Mattias Janmark
This was news before July 1st, but let’s bring it up now. The Edmonton Oilers re-signed Janmark for one more year at $1M. The first year Oiler had a solid season for the team as a bottom sixer. He put up 10 goals, 3 of them shorthanded, and 15 assists for 25 points in 66 games for Edmonton. He even displayed some chemistry at times with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins this past season. I’d like to see RNH play as the third line center more often to balance out the offense, but that’s another topic for another day. With Klim Kostin signing his contract with Detroit after that trade and Nick Bjugstad returning to Arizona, I’m content with this move for the Oilers. He’s a solid keep for the bottom two lines.
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Ben Gleason
A two-year, two-way contract, $775K per year, for the 25-year-old, left-handed defenseman from Ortonville, Michigan. The undrafted Gleason signed an entry-level contract with the Dallas Stars back in 2018, and while he’s played only four NHL games, he has had a very productive AHL career. In 290 games for the Texas Stars, he’s put up 141 points.
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Noel Hoefenmayer
Drafted in the fourth round by Arizona in 2017, Hoefenmayer signed a one-year, entry-level contract paying him $775K. He’s yet to play in the NHL but had a very successful OHL career. In 298 games for the Ottawa 67’s, he put up 222 points and was named CHL Defenseman of the Year in 2020. In the last three years afterward, he played 91 games for the AHL’s Toronto Marlies and put up 47 points.
Conclusion
I’m not certain how I feel about the last two signings, given that Edmonton already has more than enough left-handed defensemen. But heaven forbid we lose one/two of them to injury, Gleason and/or Hoefenmayer at least have the totals to perhaps briefly make up for it. That’s always the main purpose of depth signings, mostly there just for the insurance. Connor Brown remains Edmonton’s biggest deal so far. Drake Cagguila is another bottom-six option to go along with Janmark, but he will more likely spend most of next season in the AHL. With more money being spent on depth the last couple of days, we’re still anxiously awaiting new contracts for restricted free agents Evan Bouchard and Ryan McLeod. Here’s hoping we’re spared any more of that anxiety soon enough.
