NHL analyst weighs in on whether the Oilers will regret David Tomasek's contract termination
Photo credit: Edit from The Hockey Writers
NHL analyst Zach Laing weighed in on whether the Oilers will regret terminating David Tomasek's contract, and he believes the situation is a win-win for both.
David Tomasek is set to become the latest overseas free agent whose Edmonton Oilers experiment didn't pan out. He joins the ranks of Gaetan Haas, Joakim Nygard, and Mikko Koskinen, players who looked like good bets but never fully fit.
What David Tomasek did in the SHL last season
Tomasek wasn't a bad gamble. Last season, he led the SHL in scoring, and the Oilers were seeking more offence in the bottom six. Unfortunately, it never clicked, and his contract is now set for termination.
The Oilers clearly liked him. Stan Bowman even travelled to Sweden during the 4-Nations break to scout him in person.
Early in the season, Tomasek saw 30 five-on-five minutes alongside Connor McDavid on the top line and time on the top power play unit. He scored a goal and had three points in his first seven games.
But as ice time diminished, so did production, finishing with three goals and five points in 22 games.
Why David Tomasek ultimately decided to go back overseas
Tomasek spent the final six games before Christmas in the press box, playing fourth-line minutes that didn't suit his offensive style.
Hockey Viz data showed he drove offence 12 percent below league average and defence nine percent below, with negative impacts on both special teams. The fit just wasn't there.
Returning to Sweden allows Tomasek to continue his season while the Oilers free up $1.2 million in cap space, truly a win-win for both, according to NHL analyst Zach Laing.
"Tomášek can return to playing in Sweden and continue his season richer in thanks to months of NHL cheques, and the Oilers can clear $1.2-million in cap space from their books. That's huge for them, as there's a litany of players who could be returning from injury soon who can fill his role."
- Zach Laing
- Zach Laing
When his contract is officially terminated, Edmonton will have $1.82 million in available cap room, factoring in LTIR pool money.
That space provides flexibility as players like Jake Walman, Kasperi Kapanen, Connor Clattenburg, Noah Philp, and Tristan Jarry eventually return from injury.
While the Oilers still face cap juggling later, Laing believes that moving Tomasek off the books relieves some pressure and clears room for healthy roster management.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 27 | 108 ANSWERS NHL analyst weighs in on whether the Oilers will regret David Tomasek's contract termination Who benefits more from David Tomasek's contract termination? | ||
| Oilers | 33 | 30.6 % |
| Tomasek | 28 | 25.9 % |
| Both | 37 | 34.3 % |
| Neither | 10 | 9.3 % |
| List of polls | ||