Evaluation Station: Where Do The Oilers Stand?

Yesterday’s free agent frenzy was anything but for the Edmonton Oilers at the NHL level. While the club added seven players to the organization, none of the newcomers are expected to make the NHL roster out of training camp. Barring a surprise, yesterday’s moves were all about strengthening the Bakersfield Condors and adding depth to the system.

There are still two huge items on Peter Chiarelli’s shopping list, and I suspect we find out the outcomes of those items in short order. As I wrote last night, everything is in a standstill until Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl get new contracts.

Once that happens, judging off Chiarelli’s verbal yesterday, the Oilers will go bargain bin shopping and add a player or two via free agency. My bet? A winger and a defender are added to the club in mid-to-late July after the big contracts are handed out to Edmonton’s star duo.

Is that enough, however? Would the Oilers be in a good spot if they just added a player or two? Let’s take a look at Peter Chiarelli’s shopping list now that we are done with expansion, the draft and free agency’s opening day.

The List:

1.) Sign Connor McDavid: Sounds like this deal could be done by the time we hit the end of the coming week. Eight years at $13.25 million per season is the reported terms. We’ll see if that is in fact it. Looks close.

2.) Sign Leon Draisaitl: This negotiation sounds a lot more difficult than the McDavid negotiation. Some reports have Leon asking for upwards of $10 million a season, but that’s an outrageous ask. John Shannon of Sportsnet hinted at five years for Leon at around $7.5 million yesterday on SN’s free agency coverage. I do think a contract gets done between the sides.

3.) Address second-pairing RHD: The Oilers have not addressed the hole so far this summer. A guy like Cody Franson could fill this spot as a free agent, but it’s looking more and more like the Oilers will have Matt Benning in this spot to open the season.

4.) Add a 3rd line center or top six RW: Peter Chiarelli said yesterday that Ryan Strome told him he is more comfortable at center than wing. Expect Strome to open as the third-line center and play where Leon isn’t next year. Looks like the bet here is Ryan Strome as the 3C.

5.) Figure out the Mark Fayne/Benoit Pouliot situations: Surprisingly, Benoit Pouliot was bought out earlier this week. Mark Fayne is likely to play out the final season of his contract in organization with the buyout window now over. He has an outside chance of making this team if no additions happen between now and October 4th.

6.) Short-term replacement for Andrej Sekera: Kris Russell it is.

7.) Add depth: Mitch Callahan, Ty Rattie and Ryan Stanton all added to give the Oilers depth that can be recalled from the farm. Rattie may have the most potential, but Callahan is a sleeper to make the team as the 14th forward in October.

Items four, five, six and seven appear to have their answers this morning. I’m content with Chiarelli’s depth moves and fine with his buyout of Pouliot, but I’m on the fence about both Russell and Strome. Hopefully Russell can have another year as good as last. Looks like item one is close, while item two is shaping up to be a battle, should be interesting.

The Depth Chart:

As it currently stands, the Oiler depth chart is as follows:

Patrick Maroon – Connor McDavid – Leon Draisaitl

Milan Lucic – Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – Anton Slepyshev

Drake Caggiula – Ryan Strome – Jesse Puljujarvi

Jujhar Khaira – Mark Letestu – Zack Kassian

Iiro Pakarinen, Ty Rattie

Oscar Klefbom – Adam Larsson

Kris Russell – Matt Benning

Darnell Nurse – Mark Fayne

Eric Gryba

Cam Talbot and Laurent Brossoit

To me, Edmonton could use another top-nine winger. Someone like Jarome Iginla, Jaromir Jagr or Drew Stafford that can provide some secondary scoring and help shelter the young players. There’s a lot of risk up front with Edmonton’s young kids.

On defense, I’d like to see a right-shot added to the group. I like Mark Fayne and have him slotted as the sixth defender here, but suspect Todd McLellan feels differently. I think Cody Franson would be a solid depth addition on the cheap if he hangs around on the market.

I like a lot of things about this Oiler roster, but another winger and defender would look very nice heading into training camp.

We Wait.