Washington Capitals Analyst Al May (7/1/26)
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What is the main topic of discussion in this episode?
Hey, it's Bob Stauffer. I just wanted to let you know that you can listen to Oilers Now ad-free on Amazon Music, included with Prime. Welcome back, everybody. It is 10.32 in oil country. It is our Oilers Now Free Agent Frenzy, powered by Friesen Brothers. And I want to just get to some text here momentarily.
Yeah, but before we do that, Bob, I wonder, you know, from your perspective, is there a guy that you'd contemplate this team trying to add right now?
again limited camps cop space right so i'm gonna give you a name i don't know how the deal would work like there's some there's some lower end guys that you might be able to get at one year 850 to a million bucks that you could you could potentially you know but a guy like kevin hayes makes sense as a fourth line center like i i don't knowing knowing mike babcock a little Savoy is going to be on the team. Are Howard and Szymanski going to have to earn their way up? So, you know, I wonder, is there like a fourth line center that, maybe you could look to add in a perfect world it's the right shot I know some people say what about Stenland I think Stenland's gonna get two and a half or three million bucks a year I think a guy like Hayes would he's looking for a chance after you know he played last year in Pittsburgh dealt with some injuries but I'm gonna give you a player that I think's a real like a guy that's a top nine player I just don't know how you can make it work so Dan Milstein has gone on the record in fact I read the quote yesterday on the show I think I still have it here
Dan Milstein and Jerry Johansen are two of the guys that went out there and openly supported the Oilers hiring Mike Babcock. Milstein had this to say, I've known Mike Babcock for a very long time, Bob. He's a good man. And if there's one coach to deliver the Stanley Cup to Edmonton, it would be Mike Babcock. And you can quote me on that. Well, he does have a player that has history with Mike Babcock that's played a lot with Jason Dickinson and Connor Murphy that can really skate and has size. And I think that knowing Babcock and DJ Smith, and I've spoken to them about this with both guys, I think they want the Oilers to get a little bit bigger. And that player is Ilya Mikheyev. I just don't see how Edmonton can afford Ilya Mikheyev on a fiver, and he's 31.
So some people would say, well, how would he get a four-year deal at $4 million? I mean, A.J. Greer just got four years at $4.5 million. So Ilya Mikheyev last year played 17 minutes a game in Chicago. He was a plus player. He's been a plus player his entire career. Like, Chicago hasn't been very good the last two years, and he was a plus player both years in Chicago. But he played 17.26 per game. Like, that's a top-nine forward all day.
Which players are potential targets for the Edmonton Oilers during free agency?
He can play left or right side. Again, I don't know how Edmonton would make it work. I don't know how they could. But I can tell you that I've talked to a couple of players, and they would be excited with an addition like that because of his versatility. He's a good penalty killer. He can skate like the wind. He's one of the fastest guys in the entire National Hockey League. Again, I think that Edmonton today is probably, and my guess is somebody signs McKay. But if you're asking me for one guy, You're not adding a defenseman unless Nurse gets traded, and you're not taking a D-man back or something, right? So you're not adding a defenseman. You probably could use at least a top nine. And I preface this by saying...
A month ago, I said, in a perfect world, I think the order is out of top six forward. I did not think a month ago Edmonton would re-sign both Connor Murphy and Jason Dickinson. I didn't think they'd get them both done. Let me ask you a question. At 4.0 for Dickinson and 4.1 for Murphy, how does that compare to some of the numbers we've already seen out there today?
I mean, you're looking at what Olin Zellweger just got 3.1. I would rather have Connor Murphy all day long right now.
Well, Zellweger's got an offensive upside, but Murphy's a legit veteran right shot.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What is the main topic of discussion in this episode?
0:00–2:56
2
Which players are potential targets for the Edmonton Oilers during free agency?
2:56–4:46
3
How does the hiring of Mike Babcock impact the Oilers' strategy?
4:46–6:21
4
What are the implications of the Capitals acquiring Alex Tuch and Jordan Kyrou?
6:21–8:29
5
How do the Capitals' recent trades affect their team dynamics?
8:29–9:46
6
What are the challenges facing the Oilers in the upcoming season?
9:46–11:54
7
How does the salary cap influence team decisions in the NHL?
11:54–13:30
8
What are the predictions for the Oilers' performance this season?
13:30–25:16