Équipe: 2021-22 Oilers d'Edmonton

Date de création initiale: 7 nov. 2021

Publié: 7 nov. 2021

Mode - plafond salarial: Basique

10 games in and I've made a few conclusions about the roster.

1. The bottom-six is still not (statistically) performing well enough at 5v5: I think this is more of a Shore+Turris issue but a solid upgrade cements Edmonton's forward group as one that contends.
2. I trust the Keith-Ceci pairing more than I thought I would but I'd strongly prefer the duo be the Oilers' third pairing.
3. The Koekkoek-Russell carousel has been underwhelming so far: another LHD is needed, and of enough quality to pair with Barrie and satisfy point #2.
4. A goaltender upgrade isn't likely for the interim as it makes no sense to punish Koskinen for performing as he statistically does when his load is properly managed. Smith faltering in his return could change that.

I saw a WAS-CHI deal that saw Strome headed east and Eller West in order to accommodate both Lapierre and McMichael; Eller to the Hawks didn't make sense in my mind so I'm curious as to whether or not there's an opportunity for Edmonton to pull Lars at a discount. I don't see the Blackhawks coming out of their freefall anytime soon thus their only way out of draft day embarrassment to Columbus is to win one of the two draft lotteries. Bringing in picks and names like Kempny/Turris help accomplish that. While simply swapping Shore for McLeod on the Oilers' fourth line probably represents enough of a fix to get by, adding Eller down the middle and pushing Ryan to the fourth line represents so much more of an overall upgrade while maintaining the PK element that Shore has somehow conned the Oilers management into believing he has.

I cannot for the life of me see the Oilers trading Russell: this is a very sentimental organization and if the Oilers are en-route to a cup run, they'll keep Ol' Cowboy around to reward him. That makes Slater the odd-man-out if the Oilers look to upgrade their back end. Winning a cup without Gagner seems wrong and I'm hoping the term attached to Koekkoek can make this a justifiable trade for the Red Wings (ie: Gagner for next year's spare defender). I could add a Brind'Amour or Rasanen type if needed.

Insert the standard blueline upgrade for the Oilers. I wouldn't bid much higher than this on Lindholm (anything higher and I'd just look at Yamamoto+Broberg for a super high-quality RFA defender) so if the Isles beat it, oh well.

Vegas still kind of scares me once they're healthy only if they don't trade Smith. I think they can be handled if they trade Reilly to get cap compliant. Other than that, I think the strength of the forward core and decent performances out of the rest fo the team could send Edmonton all the way.

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