Edmonton Oilers
Oilers’ Emberson Wants Extension, Agent Says Deal in the Works
Ty Emberson says his agent has confirmed the Edmonton Oilers want to re-sign him to a new contract extension and he wants to stay.
When asked if he would like to stay with the Edmonton Oilers beyond this season, defenseman Ty Emberson responded that he was hoping to get a deal done right away. Emberson told Sportsnet’s Mark Spector, “My agent mentioned something to me about that a couple of days ago.” He added, “If it happens to work out, I’d be excited. I love it here … and hopefully can spend more time here.” The good news is that the Oilers want him extended to a new deal, too, and are trying to make that happen imminently.
Emberson Has Gotten Comfortable with the Oilers
While it took him a few games to get acquainted to the system and comfortable with his new team, Emberson has quietly become a stalwart on the Oilers’ blue line. He’s got most unnoticed, which is a good thing, because it means he’s not making many mistakes. That’s all the Oilers could have hoped for when they acquired him in a trade that sent Cody Ceci to the San Jose Sharks.
The Oilers were taking a chance moving out a popular locker room guy in Ceci. But, they needed to save money and Emberson’s contract did just that. A $950K player who had only played a handful of NHL games looked like a bargain, but it wasn’t a guarantee he was one. As the season has rolled along and the Oilers have started to find their rhythm, Emberson has been a crucial piece of the team’s six defensemen and an even more important part of their revamped penalty kill.
The Oilers Should Have Some Leverage in an Emberson Extension
His current contract status sees him as a pending Group 6 unrestricted free agent. However, if he plays 15 more games — which he will easily do, barring an injury or some other odd situation — he can remain a restricted free agent, That’s good news for the Oilers, who will have the player under team control and he won’t be able to test the market or jump for a better payday.
However, the Oilers are aware of what can happen with restricted free agents they don’t lock up. They lost Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg to offer sheets and the team likely doesn’t want to make the same mistake twice. The question will be if anyone besides the Oilers notices how good a player Emberson is and can become.
“If I was quiet, if I was making the good passes and I didn’t get beat anywhere, didn’t turn the puck over. Sometimes, it’s good to get noticed. Other times, it’s good not to get noticed.”
If the Oilers can get Emberson locked in somewhere around $1.5 – $2 million, expect them to go for as short as two years and as long as a four-year deal.
Next: Host Hints Oilers Already Added One Trade Deadline Forward
