Fansided

Oilers make a quiet splash, bring back Tobias Rieder on value deal

By Mackenzie Ingram

LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 24: Tobias Rieder #10 of the Los Angeles Kings looks on during a game against the Edmonton Oilers at STAPLES Center on February 24, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NHLI via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 24: Tobias Rieder #10 of the Los Angeles Kings looks on during a game against the Edmonton Oilers at STAPLES Center on February 24, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NHLI via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Edmonton Oilers announced signed forward, Tobias Rieder to a one-year deal that will have a cap hit of $2 million for this upcoming season.

With the 114th pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, the Edmonton Oilers selected Tobias Rieder, a winger from Landshut Germany.

At the time, the pick seemed rather insignificant, but looking back today, Rieder was one of the Oilers best selections in recent memory.

In fact, of the Oilers 54 draft selections from 2011-2017, only 11 went on to play at least 25 games at the NHL level.

One of which, was Tobias Rieder.

Furthermore, of players not selected in the top three overall by Edmonton since 2010, Rieder is first among all Oilers draftees in Goals (55), Assists (62), and is the only one to have reached the 100-point plateau for his career.

The problem? none of his accomplishments have actually been with the Oilers franchise.

Two years after being selected by Edmonton, Rieder was shipped off to Arizona in exchange for Kale Kessy; who never played an NHL game.

Five years removed from the treacherous-deal that sent the German packing however, the Oilers seem to have finally realized Rieder’s worth, as TSN’s Darren Dreger announced today that the parties came to a mutual agreement on a 1-year contract.

For the Oilers, Rieder signing at the price of a bottom-six forward has value in its own right, considering he’s likely to find himself among the team’s top forward lines come the regular-season

Though he is yet to score more than 16 goals or register 40 points in his career, the 25-year old, Rieder, certainly has the potential to be a 20-25 goal scorer; especially with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl at his side.

Last season, Rieder posted 12 goals and 23 points while playing for both the Arizona Coyotes and Los Angeles Kings.

Next: Each NHL Team's Biggest 'What if

Even if he fails to outdo his previous bests, Edmonton supporters are sure to be content with the team bringing back Tobias Rieder given the minuscule impact of his contract. The hope for Oilers fans and management alike though, is that  Rieder has a career year, giving the team some much-needed depth at the wing position moving forward.

Home/Edmonton Oilers