Oilers - 2016-2017 - Depth Chart Balance

David Backes at this stage in his career, he will likely be looking for a long term final deal

Yeah, that was the one deal that I like but is probably just too expensive and will be hard to sign. But man oh man, how versatile and talented is that forward group. I count 7 centermen. McDavid. nude. Draisaitl can play C or Wing. Backes plays C or RW, Dubois can play C, LW, or RW. He started the season on LW and was playing C at the end of his junior season but recently told someone he prefers RW but will play anywhere. Caggiula played C this season but plays LW as well. Ryan White is a right shot C who can play RW. It's a stretch but Hall and Pouliot both played C in junior but not so much or so succesfully in the NHL. The options that give MacLellan are endeless and so valuable. White and Backes are both great on the dot.

Took Backes out. What would you think of signing or at least inviting C-RW Peter Mueller and/or C-RW Sam Gagner to camp to see how they do for a cheap contract? What would you pay them. If they came in at a price between 1.0M and 1.5M would you sign them? Neither is the player they once were but both have value and bring some good versatility in that they can play C or RW and up on the top 6 lines if needed for short term at least. I believe Gagner's wife is from Edmonton so he may want to come back (alhtough having Kassian on the team now could pose some problems to getting him signed). I have Mueller as a placeholder, but either of them could slot in as 3rd line RW. I've acquired 2 other RW that didn't make the roster this season and could push for a spot soon in Riley Barber form WSH and Justin Bailey from BUF. Bailey (6'3", 209lbs) played with Nurse in the OHL. I would also consider Nicholas Baptiste (6'1", 203lbs) instead of Bailey in BUF. Baptiste played with McDavid on the Erie Otters.

On RD, if they added Demers. One of Pesce or Pysyk. Redmond. One of Bowey or Paliotta. And Scarlett. I would be quite happy with their off-season. Demers, Fayne, Redmond and one of Pesce or Pysyk would be a pretty solid right side. Not great, but solid. Then you're also hoping for one of Bowey, Paliotta or Scarlett to become a top 4 RD. I think Bowey's odds are pretty high to beomce an elite D. Paliotta's look pretty good too. Scarlett, less so, but he is a local kid that had some decent offense this season in the AHL.