What’s the Oilers Biggest Need?
3 years ago
We are just under a month away from the NHL Trade Deadline and the Oilers are starting to get connected to a handful of names. Elvis Merlikins, Jake Debrusk, and Eric Staal have all been mentioned as potential trade targets. That’s a starting goaltender, a scoring winger, and a third-line centre. The Oilers clearly have a few needs and all three likely need to be addressed at some point this offseason but they won’t be able to acquire three or four pieces at the deadline. Which one should they be prioritizing? That’s what I’m here to look into.
A GOALTENDER
This is the big one. There’s no doubt that this organization needs to find its goaltender of the future. Mikko Koskinen is not that guy. Mike Smith is certainly not that guy. They have Ilya Konovalov in their system but even if he ever becomes an NHL goalie, there’s no guarantee that he’s a number one and he’s still a few years away.
So what should they do? Depends if they want to go the trade route or hit up free agency.
There are a few options on the market, but none of them really feel like great fits. The big-name is Frederick Andersen but he will be very expensive as the best goalie on the market. I think he’ll get Markstrom money and I’m not sure if I’d want to go long-term with a 31-year-old goaltender.
The next tier includes names like @Philip Grubauer, @Anti Raanta and Petr Mrázek. Grubauer stands out as the best option there. The other two would likely be brought in to work alongside Mikko Koskinen. Honestly, depending on the price, I would rather see the team just stick with Alex Stalock and Koskinen instead of spending free agency money on one of those two.
There are names like Chris Driedger as well but I’m just not sure if that’s a big enough upgrade, although he is having a great season.
On the trade market, there are some very intriguing names.
Right now, Elvis Merzlikins feels like the most realistic target because we’ve heard his name connected to the team. There is also Darcy Kuemper and I believe one of the two goalies in Pittsburgh will be available. There will be good names on the market this offseason, it will simply be a matter of how much the Oilers want to trade away to get a goaltender.
Personally, this is the biggest need but I don’t think it’s realistic to expect the Oilers to get a goaltender in the next month. This is more of an offseason move.
A SCORING WINGER
Their second biggest need right now is a scoring winger. I could see the argument that this isn’t as much of a long-term need because Dylan Holloway is likely going to turn pro soon and the emergence of Jesse Puljujarvi this season has given them another scoring threat to play with one of their skilled centremen. On top of that, they have players like Raphael Lavoie, Carter Savoie, Tyler Tulio, and Kirill Maksimov in their system. Still, you can never have as much skill and there’s no denying that the Oilers would greatly benefit from one more scoring winger right now.
@Jake Debrusk, @Rickard Rakell, and @Victor Arvidsson have all been mentioned in trade rumours and would all be great fits with this team.
These players would likely require Ken Holland to part with a significant piece whether it’s a high-end prospect or a first-round pick. If Holland thinks he wants to get add another forward to this group in the offseason, it would make sense for him to just do it now and get the player for an extra playoff run.
For me, a move for a good forward before the deadline is more likely than a move for a number one goaltender. It’s a big need and the player would slot in right now rather easily. Of course, money would make this difficult.
A THIRD-LINE CENTRE
Holland knows that if he’s going to add anything, it needs to significantly upgrade this team. That’s why I don’t think he’ll go out and get a third-line centre. @Eric Staal would be an upgrade over some players in their bottom six, but is it worth giving up a good prospect or a high draft pick in 2022? Not in my opinion.
There has been some talk about a player like @Brandon Sutter as well but I can only see that type of deal happening if the Canucks retain half of his salary and take back some money in the deal. As Frank Seravalli said on The DFO Rundown this week, the Oilers are in a “money in, money out” situation. They can’t afford to add salary.
I think they’ll stand pat with Haas and Khaira down the middle. The two of them have been good enough and if one of them really falls off, they could always give Kyle Turris another look. It’s not ideal, but I don’t think the Oilers desperately need to add another bottom-six centreman.
A LEFT-HANDED DEFENSEMAN
This one hasn’t been getting talked about a lot, but I do think it’s important. The Oilers currently have @William Laggesson, @Kris Russell, and @Caleb Jones playing behind @Darnell Nurse on the depth chart. There is depth there, but injuries happen and I don’t think it would be a bad idea to see if there’s a left-handed defenseman out there who could be had for cheap.
On The DFO Rundown, Jason Gregor brought up the idea of acquiring Jamie Oleksiak. The 6’7 defenseman has been playing close to 20 minutes a game on most nights in Dallas this season and on top of that, he’s been usually playing against elite or middle competition (according to Puck IQ). His numbers at 5v5 are pretty solid as well.
He has a cap hit of $2.1 million and is a UFA at the end of the season. If Dallas was willing to retain half of that salary, or close to it, in a deal, this would be a really good fit.
It’s not their biggest need, but I do think Ken Holland needs to look into adding another defenseman. Think of it like a Slater Koekoek replacement.
All in all, I would rank these four areas like this: goaltending – scoring winger – left-handed defenseman – third-line centre. Goaltending is the biggest need but I just don’t think there will be a move that makes sense at the deadline. Holland could probably go out and get a scoring winger, but it will cost him a lot. Is he willing to part with an ‘A’ level prospect and/or a first-round pick? I guess we’ll find out.
At the deadline, I think it’s most likely that we see Holland go out and get a defenseman. It may not be the sexiest addition, but I think a quality left-handed defenseman could really help this team in the playoffs.
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