With McDavid signed, Oilers bulk up on one-year deals

This summer the Edmonton Oilers did the one thing they had no choice in accomplishing.

The Oilers and their captain, Connor McDavid, signed an eight-year contract extension worth $100 million.

McDavid posted a century mark this past season with 30 goals and 70 assists.

Various reports have suggested McDavid was offered more than $13 million per year but had insisted on lowering the annual average rate by increasing the number of years on the contract.

Ostensibly the decision was made to help the Oilers build a better team around him.

With McDavid in the fold and locked down for eight years, the Oilers went to work signing a series of one and two-year deals with free agents.

Defenseman Yohann Auvitu, a native of France, was signed away from the New Jersey Devils system.  He iced in  25 games for the Devils last season and netted two goals and two assists.

Forward Brad Malone signed a two-year deal after spending much of his time in the AHL with Chicago Wolves and Hershey Bears.

Edmonton continued its signing of minor leaguers with the addition of Mitch Callahan and Ryan Stanton with two-year contracts.

Grayson Downing, Brian Ferlin, Ty Rattie, Keegan Lowe, and goaltender Edward Pasquale were all signed to one-year deals.

The list of “show me” contracts provide a little more depth to the Oilers’ system without breaking the bank any further.

Jussi Jokinen moved from the Florida Panthers to the Oilers on a one-year deal of his own.  The deal is reportedly worth $1.1 million for the 34-year old forward.

Andrew Ference retired this off season and David Deshanais signed with the New York Rangers.

After eight years in the wilderness, the Oilers made the post season and were just short of a trip the Western Conference Finals.  They lost the conference semi final to the Anaheim Ducks who lost the Nashville Predators.

Is the supporting cast sufficient to see the Oilers to the next level?

Once can make the argument that a post season run like this past campaign should make the club hungrier across the bench.

At $12.5 million a year in salary, McDavid will have the weight of Oilers fans on his shoulders as well as ownership and management.  A quick start to the season will make things easier in the stretch run in 2018.