Speculation: What do the Oilers need to do to take the next step?

[iCanada]

What ? If they were a dime a dozen we would have one already.

Maybe even a half dozen!

 

[Dazed and Confused]

At this point the Oilers need a specalist more so than elite talent on the backend. Not even so much a PP QB (though it'd be nice), as much as a big RH shot from the point who can still make clean passes (a triggerman in other words).

The Wiz is the best remaining asset on the market, but even Franson could fill the need as a #5/6 defenceman and triggerman for McDavid/RNH. Wideman is the another name out there, but I don't think Edmonton or Calgary are that keen on helping out each other as division rivals. The corpses of Boyle or Zidlicky are the last names I could see Edmonton looking at, but they're likely*closer to retirement than playing another season.

Still, a defence of...

Klefbom-Larsson
Sekrea-Fayne
Davidson-Wisniewski/Franson/Wideman/Boyle/Zidlicky

... with Oesterle at the #7, and Nurse, Reinart as the main call ups is servicable, especially with a deep and now more balenced forward core.

 

[Homesick]

At this point the Oilers need a specalist more so than elite talent on the backend. Not even so much a PP QB (though it'd be nice), as much as a big RH shot from the point who can still make clean passes (a triggerman in other words).

The Wiz is the best remaining asset on the market, but even Franson could fill the need as a #5/6 defenceman and triggerman for McDavid/RNH. Wideman is the another name out there, but I don't think Edmonton or Calgary are that keen on helping out each other as division rivals. The corpses of Boyle or Zidlicky are the last names I could see Edmonton looking at, but they're likely*closer to retirement than playing another season.

Still, a defence of...

Klefbom-Larsson
Sekrea-Fayne
Davidson-Wisniewski/Franson/Wideman/Boyle/Zidlicky

... with Oesterle at the #7, and Nurse, Reinart as the main call ups is servicable, especially with a deep and now more balenced forward core.

Widemans name is out there because the league officiating office will have a huge target on his back this season. Best if he stays on the Flames

 

[oilers84]

A pm d and a couple depth fwds that can step in when injuries occur

So Werenski and wiz for pm d and Pirri and Hudler for fwds

 

[McSuper]

Widemans name is out there because the league officiating office will have a huge target on his back this season. Best if he stays on the Flames

This . Fact is it is human nature to stick up for your own and which ever team Wideman is on will get nailed . The benefit of the doubt will always go against Wideman even if it shouldn't

 

[oilerbear]

I think Adam Larsson is being underrated. I think under-25 he is one the best defensive d-men in the league and he has room to grow offensively with a very good outlet pass that's finally going to have an offence to work with.

Davidson doesn't need to be a no.4, they have Mark Fayne who's an adequate no.4 if need be, Davidson can be a 5 or 6 next year, he simply did play like a 3/4 last year though.

They could use a PP QB on the back end absolutely, but every team makes due with some deficiency in some area and not every PP has Connor freaking McDavid on it either. They have enough pure talent to be better on the PP than they were last year. That's an execution issue, not entirely a roster issue.

They need to be healthy next year that's the main thing. This is probably the most balanced roster they have had in about a decade and McDavid going to be even better next year. They can't have Connor miss 1/2 the season and Klefbom miss 2/3 of the year again though. Normal injuries happen, but to lose your best forward for half the year and your best D for 2/3rds of the year would devastate even a playoff team.

