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

[Funk21]

Listen to their coach, play like a team and stop making excuses.

As many have said if they can't make the playoffs something is seriously wrong with this team.

 

[me2]

Oilers are a vastly different team over last year . They have size , grit , an up graded D , more depth . What more do you think they need to do to becoming a good to great team ?

I know some will think this is better suited to the Oilers board but then you have fans that see the world thru rosy glasses . I am looking to hear from the true hockey fans and not the Oilers haters .

To me just base on cap

Out Hall and Nikitin = 10.5 million
In Lucic and Larsson = just under 10.2 million

Hall > Lucic
Larsson >>>>>> Nikitin

I am hoping to keep our C depth while adding a PM RHD . Not sure it possible but if it could be done I believe we are a playoff team

Two things

1. Klefbom and Larsson to be legit 1st pairing guys. They have the potential. Run with them this year and then make a move next offseason if it doesn't look like they will be a solid first pairing.

2. Time. Two years should be enough for the youngsters to get settled.

 

[sully1410]

A true number one defenseman. A Doughty, a Burns, a Subban, a Byfuglien, a Letang a whatever. They get that...I think they are a playoff team.

 

[KCC]

For me, pushing aside bad defense, shaky goaltending and no depth when they get demolished by injuries every year, the big thing is their work ethic. Year after year they fold when they have to face adversity. I'm hoping by shaking up the core with the Hall trade and the few upgrades so far that being at least a competitive team night in and night out (like the team in the late 90's) will start becoming reality.

That's actually what I'd like to see the most this season. I'm not even going to think about playoffs until that happens. I think that's a realistic goal outside of making the post season.

 

[Guido Sarducci]

No more patience. Seriously.

Dallas Eakins lost the room 10 games into his tenure and then coached the team into oblivion for two more seasons because of..............patience.

They kept a young core together a long time after everybody could see it wasn't working because of patience.

Stop selling fans on the future. Stop talking about patience. Building something special was just a stupid way of saying patience.

If a goalie struggles, cut him. If a coach loses the room, fire him. If a player is under performing, AHL. If a beer vendor is slacking, popcorn for him. No mercy.

The building for a better future philosophy has made the Oilers the laughing stock of the NHL. Maybe the laughing stock of all of sports.

Go with a the future is now philosophy. No more of this "we'll be good in two years so don't give up yours seasons tickets" crap. Just a .02 from a Flames fan.

 

[WesMcCauley]

#1D? Isnt it obvious?

 

[Guido Sarducci]

2. Time. Two years should be enough for the youngsters to get settled.

No. If that is the management groups philosophy then they will still be saying that in two years. For how many years have the Oilers been two years away?

 

[Z-Diddy]

No. If that is the management groups philosophy then they will still be saying that in two years. For how many years have the Oilers been two years away?

Arguably saying 2 for the last 5.

 

[ForSpareParts*]

I think they need a #2 still to make their defense dynamic, but I think they're a lot better situated for this season than most people realize. I see them finishing second in the pacific and going for a deep run if everyone stays healthy.

I think it is foolish to think that Larsson is their number 1 D right now. I am not saying he is a bad player, but to be a number 1 you have to have some offensive upside. Larsson shows no sign of that.

So they have a number 2, and now they need a number 1.

I also think better coaching. I am not sold on their current coach. I mean can't EDM do better than a bottom 5 finish?!

 

[The Safe Play]

Second pairing RHD with PP abilities. and a scoring RW.

Lets say Barrie on high end, Dumba low end. Vrbata high end, Pirri low end.

 

[Ainsy01]

a 3 c like hudler
a prospect like werenski
a depth fwd like pirri
a true shooter to play with mc d
and a stop gap top 4 man till next year
a better back up option then gust


so

lucic mc d ????
pouliot rnh ebs
maroon hudler drai either those guys can with places
hendricks letestu kassian

klef lars
sek ???
davidson ???

talbot
???

You guys realize Lucic sucks right? and is on the decline? He is not a top line winger. He has scored 20 goals in only 4 of his 9 seasons, broken 60 points twice! he is slow and takes the body every chance he can, he shouldnt be playing with a play making magician that is one of the fastest skaters in the leauge. Mcdavid will literally go end to end and slide a pass back door to lucic for a tap in, but lucic will still be at the red line busting his hunchback to catch up.

Offensive defense man to QB what could be a very good powerplay, like Shattenkirk or a Yandle, ETC ETC. They have no D that can can run the powerplay. Larsson has 9 goals in 5 nhl seasons lol. Sekeras career high is 11. (This is honestly the only reason EDM should get Wideman),

Klef has 100 games NHL experience , 30 last season, how the h ell is he a top pairing guy ? Jesus. Team has some nice names on paper, but their product on the ice is much less admirable.

