Imagine once Larsson's questionable back starts acting up again.

The goaltending is much worse.

Best thing about the Oilers defence is that 3 middling to poor Dmen making 12m are UFAs next season. Maybe the Oilers can spend 12m better in 21/22

The goaltending is unchanged.

That's when Bouchard steps in.

That's a large downgrade, particularly vs elite competition.

It's a question mark for sure. Bouchard has much more offensive upside than even a healthy Larsson. Defensively? That depends on how questionable Larsson's back is!

In that instance I see Nurse-Bear shouldering a greater load - they played more against elite comp last year than Klefbom-Larsson did anyhow.

By question mark you mean "a glaring hole", right?

I really don't see any UFA dmen worth spending that kind of money on though. The improvement is going to have to come from within or through trade. If Klefbom could actually stay healthy it'd go a long way towards making the defense better.

We will be okay. Maybe Jones will play good, or Holland will trade or sign another defence man.

Dougie Hamilton will be available next summer, plus a bunch of veterans who would be available on 1 year deals for fairly cheap. The Oilers have a bunch of good prospects coming, maybe they don't need a headliner but some useful vets to mentor the prospects. Of course, if guys like Seth Jones and Colton Parayko hit the market in 2022 you'd have to take a run at them.

Mike Smith*