Larsson isn't coming back (good thing - he's lost a step) and Grubauer has been pretty bad this year. Plus his contract is forever.

I know but he's exactly what we need now. And I'm just guessing here but Grubauer obviously benefitted on playing for a good team like the Avs. The Oilers aren't as good as the Avs, but they're not as bad as the Kraken either. I'm guessing he can be somewhat in between. He had 8 years in the .917s and above so I think he's a good goalie. It's been proven that when the Oilers can get .917 goaltending, they're a good team.

Kraken aren't good because they can't score. If you look at their defensive numbers they're one of the better shutdown teams in the league.

I got tired of seeing Larsson getting blown past last season - his skating has never been elite but it's getting noticeably slower the last year or two. I'm 100% against bringing him back, and he most certainly is NOT "exactly what we need right now." He handles the puck like a grenade and he can't slow the transition at all. He's dirty in the corners and in front of the net, but Niemeläinen can do that for millions less.

Niemalienen is 1 guy though, I think we need a RHD version of that too. Bouchard, Ceci, and Barrie don't necessarily get dirty in the corners or in front of the net. Out of our defense group only Nurse is doing that right now. I think you'd want at least 3-4 guys that would do it on a consistent basis.

?? Larsson is only 1 guy too. Does Tampa have 3-4 guys like that? Colorado? Vegas? Florida? I don't see whatever it is that you're seeing.

Tampa had Hedman, McDonagh, Sergachev, Rutta, Cernak, Schenn, Savard - good mix of skill and toughness

Tampa had Hedman, McDonagh, Sergachev, Cernak, Schenn, Shattenkirk, Bogosian - again good mix of skill and toughness

I would call Cernak, Schenn, Savard/Bogosian "toughness". That's like half their dmen.

I won't use Colorado, Vegas, or Florida since they have not won a cup.

The Oilers have: Nurse (Oilers took physicality out his game), Bouchard, Barrie, Keith, Ceci - all I would consider onn the skill side more than the toughness side. And our 6th dman who is a combination of Russell, Koekkoek? I would say would fall more in skill than toughness. I don't see any dman on this list that'll make it harder on the boards.