LAING: Why it’s time for the Edmonton Oilers to go big fish hunting

If the Edmonton Oilers want to make some noise this season and make the playoffs, it’s time for Ken Holland and co. to go big fish hunting.

As they are right now, the Oilers are a top-heavy team with an average defence and okay goaltending.

@Connor McDavid and @Leon Draisaitl continue to lead the way, while guys like @Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and @Kailer Yamamoto have offered some great secondary scoring as of late.

@Ethan Bear has stepped in as a rookie defenceman and looked nothing short of tremendous for the Oilers driving play. Edmonton’s backend still has some question marks beyond Bear and @Oscar Klefbom. @Adam Larsson continues to drag down those around him as @Darnell Nurse gets carried by Bear. @Matt Benning, at the very least, has shown he can be a more than competent third-pairing defenceman.

Between @Mikko Koskinen and @Mike Smith, Edmonton is getting competent goaltending.

If there’s one area the Oilers really need help it’s in the scoring department. Now, you may scoff at it and say “well the Oilers were able to put up 8 goals against Calgary last week!!!!”

Draisaitl, Nugent-Hopkins and Yamamoto have provided a formidable second line that’s driving play and offering better expected goal rates than the team average. That in and of itself is tremendous.

But the truth of the matter is that McDavid really needs some help on his top line. Since the formation of the Drai-Nuge-Yam line, Kassian has only three points in 11 games and has shown he can’t be relied on to provide offence alone with McDavid. It’s showing that McDavid needs an offensive option with him on the top line.

And the time is now for the Oilers to get him some help. It might just be that extra push the club needs to not only make the playoffs but make some noise much like they did a few years ago.

The nice thing is the Oilers have options. Some of the names in the trade market the Oilers have been linked to are @Tomas Tatar, JG Pageau, @Kasperi Kapanen, @Ilya Kovalchuk, and to a lesser extent, @Chris Tierney and @Tyler Toffoli, to name a few.

If I’m Ken Holland, I lock myself in a room with my phone, some other staff members, and a few Arby’s Beef and Ched’s and try to land one of these guys tomorrow.

The smartest play, to me, would be to target the likes of Tatar, Tierney, or Kapanen. I’m higher on Tatar and Kapanen than Tierney, but think any of the three could be solid additions.

Looking at either Tatar and Kapanen, the Oilers would be getting a cost-controlled offensive threat who is signed beyond this season. With both having year(s) remaining on their deals beyond this one, I wonder if the Oilers would be more comfortable spending an asset like @Phillip Broberg, or a 1st round pick.

If you’re talking about a pure rental I don’t think either of those large assets should be in play, but getting player(s) who you know would be available to you into the future is important.

Edmonton has the chance to take advantage of a Pacific Division that isn’t really seeing anyone separate from the pack. Only five points sit between the 1st place @Vancouver Canucks and the fifth-place @Calgary Flames. If Edmonton’s smart, they look to make a move sooner rather than later to give them a push.

On Twitter: @zjlaing