Peter Chiarelli’s Message: Defense First?

Peter Chiarelli spoke to the media on Monday before heading to Florida for the NHL’s annual entry draft. During the press availability, Chiarelli confirmed what we heard this weekend regarding scouting changes. On top of that, he touched on a number of other massive topics, from the coaching staff, to trading picks and to McDavid himself. Lowetide has a really good break down of the whole thing here.

There is one thing that I want to touch on from this conference, and it has to do with the defense and the goaltending.

Man In-Between The Pipes:

First off, Chia mentioned that it’s a buyer’s market for goaltending, and that’s important. There are more goalies on the block and in free agency than there are jobs open. Edmonton has no need to overpay for Cam Talbot when they could get, say Eddie Lack, for a lesser asset or two.

Edmonton has been a victim of overpaying far too often, but clearly that won’t be the case anymore. Chiarelli isn’t going to give an arm and a leg just because Cam Talbot is the sexy option. A refreshing take from the GM that I couldn’t agree more with.

This is a major thing that signifies change from the previous regimes. Chiarelli mentioned using both the trade and free agent markets to find his guy, interesting no doubt.

Defense:

A common theme has been “It’s the Goalie stupid!” but that isn’t true. Yes, goaltending is a huge issue, but it’s not the only one. Fact is, the Edmonton Oilers are a terrible defensive team. Some people believe that adding a goalie will cure the Oilers’ woes, but that just is not true.

It’ll help, but Edmonton needs to get better on the blue-line. Chiarelli said as much on Monday, adding to his goalie comments. He mentioned how the goalie needs to fit in with how Edmonton is going to improve their defense, and how the team will play defensively.

Chiarelli also went on to say “We’re going to play better defensively” and “We hope to improve our defense, our defensemen will improve, the defensive play will improve.”

I just think this needs to be pointed out, because it’s such a big thing that is somehow getting overlooked right now. The Oilers badly need a goalie, but they arguably need defensive help worse. Far too often Scrivens, Fasth and Dubnyk before them were left out to dry. That can’t happen moving forward. Yes, the goalie needs to be better, but there needs to be less chances against.

Chiarelli understand that, and clearly is focusing in on addressing this massive weakness. One can imagine that scheme change, from Todd McLellan and his staff, will be a part of this solution. One can also imagine that player movement will be part of it as well.

While Chiarelli didn’t flat out say he’d be adding any bodies to the back-end, he did mention how the team hopes to improve the unit, suggesting that Edmonton will be shopping for help this weekend and next week during free agency.

Finals Thoughts:

Chiarelli said a lot of big things in this 13 minute session, but none were as important as the defense/goaltending item. Edmonton has made the mistake far too often of overpaying for unproven assets and simply blaming the goalie.

Peter Chiarelli, unlike Craig MacTavish and Steve Tambellini before him, has identified the market and will not overpay. Meanwhile, Chiarelli has identified multiple issues that need fixing, issues that have been a problem for years in Edmonton. The blue-line and goaltending have been identified, and will be targeted. It’s about time.

Mock Draft part two is slated to go tonight. It’ll be up around 8:00 pm est unless there is a trade, hiring or firing with the Oil. The way this week is going, I wouldn’t be surprised in the least.