Adam Larsson Extension Could Come In Around $4M AAV for Oilers

According to post by Allan Mitchell of The Athletic, the Edmonton Oilers may choose to let Tyson Barrie walk away, get Adam Larsson signed to a reasonable deal and run with Ethan Bear and Evan Bouchard to round out the right side, all for around $7 million next season.

Mitchell believes the fact the Oilers are working on a contract extension for Larsson indicates they want to prioritize keeping the shutdown defenseman and that they have confidence in Bear and Bouchard as puck movers. Talk of a three or four-year deal is out there when it comes to Adam Larsson and Mitchell adds that a reasonable comparison or estimate on his extension could put him at a cost of around $4 million, perhaps as high as $4.25 million annually. 

Related: Oilers’ Tyson Barrie to Test Free Agent Market This Offseason

Mitchell writes: “If Larsson is going to return, that tells me Barrie is unlikely to, although Holland isn’t going to play his cards until the offseason and things can change before summer.” Recent reports suggested that Barrie will test the free agent market this offseason, something he absolutely earned the right to do after signing a one-year deal and finishing the 2020-21 regular season as the top-scoring defenseman in the league.

Larsson, on the other hand, is rumored to be close on a deal with Edmonton and news is that deal should be completely immediately following the playoffs. It will be interesting to see if the Oilers look at also extending Dmitry Kulikov who joined the team just ahead of this year’s NHL Trade Deadline, is not expensive, but has played a steady game since his arrival. Larsson and Kulikov have proven to make a strong shutdown pair.

Ethan Bear a Top-Pairing Defenseman?

If this is the route Edmonton goes, it would suggest that Bear is a top-two player and he’s slot in alongside Darnell Nurse. Some may question whether or not he’s ready for that role on a nightly basis. Others will say he’s earned it with back-to-back steady seasons.

Mitchell also notes that the Larsson contract situation suggests Bouchard is extremely likely to be on next year’s team.

Next: NHL Releases First-Round 2021 Playoff Schedule