On the Edmonton Oilers …
Allan Mitchell of The Athletic: Offseason needs for the Edmonton Oilers.
Scoring winger – The Oilers didn’t replace Jordan Eberle‘s scoring from the right side after they moved him last year.
Right-handed defenseman – doesn’t think they need to go chasing a top-four right-handed defenseman. Maybe they can survive with their current group for another year with Ethan Bear maybe a year or two away from improving their power play. Oscar Klefbom was playing hurt and Andrej Sekera didn’t come around until late in the season.
If the Oilers traded Ryan Nugent-Hopkins for a defenseman like Tyson Barrie, it would create a hole in another part of their roster.
believes the Oilers main targets should be a scoring winger for Leon Draisaitl and a 1B backup goaltender but knows they will be looking for a right-handed D that can help out their power play. thinks the defenseman is “a luxury the club can’t afford.”
Options on the wing could be James Neal, James van Riemsdyk or Thomas Vanek, though salary may need to be moved out – ideally Milan Lucic‘s contract if possible (no-movement clause). Bob Stauffer of Oilers Now suggests Derek Ryan.
Carter Hutton an option in net.
If looking at a defenseman, maybe they could pry Chris Wideman from the Senators.
Allan Mitchell of The Athletic: One of the Oilers main priorities should be to find a shooting right winger, preferably one to play with Leon Draisaitl.
The Oilers don’t have a lot of cap space unless they clear out some salary.
Free Agent options: Rick Nash, Evander Kane, James van Riemsdyk, James Neal, Thomas Vanek, Michael Grabner, Patrick Maroon. The Oilers likely wouldn’t be able to afford most of the UFAs.
The trade market could be expensive as most teams may ask for a 2018 first-round pick, Jesse Puljujarvi, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins or Oscar Klefbom. Some options that might fit into the Oilers cap include Brendan Gallagher, Craig Smith, Brandon Saad and Teuvo Teravainen.
The best option for the Oilers may be to stay the course with Puljujarvi and see what he can do.
