As The Dust Settles – Oilers Summer Shopping List

What a week. The Oilers traded Taylor Hall to New Jersey for Adam Larsson and then signed three free agents on Friday afternoon. Edmonton landed arguably the biggest name on the market after Stamkos re-signed (Lucic) and snagged a backup goalie. Peter Chiarelli also took care of a little house cleaning by signing Mark Fraser as AHL insurance for the 2016-17 season.

It’s worth mentioning, regarding Fraser, that Brad Hunt signed with the St. Louis Blues organization on Saturday. Fraser is likely to replace Hunt as the veteran leader of the blue line in Bakersfield. I wrote about the move yesterday, but I think Oiler fans need to calm down about this move, it’s likely for the AHL team.

With the first wave now completed, Chiarelli and his staff will have the chance to hunker down and reevaluate where the organization is exactly at. So, let’s take a look at our summer shopping list and see what exactly Peter Chiarelli still needs to do before training camp opens up in September.

The Road To A Balanced Roster:

1.) A top pairing RHD to play with Oscar Klefbom/Andrej Sekera – This item was addressed when the Oilers traded for Adam Larsson earlier in the week. Larsson, who averaged 22:30 TOI per game in 2015-16, is likely to skate along side Oscar Klefbom this coming season. I touched on Larsson and his ability here, while Lowetide has an excellent post on the new defender here.

2.) A second pairing D who can play on the PP – This now becomes the most pressing need for Edmonton. Peter Chiarelli mentioned on Wednesday that he would like to acquire a player of this ilk, while also mentioning the same thing on Friday after signing Milan Lucic. Bob Stauffer is confident that PC can address this need.

Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli has landed a #1 goalie (Talbot) and totally addressed the Oilers lack of size up front (Lucic, Maroon, Kassian)..

— Bob Stauffer (@Bob_Stauffer) July 1, 2016

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…I think we take him at his word that he will find a way to get that PP right shot D at some point…

— Bob Stauffer (@Bob_Stauffer) July 1, 2016

Kevin Shattenkirk, Tyson Barrie, Cam Fowler and Matt Dumba are all possible additions via trade, while James Wisniewski makes sense as a free agent. It appears, however, that Barrie is Edmonton’s top target here.

I don’t believe the Oilers will be signing a defenceman in free agency. Stand pat with their group unless big fish (Barrie) springs loose.

— Ryan Rishaug (@TSNRyanRishaug) July 1, 2016

3.) A third line center – If everything stays the way it is and Edmonton doesn’t move a center for more defensive help, this item will be dealt with internally. Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is a fine trio of centers to have in your top nine forward group. If Edmonton moves, say, RNH for Barrie, then another addition will need to be made. Perhaps Tyler Bozak or someone of that ilk.

4.) An NHL level goaltender – Oilers signed Jonas Gustavsson to a one-year deal yesterday afternoon. By the looks of it, that crosses this item off the list.

5.) A top nine winger – At this stage, it looks like Edmonton is going to keep Nail Yakupov moving into the season. That would cross this item off the list, as the reason I put it on was that I assumed Yakupov would be moved. The free agent options for this role (Lee Stempniak, Brett Connolly) are quickly coming off the market, so Yakupov may be the best option available.

6.) A top six LW to replace Taylor Hall – No one will replace Taylor Hall, but Milan Lucic was signed to take his spot in the lineup. Lucic is a legit top six forward, is the best power forward in the NHL, and can impact a game in a number of different ways. He can’t score at Hall’s rate and he won’t push the possession numbers like Hall, but this is a very, very good hockey player.

Final Thoughts:I know a lot of people are still upset about the Taylor Hall trade, and I understand that. From a value standpoint, the Oilers lose that trade, I will not argue that. However, I will argue that the team is a more balanced group and, yes, a better team today than at this point last week.

Lucic and Larsson is better than just Taylor Hall. Before you say “Well it would have been Hall and Demers”, please remember that Demers was a free agent and there was no guarantee that he signs. This is my opinion. You are free to disagree with it.

Peter Chiarelli has crossed off three items from his list of six. He’s added a top-pairing RHD, picked up an NHL level goaltender and add a LW to replace Taylor Hall on the roster. To this point, it has been a decently productive summer for the GM.

Chiarelli still needs to add a second pairing PP QB, and depending on what happens trade wise he may need to add a 3rd line center and a top nine winger. If he can accomplish these things, we may finally have a balanced roster in Edmonton.