Quoting: Brian2016
Rather see them address their forward depth, which is terrible. But Gibson would be a sweet long term pickup.
Quoting: BeterChiarelli
I'd rather pursue Khudobin and tandem him with Smith. The substantial upgrades need to be on Edmonton's blueline and maybe finding a better pivot than McLeod for depth. Another middle-six winger wouldn't hurt either. If Dobby and Smith could maintain .915sv%'s and the Oilers bring in at least one top-4 defender while Vegas takes half a step back, the WCF is the bare minimum for the Oilers. Whether or not that roster could contend with any of the Avalanche, Islanders, Leafs, Lightning, or Panthers is another thing.
Vegas flipping the pair of McNabb and Smith while setting their sights on Eichel and the 2022-23 Cup does pave a much clearer path to a Stanley Cup for the Oilers than what was possible at the onset of the season. I still think the Oilers are distinctly a class behind those teams I listed however.
As Beter said getting D is the most important imo. I think their depth is fine on F but they should move Kassian and bring in two depth pieces that would provide better use of the cap space Kassian takes up.
I say Gibson solely because;
If I’m John Gibson, a former top 3 goalie, who’s not old; and I get told I’m going from the Dumpster Dwelling Ducks to McDavids team im pretty ****ing pumped. Guy - he just needs a smaller workload (which Smith provides) and then to get to the playoffs. Where he can get a chance to prove himself. And I think the chance at a cup by playing with McDavid, Leon, Nurse, RNH, Hyman is too good to pass up. A improved D, maybe move Kassian, and Gibson would make me bet on EDM this year.
No team is a lock for the cup imo. Tampa needs a new third line or they’re not 3-peating (they could by trade or internally but we need to see it). Colorado is strong but they didn’t really address what lost them their last series; they’re the favourite tho imo. And the east is so deep. Vegas is crippled without Patches and Stone - they could free fall tbh. The isles may be my second favourites but again, the East is deep.
The
Rangers are super tempting to make some headaches in the Metro and the
Sens in the Atlantic. For example; those two teams WILL NOT make the playoffs (but never say never IG lol) - but Ottawa and the Rags are gonna be causing problems I think.