Oilers head coach Jay Woodcroft revealed the team’s plans for two key players trading in exchange for…
The Edmonton Oilers’ greatest need for the upcoming March 7 trade deadline was examined by a panel of NHL pundits on Sportsnet, and former Oiler Luke Gazdic suggested the team most urgently needs wing assistance.
Gazdic was questioned by host David Amber about whether the Oilers had the scoring ability to support their two star players, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
“They don’t at the moment,” Gazdic stated. “In terms of personnel, I believe they do; they’re just not receiving enough from them.”
Gazdic stated that Viktor Arvidsson, a newcomer, has to score more goals and provide more disruptive play. In the end, I believe they require more from their depth. They can’t depend on the same two men all the time. That simply isn’t a viable offensive strategy.
Jennifer Botterill, an analyst, disagreed with Gazdic’s perspective. Luke, I may be a little less worried than you are. I simply believe that when you look at players like Hyman or Nugent-Hopkins, they haven’t produced as many points as they had in the previous two seasons. However, I also think there is still time. You consider how you want to change during the season and when it’s most crucial, and I believe that’s when you have the two players with McDavid and Draisaitl, but there are still 15 players with double digits for the season. That’s the way the team is set up.
The Oilers continue to rank fourth in the NHL in terms of scoring, according to Amber. When the chips are down, I’m just curious as to how each team would prepare for a seven-game series against #29 and #97. Have you got enough?
“I can assure you that the trade deadline is in a month and two days, and Edmonton will be involved in some capacity,” Amber said in closing. Not to mention that Evander Kane, also known as E.K., will return to the mix. They may also include him, which would be a significant addition.
My opinion: 1. The Oilers need another scoring winger, and Gazdic is not the first or only pundit or insider to mention this. Recently, Bob Stauffer and Elliotte Friedman talked about this exact requirement on Oilers Now.
Article content 2. The NHL trade deadline is a long way off. A lot can and will occur. There will be injuries. We will know more about Evander Kane’s health and when he is expected to return to the NHL. We’ll learn more about Viktor Arvidsson and Jeff Skinner and whether or not they’ll be in the Top 6.
Stuart Skinner, Calvin Pickard, and John Klingberg will also play more for the Oilers. How much defense do the Oilers need? In the objective? The performance of Klingberg, Pickard, and Skinner will determine that.
3. In terms of trades, the Oilers have little to give up. What will happen to them in two or three years if they continue to trade away prospects and picks? As demonstrated by Ty Emberson and Vasily Podkolzin this season, they will require a constant supply of young, cheap players to rise up. However, you cannot hope to win trades by trading away all of your best prospects and picks, like the Oil did with Emberson and Podkolzin.
4. I think the Oilers won’t need a top 4 d-man or another goalkeeper because Skinner, Pickard, and Klingberg play well enough. A large, aggressive center in the bottom line may also be the ideal addition; however, it’s possible that a top winger will be the aim.
The important thing to remember today is that the Oil have another month to make a decision, so it probably pays to wait and see what comes up and what their top priority is in early March.
P.S. It should come as no surprise that Noah Philp was sent to Bakersfield, where he will be able to play during the two-week break from the Four Nations event.
