The Edmonton Oilers and forward Kailer Yamamoto avoided arbitration, agreeing to a two-year, $6.2 million contract extension, the team announced Wednesday.
YAMS!
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) August 4, 2022
The #Oilers have signed Kailer Yamamoto to a two-year contract extension with an AAV of $3.1 million. The right-winger set new career highs in games played (81), goals (20), assists (21) & points (41) last season.@kailer_yamamoto | #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/qNakfpNtIH
Yamamoto's extension comes with a $3.1 million AAV.
The 23-year-old finished with career highs in goals (20), assists (21) and points (41) in 81 regular-season games for the Oilers last season.
In 14 Stanley Cup Playoff games, Yamamoto tallied seven points (two goals, five assists), averaging just over 16 minutes of ice time.
Drafted No. 22 overall in 2017 by Edmonton, Yamamoto has compiled 93 points (40 goals, 53 assists) in 186 career games for the Oilers.
The Oilers' new deal with Yamamoto puts them in a cap crunch. According to PuckPedia, Yamamoto's $3.1 million cap hit for 2022-23 moves them $6.8 million over the league's upper limit of $82.5 million.
After signing Yamamoto for 2 years $3.1M Cap Hit, #LetsGoOilers are $6.8M over cap with 21 players (12F/7D/2G) on the Projected Roster.
— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) August 4, 2022
With Klefbom ($4.167M) & Smith ($2.2M) to LTIR, effectively $423K over the cap.
RFA: McLeodhttps://t.co/jaKNIxcF3w
The Athletic's Daniel Nugent-Bowman states that the Oilers will likely need to make a trade to become cap compliant.
The Oilers sign RW Kailer Yamamoto to a two-year, $3.1 million AAV deal, avoiding arbitration.
— Daniel Nugent-Bowman (@DNBsports) August 4, 2022
C Ryan McLeod still needs a contract. At least one trade almost certainly must be made for the Oilers to be cap compliant.
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