Soundwave.
You nailed it!

the top 300 goal scorers in the league
27 are Dmen who get 3.3% of the goals for the top 300.
Guess who drives offence?

you want D that get the forwards the D...... Puck.
EVA/60


PC said there are 15-17 #1 d in the game
when you look for dmen who are 1stc omp effective in the even or disadvantge situations.
top 60 EVA/60 (1st pair)
top 60 comp (1st pair)
top 60 HSCA/60 (1st pair)
top 60 Sa/60 (1st pair)
top 60 PKGA (1st pair)
these are results!
Player performance while on the ice.
Not OPINON!
Just facts based on performance.

there were 3 Dmen to be 1st pair in all 5;

Klefbom:
#34 EVA/60
#35 Comp
#57 HSCA
#56 Sa/60
#14 PKGA

Larsson:
#46 EVA/60
#16 Comp
#15 HSCA
#18 SA/60
#12 PKGA

Muzzin
#38 EVA/60
#60 comp
#45 HSCA
#4 Sa/60
#44 PKGA



There were 4 Dmen covering last 4 but not EVA
true 1st comp EV/PK defensive D
Alzner
#39 Comp
top 30 HSCA
#38 SA/60
#50 PKGA

De-Haan
#45 comp
Top 60 HSCAD
#20 SA/60
#15 PKGA

Manson
#60 comp
#5 HSCA
#1 SA/60
#6 PKGA

Lindholm
#60 comp
#12 HSCA
#13 Sa/60
#18 PKGA

6 Dmen covering the first 4 but not PK; True 1st comp Even D
Braun
#13 EVA/60
#28 Comp
#3 HSCA D
#12 Sa/60

Vlasic
#42 EVA/60
#23 comp
#1 HSCA D
#34 Sa/60

Martin
#51 EVA/60
#32 comp
#56 HSCA
#44 Sa/60

Deykeyser
#55 EVA/60
#18 comp
#58 HSCA
#58 Sa/60

Ekblad
#49 EVA/60
#56 comp
#8 HSCA
#32 Sa/60

Hedman
#5 EVA/60
#53 comp
#54 HSCA
#17 Sa/60

that is 13 dmen:

Weber; Doughty; and Lovejoy fell just short of their traditional top 60 SA/60 d play.
or
there would have been 16 in this group.

Dmen who deliver a high goal production rate on PP can make a difference on the PP.
when you look at the top PPG totals last 2 years:
1. OEL 23
2 Weber 19
3. Faulk 18
4. Burns 14
5. vatanen 11
5. Giordano 11
7. Hamilton 10
7. Shattenkirk 10
7. Subban 10
7. Doughty 10
7. Seabrook 10
12. Josi 9

Plus some young d were given a chance on PP
and
showed high end PPG/60 rates. (league rank)
1. Davidson
5. Demelo
9. Theodore
10. Nesterov
15. Gostisbehre
16. Dumba

bob mackenzies scouts stated Davidson would be astarter in any of the playoffs teams top 4.
Davidson got his best Def results playing 1st comp the last half of his season
Top 35 HSCA D
Top 50 SA/60 D
top 30 EVGA D
Top 10 PKGA
this is not a player you start on 3rd pair.
you start him with Larsoon
and
Have Klefbom play with fayne sharing a portion of 1st comp play.
to see if both pairs can handle the play.

Davidson-Larsson
Klefbom - Fayne
Sekera - XXX

the guy I would like to sign:
Nakladal:
3rd comp
top 30 HSCA
#7 Sa/60 D
#31 GA/60

Could you imagine him with the #2 HSCA save% goalie the last 3 years.
Talbot .886

instead of the bottom hSCA performances by the Calgary goalies.
Hiller #31 .859
Ramo #49 .847

though Calgary did go out and get the 7th best in that time
Elliott .880

 

[Sweoilers]

Would Rundblad work as a #6 pp specialist guy? PTO for him and see what he brings. If he doesn't work out nothing lost. I belive he has what it takes to be a bottom pair guy with QBPP qualities. His biggest problems is his strength and speed but if he gets the right training it should be a low cost big reward signing. He also fits the age frame.

 

[Mad Brills*]

Would shattenkirk for hall have been a better deal for them than the larsson trade, if reports were to believed that an extended shattenkirk would've been the deal?

 

[triggrman]

IMHO, I honestly believe maturity is the only thing they lack now.