They should have acquired Andersen, or even Bernier, to be a 1B behind Talbot when he starts to slide.

Hudler plays wing and would never sign with the oilers (in his golden years).

Kris Russell would be a great fit ! sign him 5 x 5 ! (jk flames fan here, he sucks, but is lovable)

Team has a TON of holes. The oilers brass cant draft outside of the top ten to save their lives. Even with a first overall they still got a DUD, or two...

 

[Stephen Gionta]

What they should try to do now is acquire a #3/4 defenseman using picks and prospects. and sign Vrbata.

But, what the Oilers SHOULD have done was keep Hall.

Trade RNH, Eberle, Yakupov, Fayne, 2017 1st round pick + other in any sort of package to Minnesota and Colorado to acquire Dumba and Barrie.

Then signed a center in UFA (Frans Nielsen or David Backes)
and sign Vrbata

Lucic - McDavid - Vrbata
Hall - Draisaitl - Pulj
Maroon - UFA center - Kassian
Pouliot - Letestu - Hendricks

Klefbom - Barrie
Sekera - Dumba
Davidson - Nurse

Talbot

Extras: Lander, Ference

 

[The_Puck_Hog]

Resurection = Connor McDavid

The Oilers futility will end soon and for one reason only.... Connor McDavid ....

The fact that the Oilers had so many top picks in the last 6 years is disgusting. Oiler fans should feel confident, yet ridiculously lucky AND somewhat embarrassed. No way did the Oilers deserve Connor McDavid. However, that being said, at least he plays on a Canadian Team.

I believe the Oilers have one more obstacle to overcome.... Fire your GM ! The Hall / Larsson trade was suspect at best. If Chiarelli would have spoken to other Teams, he would have received much more for Taylor Hall. This has to be one of the most one sided trades I've seen in a long time.... so much so, it's somewhat funny. Adam Larsson could be the next Luke Schenn

Good Luck Oilers ! and do us all a favor and try not to finish bottom five AGAIN !!!

 

[Eb]

nvm.

 

[The_Puck_Hog]

I think it is foolish to think that Larsson is their number 1 D right now. I am not saying he is a bad player, but to be a number 1 you have to have some offensive upside. Larsson shows no sign of that.

So they have a number 2, and now they need a number 1.

I also think better coaching. I am not sold on their current coach. I mean can't EDM do better than a bottom 5 finish?!

Bang On !!! Adam Larsson = Luke Schenn .... Highly drafted, but that's where it stops. Should have kept the 2nd best player on thier team in Hall and traded cream puffs like Yakupov and the Jeoffrey Lupul like Nuggent Hopkins. (always hurt )

 

[Coach Travis]

Find a legit top 5 LW and shed some dead weight (Lucic). So basically, go back in time and be smarter with their offseason.

 

[The_Puck_Hog]

Two things

1. Klefbom and Larsson to be legit 1st pairing guys. They have the potential. Run with them this year and then make a move next offseason if it doesn't look like they will be a solid first pairing.

2. Time. Two years should be enough for the youngsters to get settled.

??? 2 more years ?? After what ? 2 more years, 2 more years....

 

[The_Puck_Hog]

Oilers still need a proven #1 defenseman with high end offensive capability. I'm stressing the "proven" part of that sentence before someone posts Klefbom's totals over a 30 game sample size.

They could also do with some good depth. They've got some high-end players in the top six, but their bottom six still looks rather meh.

I agree...Wouldn't Taylor Hall for Shattenkirk + been a much better deal ??? I'm thinking so, Chiarelli lost his mind the day the trade was made....

 

[ManofSteel55]

I think it is foolish to think that Larsson is their number 1 D right now. I am not saying he is a bad player, but to be a number 1 you have to have some offensive upside. Larsson shows no sign of that.

So they have a number 2, and now they need a number 1.

I also think better coaching. I am not sold on their current coach. I mean can't EDM do better than a bottom 5 finish?!

Our current coach did pretty well in his previous job, so I don't think we can use that as an excuse like we could with Dallas Eakins.

You are right though, Larsson might be the guy to develop into a #1. He hasn't shown that he is that yet, although he has shown that he has the tools and a good mind for the game. Whether that comes together as a #1 defenseman remains to be seen, but the smart bet going forward would be to keep searching for that #1 defenseman and consider the rest of the team as:

Larsson - #2
Klefbom - #3
Sekera - #4
Davidson - #5/6
Nurse - #5/6 (until he develops into more)
Fayne - #6
Reinhart - depth (although I think he takes a step forward this year based off of his 2nd half of last season)
Oesterle - depth

That's a #1 defenseman, a year or two of development for the young guys, and Klefbom staying healthy away from being a pretty good defense core.

