The Edmonton Oilers have placed veteran defenseman Andrej Sekera on unconditional waivers for the purpose of a buyout, the team announced Sunday.

Sekera has two more years on his contract at an annual cap hit of $5.5 million. His buyout will cost the Oilers $2.5 million in each of the next two seasons and $1.5 million for the two campaigns after that, according to CapFriendly.

The 33-year-old signed a six-year pact with Edmonton in 2015 but injuries marred most of his Oilers tenure. Sekera only appeared in a combined 60 games over the last two seasons, registering 12 points.

With Sekera now a free agent, the Oilers have a projected $11.3 million to spend this summer.

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Phil Kessel is a Coyote. Alex Galcheyuk is a Penguin. What a time to be alive.

In case you missed it, here are the full details of Saturday night's five-piece trade:

The gist: Arizona general manager John Chayka got the best player in the deal, and Pittsburgh GM Jim Rutherford got a reasonable return for a player who didn't see eye to eye with the organization. It's fair to say the Coyotes are the short-term winners, while there's a decent chance the Penguins look like thieves a few years down the road. The long-term X-factor is Joseph's development.

Now for some deeper thoughts on the pre-free agency swap:

Kessel's fit in Arizona

With Kessel's persona and his butting of heads with Rutherford and head coach Mike Sullivan commanding the bulk of the post-trade oxygen, what seems to have been lost in the shuffle is how freaking good Kessel is.

The Penguins just traded a guy who ranks eighth in total goals and fourth in even-strength tallies since he broke into the NHL in 2006-07. Kessel, who turns 32 in October, has bagged 23-37 goals for 10 straight non-lockout seasons and posted 92 and 82 points the past two campaigns. He's extremely durable, not missing a regular-season game since 2009-10, and was dominant in Pittsburgh's two Stanley Cup runs, contributing 22 points in 2016 and another 23 in 2017.

The Kessel-Coyotes fit is harmonious. Arizona is bereft of talent up front. Clayton Keller, the team's only dynamic forward, led last year's squad with 47 points. As a team, the Coyotes scored 2.55 goals per game to finish tied for 28th in the NHL. Kessel and his all-world wrist shot immediately become the yin to Keller's yang, taking some of the weight off the 20-year-old playmaker's shoulders as either a linemate or second-line threat. Bonus: Kessel's $6.8-million cap hit, which runs through 2022, is great value.

Of course, the fact that Rick Tocchet - whom many considered the "Phil whisperer" during the Penguins' Cup years - now patrols the Coyotes' bench is a massive factor here. Their relationship fuelled trade discussions, and there will be no surprises in training camp. The familiarity should allow for a smooth transition for both team and player, and ice time, be it at even strength or on the power play, probably won't be an issue.

Away from the rink, the anonymity of playing in the desert - not hockey-mad markets like his previous stops in Boston, Toronto, and Pittsburgh - is a boon for Kessel, who doesn't care for media and isn't in love with the spotlight. Really, it's a match made in heaven on a number of levels.

Galchenyuk's fit in Pittsburgh

Despite being 25 years old and a veteran of 400 NHL games, Galchenyuk is still a difficult player to get a handle on. He was maligned in Montreal, has suffered through multiple serious injuries, and though he isn't a bust, per se, he's failed to live up to the lofty expectations of a third overall pick.

A cynic might suggest Galchenyuk's never going to wow you. By the time a player hits his mid-20s, he is what he is; there's little room for vast improvement. In that sense, he's a second-line forward good for 40-55 points a season who can play center or the wing. Unfortunately for Pens fans, Galchenyuk doesn't drive possession and isn't a strong defensive player.

An optimist might suggest Galchenyuk's move to Pittsburgh will launch him to new heights. A second change of scenery in as many years (the Coyotes acquired Galchenyuk for Max Domi in June 2018), and a spot alongside Evgeni Malkin or Sidney Crosby, sounds promising. There's realistic hope there.

As for Joseph, the Penguins addressed a need. Only 19, he's a 6-foot-2 left-handed defenseman more than capable of transitioning the puck to Pittsburgh's talented forwards. The question is, what's his ceiling? Joseph, a 2017 first-rounder, will most likely start in the AHL.

What are the Coyotes doing?

The 2018-19 Coyotes were a weird team. They received Vezina-caliber goaltending from Antti Raanta and boasted an excellent penalty kill, but were plagued by poor health and an inability to score at 5-on-5 or on the power play. A solid squad on paper, Arizona missed the postseason by four points.

It’s been seven years since the Coyotes played playoff hockey. The Chayka era, which officially started when he was promoted to the GM chair in May 2016, is entering its fourth season. And though he's wheeled and dealed at a league-high rate - mainly picking up small pieces and taking on dead contracts - the Kessel acquisition is Chayka's finest work to date.

