Rumor: Edmonton May Buyout Veteran Winger

 

According to Frank Seravalli, the Edmonton Oilers could very well buyout James Neal this off-season. The 33-year-old winger is significantly overpaid at this stage of his career, so it makes sense if the Oilers decide to. Neal has two more years left at a $5.75 million cap hit. That is far too expensive for a player who was a healthy scratch numerous times this season.

After being traded by the Flames to the Oilers before the 2019-20 season, Neal would go on to have a solid year. In 55 games, the veteran scored 19 goals and recorded 31 points in 55 games. However, this season he struggled significantly, as he only played 29 games and registered 10 points in total. It is clear that he is no longer a top-six forward at the NHL level, so the Oilers should look to rid of his contract. 

If the Oilers buyout Neal, they will gain roughly $4 million of cap space for the next two seasons. That would be very beneficial to them, as they could use that to bring in better talent. Keep in mind, though, they would be charged $1.92 million over the next four seasons because of the buyout. Yet, it would be worth it for the short-term savings. This just seems like a necessary move at the end of the day. 

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