For those invested in the 4 Nations Face-off it was hardly a break, yet for Oil Country the recent woes are a harsh welcome back to reality. The Edmonton Oilers seem to be faltering out of the blocks, a bad habit for the slow starting team. A losing streak can be jarring, just as it can be sobering.
As the trade deadline looms, it will be crucial for the Oilers to properly assess their needs. Their limited trade capital and cap space are restrictive, and the Oilers have only so much of each to offer. In the cap era no team is perfect, and upgrades can always be dreamed up, no matter how improbable. The Oilers have several areas that they might be able to upgrade, but which ones should be prioritized?
The goaltending needs to be addressed
At 26-years-old, hometown player Stuart Skinner is approaching one of the more prolific runs in the Edmonton crease since Dwayne Roloson. All the while he has accrued more than his fair share of doubters across Oil Country. Historically speaking the Oilers goaltending has long been a source of contention, the reputation casting a gloom of its own.
Skinner is deserving of some respect, but the Oilers are faced with pressure for nothing short of greatness. Skinner is not in the conversation for the Vezina Trophy. Obviously adding a goalie of that calibre would improve the team, but the goalie market does not often burst with such players.
The main option by most rumours is John Gibson, who may or may not be an outright upgrade on Skinner. There is a good chance that his performance will improve after a move from the Anaheim Ducks to the Oilers, but by no means is this a guarantee. He would at least push Skinner, and might be able to win the starting role. Regardless, the trade and cap costs would be significant if the Ducks are willing to part ways.
Calvin Pickard is equally unheralded as a backup, though like Skinner his results with the Oilers have been steady and effective. Neither carries the lustre of reputation or pedigree, perhaps even expectation, yet have outperformed those appraisals. One might hope for a higher calibre creasemate for Skinner, but Pickard has built up enough trust to spell his starter.
While Gibson would undoubtedly be an upgrade over Pickard, there are not many goalies who move the needle significantly. Anton Forsberg, for example, has not had the results that Pickard has and costs more against the cap.
Unseen and unspoken is status of Olivier Rodrigue, the Oilers clear cut number three. The 24-year-old is putting up solid work as the AHL starter, the third consecutive season delivering with an increased workload. His first NHL game has yet to come, and until then his ability to contribute remains speculative. As such his factoring into plans for this season is minimal. Still, Rodrigue continues to trend towards deserving a look at some point. There is a non-zero chance that Rodrigue is ready to push for Pickard’s job, though the Oilers are not in a position to get cute while experimenting.
In the end the usual slow goalie market limits the Oilers. Yes, there are several goalies who would be an upgrade for the Oilers, but availability and cost erode those possibilities. Jordan Binnington might be on the trade block, just as taking a chance on a less proven option like Karel Vejmelka might upgrade the group. The Oilers have continually expressed that they want to stand pat with their tandem. To their credit it is a strategy that has worked for Stanley Cup winning teams in recent seasons.
Edmonton needs to address the right defence
Often listed alongside the goaltending, there is a clear desire for the Oilers to upgrade the right side of their blueline. Like with the goaltending, the right side is lacking in same name brand talent behind Evan Bouchard. Ty Emberson and Troy Stecher have had strong moments, and John Klingberg at least provides a more offensive look. Ultimately, the group hardly screams elite.
Especially given Bouchard’s skill set, adding a player should have a focus on the defensive aspects of the game. In particular, adding a stalwart penalty killer would be a benefit. The penalty kill is sitting at an unacceptable level, 27th in the league. Clearly the Oilers are doing their goalies no favours in this regard. The unit was able to lock in for last season’s playoff run, a huge piece of their success that seems to be a distant standard.
Unspoken is that this player is a good fit alongside Darnell Nurse as a defence partner. Alongside looking for size and defensive ability in this role, supporting Nurse could involve players who control possession and have some level of puck moving skills. The more attributes attached to the wishlist, the more expensive and less likely acquiring them will be. Ultimately the perfect addition might not be available, and the Oilers will have to take a chance on a less than perfect fit.
A different approach to upgrading the blueline
Part of the imagination for upgrading the blueline involves acquiring a left shot and having a defenceman playing their weak side. Mattias Ekholm and Brett Kulak join Nurse to form a stout trio on the left side already. Kulak has shown the ability to play on the right, and has been fantastic while partnered with Nurse.
Usually there are more left-handed options, which means that the Oilers will be able to get a better player at a better price. This will be offset by the challenge of one of the left shots, presumably Kulak, playing their weak side. This solution is less elegant and less likely, but finding a way to upgrade the blueline as a whole is possible.
Looking for more wingers
The Oilers have had a lot of turnover on the wings recently, more so than with any part of the team. These newcomers have not always fit in as nicely as hoped, but as a group they bring a diverse array of skills. Jeff Skinner has had his issues getting acclimated, but can still provide some scoring. A bigger role would certainly help his production, as he was able to produce on the power play while Connor McDavid was suspended. To an extent Kasperi Kapanen has done well to battle with Skinner for ice time as a speedy scoring winger, though neither is suited for regular top-six action.
Viktor and Vasily Podkolzin have been solid, though their production leaves a bit to be desired. Their hard nosed approach to the game will likely see their impact here increase in the playoffs. Down seasons for Zach Hyman and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins hurt the optics of the Oilers depth scoring, while others like Corey Perry, Connor Brown, and Mattias Janmark have increased their totals from last season.
The Oilers have some latent talent built in here as well. Matthew Savoie has impressed as an AHL rookie, and has the skill to be an important piece of the Oilers in the future. Expecting him to do so right away is a bit ambitious, but the possibility at least gives the Oilers an option. Evander Kane is also nearing a return, presumably. His physicality and goal scoring would be appreciated by the Oilers, though some rust might be expected.
Between it all there is a lot for the Oilers to work with on the wings. Obviously adding a star player like Mikko Rantanen would be an upgrade, and an addition is not out of the question, but it would be difficult to suggest that the Oilers have a need on the wings. Reinforcements are on the way, but the Oilers are fairly set already.
Centres the least of their concern
Finally, the Oilers are most set at centre. This starts at the top with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. There is no better one-two punch down the middle, perhaps even across the history of the NHL.
There is even more to the Oilers strength here, as Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is a capable top-six option. Adam Henrique is perfectly capable in the third line checking role the Oilers often use him in. Mattias Janmark can swap in down the middle, while Derek Ryan and Noah Philp are currently in the AHL, but both are at least capable of filling a fourth line centre role.
In all the Oilers have a lot of depth down the middle. Of course no roster is perfect, and an upgrade is still possible, but given the Oilers limited resources it is difficult to imagine that the Oilers will specifically target a centre.
Photo by Curtis Comeau/Icon Sportswire
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