 

[McFlyingV]

I agree...Wouldn't Taylor Hall for Shattenkirk + been a much better deal ??? I'm thinking so, Chiarelli lost his mind the day the trade was made....

You're on a roll in this thread for some of the worst posts I have ever read on this site. Please continue.

 

[ManofSteel55]

I agree...Wouldn't Taylor Hall for Shattenkirk + been a much better deal ??? I'm thinking so, Chiarelli lost his mind the day the trade was made....

Shattenkirk was only on a 1 year contract, and is no better than Larsson. Shattenkirk is a pure offense defenseman, not the #1 that you are suggesting. Larsson has shown that he can be a top tier shut down defenseman, and has the tools to bring the offense too. Long term I am thinking that Larsson is the better bet by a fair margin.

Serious question, why is it that many on HF consider Seth Jones a future #1, but don't feel the same about Larsson? Both guys fell to be drafted 4th overall after contending for the #1 pick. Neither made a huge impact in their first year. Both have amazing skill sets. Yet to many, Jones is a #1 D in waiting yet nobody considers Larsson that.

 

[McFlyingV]

You guys realize Lucic sucks right? and is on the decline? He is not a top line winger. He has scored 20 goals in only 4 of his 9 seasons, broken 60 points twice! he is slow and takes the body every chance he can, he shouldnt be playing with a play making magician that is one of the fastest skaters in the leauge. Mcdavid will literally go end to end and slide a pass back door to lucic for a tap in, but lucic will still be at the red line busting his hunchback to catch up.

Offensive defense man to QB what could be a very good powerplay, like Shattenkirk or a Yandle, ETC ETC. They have no D that can can run the powerplay. Larsson has 9 goals in 5 nhl seasons lol. Sekeras career high is 11. (This is honestly the only reason EDM should get Wideman),

Klef has 100 games NHL experience , 30 last season, how the h ell is he a top pairing guy ? Jesus. Team has some nice names on paper, but their product on the ice is much less admirable.

They should have acquired Andersen, or even Bernier, to be a 1B behind Talbot when he starts to slide.

Hudler plays wing and would never sign with the oilers (in his golden years).

Kris Russell would be a great fit ! sign him 5 x 5 ! (jk flames fan here, he sucks, but is lovable)

Team has a TON of holes. The oilers brass cant draft outside of the top ten to save their lives. Even with a first overall they still got a DUD, or two...

I guess somebody should have told that to Patrick Maroon, who is a much worse skater than Lucic.

 

[ManofSteel55]

Find a legit top 5 LW and shed some dead weight (Lucic). So basically, go back in time and be smarter with their offseason.

Are you suggesting that doing nothing would have been smarter than essentially letting go of Hall in favor of Larsson and Lucic?

 

[Seanaconda]

No more patience. Seriously.

Dallas Eakins lost the room 10 games into his tenure and then coached the team into oblivion for two more seasons because of..............patience.

They kept a young core together a long time after everybody could see it wasn't working because of patience.

Stop selling fans on the future. Stop talking about patience. Building something special was just a stupid way of saying patience.

If a goalie struggles, cut him. If a coach loses the room, fire him. If a player is under performing, AHL. If a beer vendor is slacking, popcorn for him. No mercy.

The building for a better future philosophy has made the Oilers the laughing stock of the NHL. Maybe the laughing stock of all of sports.

Go with a the future is now philosophy. No more of this "we'll be good in two years so don't give up yours seasons tickets" crap. Just a .02 from a Flames fan.

I'm pretty sure the oilers have switched coaches more than any other team since 2006. Idk what your definition of patience is they keep saying that but they haven't been patient at all. Goalies? Been alot of those too. Idk what you've been seeing.
The only thing they wanted was for the fans to be patient for picks to develop. We have had a new coach pretty much every year. 4 gms

. Tried lots of goalies dubnyk was the only one they gave any time. 1 bad year traded. Such good patience

 

[Dbrownss]

I agree...Wouldn't Taylor Hall for Shattenkirk + been a much better deal ??? I'm thinking so, Chiarelli lost his mind the day the trade was made....

From what I gathered. Stl wasn't ok with Shattenkirk+. Safe to assume the + would hurt. Given Shattenkirk's lack of desire to stay in Edmonton...don't blame them for wanting something big