for years.
Lucic had 20 goals and 35 assists with the Los Angeles Kings last season.
He has 397 points and 851 penalty minutes in 647 career games.
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While signing the Vancouver native would give the Oilers much needed size and toughness on one of the top two lines, it wouldn’t solve the team’s biggest area of need: defence.
That’s intensified speculation Oilers G.M. Peter Chiarelli will trade one or more of the team’s talented young forwards for help on the blueline.
A Demers signing would be an upgrade to the defence, especially on the right side where Edmonton is particularly lacking, but the 28-year-old isn’t considered a top pairing defenceman.
He had 23 points in 62 games last season with the Dallas Stars, where he spent the last two seasons, and he has 143 points in 423 career games, with a 39 +/-.
It has many speculating Chiarelli would have to make a trade involving the likes of Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins or Leon Draisaitl in order to get a one or two blueliner.
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