What appears to be different this summer is the organization's willingness to move the needle. Last week, Chayka picked up quality middle-six forward Carl Soderberg from Colorado, and the team has apparently expressed interest in some highly sought-after unrestricted free agents, including Joe Pavelski. For once, the Coyotes are big-game hunting.

On the eve of free agency, Arizona is right up against the salary cap, with CapFriendly listing its available space for 2019-20 at $1.7 million. In the coming days, will the team dump to save money, stand pat, or shop some more?

What are the Penguins doing?

There's no denying the Penguins are worse now than they were a couple of days ago. Kessel moved up and down the lineup, but served largely as the third line's offensive engine for four highly productive years. All of a sudden, the bottom six looks just, well, OK.

From a payroll perspective, Pittsburgh has an extra $1.9 million to spend in free agency since Galchenyuk, a UFA in 2020, earns $4.9 million in 2019-20. That's no small chunk of change as Rutherford attempts to once again extend the Pens' Cup window. One day, Sidney Crosby, Kris Letang, and Malkin won't have enough left in their tanks to lead this team to glory, and Pittsburgh's GM would rather not look back on their early 30s with regret.

Now that the Kessel drama is over, Rutherford could pivot to the pursuit of a free-agent forward. The Pens are one of several teams reportedly interested in the reclamation project that is Corey Perry; the 34-year-old Cup champ is searching for a new home after being bought out by the Ducks.

Let's not forget, too, that a Jason Zucker-for-Kessel trade seemed all but finalized a few weeks ago. Does Rutherford circle back to Wild GM Paul Fenton and pitch a new package? Or have his priorities shifted? Rutherford did send Olli Maatta and his $4-million salary to Chicago before the draft to kickstart a retool on the blueline. Perhaps he's not be done tinkering with the back end.

Based on Rutherford's track record, the Pens will do something else this summer, though cap space limits their scope. Galchenyuk may be their quote-unquote big splash.

John Matisz is theScore's national hockey writer.

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Surely you've heard by now: This is the summer someone's going to sign an offer sheet.

The wait has been too long, the speculation is too rampant, and this offseason's crop of restricted free agents is simply too stacked for the drought to continue another year. An offer sheet hasn't been signed since 2013, and no player has officially been poached since 2007. Something's got to give.

Or maybe not. All the media fodder surrounding the ultrarare phenomenon could indeed just be fodder, but the hockey universe can unanimously agree an offer sheet would significantly spice things up come July 1. With that in mind, let's join the fun and map out five players who should be on the radar for teams looking to shake things up.

Before we get started, here's a look at this summer's offer sheet compensation based on the average annual value of the proposed contract:

$0 to $1,395,053: None
$1,395,054 to $2,113,716: 3rd-round pick
$2,113,717 to $4,227,437: 2nd-round pick
$4,227,438 to $6,341,152: 1st-round pick, 3rd-round pick
$6,341,153 to $8,454,871: 1st-round pick, 2nd-round pick, 3rd-round pick
8,454,872 to $10,568,589: Two 1st-round picks, 2nd-round pick, 3rd-round pick
$10,568,590 and up: Four 1st-round picks

Brayden Point, Lightning

2018-19 stats: 79 GP, 41 G, 51 A, 18:55 TOI
Potential suitors: Avalanche, Islanders, Rangers

It may be difficult to pry Point out of a tax-free state and away from a Lightning team built for championships, but it would be worth the price for teams with loads of cap space at their disposal.

For Point to sign an offer sheet, it'd likely have to be worth upwards of $10.5 million a year. That could mean forfeiting four first-round picks, but it's unlikely a team could select a player as effective as the 23-year-old pivot over the course of its next four drafts. Point has franchise-center capabilities on both ends of the ice, finishing 14th in points per game this past season (1.16) while routinely shutting down opponents' top lines.

Tampa Bay could also be in a pinch to match a gigantic offer with only $10.6 million in projected cap space and a major raise for 2021 RFA Andrei Vasilevskiy on the horizon.

Timo Meier, Sharks

2018-19 stats: 78 GP, 30 G, 36 A, 16:58 TOI
Potential suitors: Avalanche, Blues, Flyers, Blue Jackets

Meier probably wouldn't be as pricey as Point, but he shares the distinction of seeking a raise from a cap-strapped contender. The Sharks currently have just 15 roster players under contract and $14.8 million to fill the holes.

There are some other big names on San Jose's list of free agents, too, including captain Joe Pavelski, Joe Thornton, Gustav Nyquist, Meier, and fellow RFA Kevin Labanc. If another team wanted to apply some pressure to GM Doug Wilson, they could slide Meier a lucrative offer sheet and potentially pry a burgeoning star.

Meier broke out in 2018-19, producing strong numbers despite modest ice time. The young Swiss sniper ranked 14th among the NHL's regularly deployed forwards with 1.21 goals per 60 at five-on-five and bolstered his stock with 15 points in 20 playoff games.

