Edmonton Oilers: Breaking down their top free agents of 2020
Restricted Free Agents
Ethan Bear
Rookie defenceman Ethan Bear surprised everyone when he, like Russell, made the team out of camp. Though he was considered a promising prospect, the thought was he would at least start this season in the AHL.
Bear never gave the club a chance to send him down, as he was fantastic throughout camp, and has maintained that high level of play all season long. Although he won’t get any Calder Trophy recognition, he has had a phenomenal rookie season, averaging nearly 22 minutes of ice time per game. His numbers have been solid as well, with five goals and 21 points through 71 games.
It is tough to predict exactly what Bears next contract will be. Was this a one-year wonder, or the start of a fantastic career? Regardless, Bear will without a doubt be retained and back on the Oilers blueline next season, and likely for many more seasons to come.
Matt Benning
Matt Benning has become somewhat of a polarizing on the Oilers back end. According to some fans, he has no business being in the NHL at all, while others find him to be an extremely underrated third pairing defenceman.
The now 25-year-old has played in 248 career regular season NHL games, all coming with the Oilers. In those 248 games, he has posted 15 goals and 46 assists, including one goal and seven assists in 43 games this season.
Considering his age along with the fact he has played in nearly 250 career games, it isn’t likely he is going to improve from what he is now, at least not much. However, I believe he is an adequate third pairing defenceman.
The Oilers searched for a capable NHL blueline for years and finally have a respectable one. Benning is a part of that, and I believe the right decision is to bring him back on a cheap contract for next season.
Andreas Athanasiou
The most hyped up trade Holland made at the deadline was bringing in speedy forward Andreas Athanasiou from the Detroit Red Wings. The former thirty goal scorer was seen as a player who could match McDavid’s speed and therefore give the Oilers captain a winger he so desperately needed.
Athanasiou definitely came in with some warning signs as well, as the 25-year-old sported a league worst minus 45 at the time of the trade. However, many believed that playing with a better team would help turn that around. Unfortunately for him, he didn’t make a very good first impression on Oilers fans.
Through his first nine games with the club, he has posted just a goal and an assist. His time on McDavid’s line was extremely short lived, as Tippett instead had him playing mainly on the third line with Riley Sheahan and Josh Archibald.
Athanasiou’s high end skill certainly makes him intriguing to bring back for next season despite the very rough season. The only concern would be the money it requires to re-sign him. If he is willing to take a deal at his current salary of $3 million per year or less, then Holland should absolutely bring him back and see what he can do over a full season with the team.
Oilers headed in the right direction
Though the Oilers roster still has flaws, it has certainly improved under Holland. If he can continue to find good depth players like he was able to for this season, they should remain a very good team for years to come with Draisaitl and McDavid steering the ship.