Projecting Chiarelli’s Oilers

The Edmonton Oilers are currently on the outside looking in when it comes to the NHL’s playoffs. Odds are, the team will miss the dance for the tenth season in a row. That’s the bad news, but there is some good news for the Oil. There is clear improvement with this team and it isn’t unreasonable to expect them to make the postseason next spring.

In order to do that, however, the Edmonton Oilers are going to need to improve certain areas of their roster. Our friend Lowetide, in his nightly blog, mentioned that he believes the Oilers will be a bigger and tougher team next season with less skill. I tend to agree with that statement.

I see the main area of focus for Chiarelli as the defense. Why? Defense was the strong point of his teams in Boston and he mentioned in a recent interview that he’s searching for another D. He’s also said he believes in strength up the middle and Todd McLellan also mentioned it. The defense will be a major area addressed this summer.

Ch-ch-ch-changes:

The Oilers will make changes to their defense this summer, there is no doubting that. Jason Gregor wrote that he expects changes to happen and not just to the bottom six, but to the top six and the top four on defense. His full piece is here and the money quotes are below.

Chiarelli will continue to revamp his lineup. He wants a heavier team and he knows he has to improve his defense. He might be able to do it through free agency, but the UFA crop of D-men is not very deep after Dustin Byfuglien. A trade is the more likely alternative, and in order for Chiarelli to acquire a reliable, top-three D-man he will need to trade a skilled forward.

Changes need to be made and when they make their 2016/2017 debut at their beautiful new arena, there will be many new faces, and it won’t only be the bottom of the roster getting an overhaul.

Gregor is usually bang on with these things as he is well connected. I take him at his word that the Oilers will try to improve the top-end of their defense. The rumored RNH-for-Seth Jones swap is an indication of that.

Who would be safe? Oscar Klefbom and Andrej Sekera are legit top four defenders in the NHL, they are Edmonton’s best guys by a mile. Darnell Nurse is also growing and I’d expect he continues to improve as time moves along, he’s likely untouchable for this group.

After that? Anyone could go but I see both Mark Fayne and Brandon Davidson sticking around moving into next season.

What’s Chia Saying?:

The man himself has also spoken on the topic recently. Peter Chiarelli was a guest on Oilers Now back on Monday and had a few interesting takes. Chris Nichols, as always, did some fantastic work on twitter by transcribing Chiarelli’s comments. Talk about defense is below.

Chiarelli: “We’d like to add another D if we could. It’s hard. There’s some out there. We’re working on it. We’ll see where it goes” #Oilers

— Chris Nichols (@NicholsOnHockey) January 18, 2016

This goes in line with Chiarelli’s Oilers being linked to Seth Jones, Travis Hamonic and even Dion Phaneuf with trade rumors. All three of those guys would help the Oilers in a big way.

I’d also be willing to bet that the Oilers will be in the mix with Dustin Byfuglien should he reach free agency in July. Outside of him, however, it’s barren on defense this summer.

Bring On The Cavalry:

If the Edmonton Oilers are going to make the postseason in the spring of 2017, they will need to improve the defense and achieve balance on their roster. Adding a real top four defender to go with established guys like Oscar Klefbom and Andrej Sekera is absolutely vital. I have confidence in Peter Chiarelli and believe that he will add something this summer.

My bet? Once the Islanders open up to moving Travis Hamonic, Chiarelli will strike. I can see Jordan Eberle being the piece shipped to New York as well. Yes, it will hamper the offense a little bit but it would add a real top four RHD. That is more important to Edmonton than a goal scorer at this point.

I think Edmonton’s defensive depth chart next season will look something like this:

Oscar Klefbom – Travis Hamonic

Andrej Sekera – Mark Fayne

Darnell Nurse – Brandon Davidson

Eric Gryba

Is that good enough? I’m not sure, but it’s certainly better than what the team has right now. Still, an injury to this group would leave them in quite a tough spot.

Final Thoughts:

The Oilers will make changes this off-season. I can see a power forward type being added to the top six forward group (Milan Lucic as a UFA is ideal, but Troy Brouwer via UFA also could be a play) and a big veteran center added (Chia loves Chris Kelly, he’s a Letestu type) up front. That unit will be bigger and tougher, there’s little doubt in my mind.

The defense will be the big area of work for Chiarelli, however. I think it’s a foregone conclusion that he adds a substantial piece to the group, it’s just a matter of who, when and at what cost.

This group is going to look different next season, and that process likely starts really soon.

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