Mitch Marner, Maple Leafs

2018-19 stats: 82 GP, 26 G, 68 A, 19:49 TOI
Potential suitors: Islanders, Devils, Avalanche, Blues, Hurricanes

The poster boy of the offer sheet saga.

Marner's contract situation has drawn the eyes of the entire hockey world and put the Maple Leafs' offseason plans on hold until an agreement is reached - or someone swoops in with an offer sheet.

The 22-year-old winger reportedly met with other teams when the negotiation window opened, and if Marner's motive is to maximize his earnings, his best avenue to do so would be signing an offer sheet.

Toronto is already paying centers Auston Matthews and John Tavares $11 million-plus per season and doesn't have the financial flexibility to pay Marner equally - even though he's led the club in scoring two years in a row. Should an outsider have the space to pay Marner like his superstar teammates, the Maple Leafs might have no choice but to accept the compensation.

Sebastian Aho, Hurricanes

2018-19 stats: 82 GP, 30 G, 53 A, 20:09 TOI
Potential suitors: Avalanche, Islanders, Rangers

The Hurricanes have loads of cap space and no reason not to pay Aho adequately, but that shouldn't stop other teams from at least attempting to add a player of his caliber.

Aho, for the time being at least, is one of the NHL's most underrated talents. The Finland native, who turns just 22 in late July, led the Hurricanes in scoring through both the regular season and playoffs while putting up dominant possession numbers across the board.

He's the type of player who could push a fringe contender over the top or set the foundation for an up-and-coming club to build around. Though he'd come with a steep price tag, Aho's upside makes the gamble worth serious consideration for teams in need of skill.

Jakub Vrana, Capitals

2018-19 stats: 82 GP, 24 G, 23 A, 14:02 TOI
Potential suitors: Avalanche, Wild, Islanders, Blue Jackets

Unlike the other players on this list, Vrana isn't a bona fide star, but he could provide major punch to a team looking to add young offensive talent.

The 23-year-old flew under the radar for the Capitals in 2018-19, ranking 15th on the team in average ice time. Still, Vrana was incredibly effective in his limited usage, piling up a career-best 47 points - including 43 at even strength. By season's end, he ranked 39th in five-on-five points per 60 with 2.33, ahead of some marquee names like Logan Couture, Aleksander Barkov, Mark Stone, and Phil Kessel.

With only $9.2 million to spend, Washington will do its best to keep Vrana's cap hit down, perhaps even with a bridge deal. If a team ponies up a long-term deal in the range of $5 million to $6 million a year, it could be enough to pluck the young speedster out of the nation's capital.

(Salary info courtesy: Cap Friendly)
(Advanced stats courtesy: Natural Stat Trick)

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Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford and Phil Kessel are telling two different stories regarding the forward's alleged trade demands leading up to his departure from the team.

Kessel was traded to the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday, and Rutherford claims the three-time All-Star asked to be moved on several occasions, according to The Athletic's Sean Gentille.

When asked about Rutherford's comments, Kessel offered a different account.

"I'm not sure that's exactly what happened. Jim came to me one time and said... I'll never be a Penguin again,'" Kessel said, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Jonathan Bombulie. "I think he's mistaken a little bit there. But I don't want to get involved in that. I'm not here to tell what really happened and the real truth, but whatever Jim wants to say."

Kessel had been featured in trade rumors multiple times throughout his tenure in Pittsburgh, but it's unclear if the winger ever requested to be dealt.

The Wisconsin native had an eight-team trade list and reportedly nixed a deal to the Minnesota Wild last month.

Kessel never missed a game with the Penguins, contributing 303 points in 323 games.

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The Pittsburgh Penguins have traded forward Phil Kessel, defenseman Dane Birks, and a 2021 fourth-round pick to the Arizona Coyotes for forward Alex Galchenyuk and defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph, the teams announced.

Pittsburgh isn't retaining salary in the deal, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie. There are three years remaining on Kessel's current contract with an annual cap hit of $6.8 million.

Kessel joined the Penguins ahead of the 2015-16 season, and he was a key contributor to the club's back-to-back championships in 2016 and 2017.

Galchenyuk was traded from the Montreal Canadiens to the Coyotes last summer. He recorded 19 goals and 41 points this past season.

The Coyotes selected Joseph with the 23rd overall pick in 2017.

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The Toronto Maple Leafs are working on a deal to send defenseman Nikita Zaitsev to the Ottawa Senators, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman on Saturday.

The 27-year-old is due for a $3-million bonus paid out on July 1, so it's unlikely the Leafs will be able to move him before then.

There are five years remaining on Zaitsev's seven-year, $31.5-million contract signed with the Maple Leafs ahead of the 2017-18 season. The Russian rearguard requested a trade in May.

The Leafs hold a projected $5.54 million in cap space with restricted free agent Mitch Marner still needing a new deal. However, the team can place Nathan Horton and his $5.3 million cap hit on long-term injured reserve to free up space.

Zaitsev posted three goals and 14 points over 81 games for the Leafs this past season.

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