The Edmonton Oilers have made two big additions and one MASSIVE subtraction so far this off-season. Gone is Taylor Hall and in are Adam Larsson and Jesse Puljujarvi. The build of the Oilers has shifted in a drastic way, and I think it is safe to assume that the movement is not done.
Tonight, just mere hours before free agency opens up, we revisit the team’s summer shopping list. One note before we start, I have added another item to the list. Item number six was added out of necessity due to the Taylor Hall trade on Wednesday afternoon.
Below is the list with thoughts on how to fill them. So far we have added one item and accomplished one.
The List:
1.) A top pairing RHD to play with Oscar Klefbom/Andrej Sekera – (Adam Larsson) The Oilers have apparently found their guy in Larsson. The team traded Taylor Hall to bring him to town and Peter Chiarelli referred to him as a guy who would play on the top pairing. Larsson is a good player, only 23, who shoots right and can move the puck exceptionally well. He’s great at suppressing shots and was praised by those who follow the Devils.
“At this stage, yes.” Chiarell on if he sees Larsson playing top pair.
— 630CHED (@630CHED) June 29, 2016
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Larsson averaged 22:30 TOI per game last year and is likely to skate next to his fellow countryman Klefbom this season. I like this player, and while he improves the defensive group in Edmonton, he is a risk here. That said, we can cross this item off it appears.
2.) A second pairing D who can play on the PP – Edmonton had Jason Demers in on a visit back on Tuesday, but he doesn’t solve the powerplay issue. I think Chiarelli’s next trade is to acquire a defender who can both move the puck and play the QB role on the team’s top powerplay unit next season. This is the biggest item now and is likely to be filled in the coming days.
3.) A third line center – Depending on what happens with item two, this could be filled internally. If the Oilers keep both Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Leon Draisaitl on the roster, they could run a center depth chart the reads Connor McDavid-RNH-Draisaitl. If they move one of the two, they will be in the market for a 3rd line, right handed, center. Could Tyler Bozak for, say, Mark Fayne make sense?
4.) An NHL level goaltender – Chiarelli mentioned post-draft last week that the team was looking for a goaltender that could push Brossoit. Jonas Gustavsson, Chad Johnson, Jhonas Enroth and James Reimer all make sense as possible additions. Suspect we see this handled in the next week or so.
5.) A top nine winger – The Oilers may elect to keep Nail Yakupov, eliminating the need to add another top nine winger this off-season. That said, should the team move Yakupov, there are plenty of UFA options to fill this slot. Brett Connolly, Lee Stempniak and PA Parenteau are just a few of them. I suspect this item gets put on the back burner.
6.) A top-six LW to replace Taylor Hall – Milan Lucic, it’s going to be Milan Lucic. I’d be absolutely stunned if the Oilers did not announce a contract with the power forward tomorrow right after free agency opens up. He doesn’t fill Hall’s shoes, but he does give the Oilers a legit top-six left winger and someone to play with Connor McDavid.
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