Published Feb 11, 2024<\/span> \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 4 minute read<\/span><\/p>\n The Edmonton Oilers are good, but not good enough.<\/p>\n Not yet.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n With the trade deadline fast approaching, it\u2019s up to general manager Ken Holland to find the necessary ingredients to make a good team great and position the Oilers for their best chance to win a Stanley Cup since 2006.<\/p>\n Everyone around him is loading up already. The first overall Vancouver Canucks got a jump on the trade deadline by adding what every contender wants, a solid two-way centre in Elias Lindholm. The Winnipeg Jets added Sean Monahan and the Colorado Avalanche are about to find out how much Zach Parise has left in the tank.<\/p>\n Advertisement 2<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n In Edmonton, Holland has a group that has paid its dues and is ready to win now. What he does prior to the deadline will play a major role in whether Connor McDavid and Company can finally push through or if it\u2019s another long summer of \u2018Wait till next year.\u2019<\/p>\n So, what are those ingredients? What\u2019s the biggest need? There are cases to be made in all three areas, goal, defence and forward, and the GM has limited assets with which to forge a deal.<\/p>\n This is going to take some creative manoeuvring.<\/p>\n Edmonton already bolstered things by luring free agent winger Corey Perry to the Oilers and getting forward Dylan Holloway back from injury. That\u2019s a good start.<\/p>\n What\u2019s next? How does he spend this year\u2019s first-round pick? And maybe even their second-round pick if we\u2019re talking about a complete scorched-earth strategy.<\/p>\n Yes, there are going to be lean years ahead when they look to their feeder system and all of the cheap, young talent that was supposed to be coming up isn\u2019t there, but they\u2019ll cross that bridge when they come to it. Right now there are Stanley Cups to be chased and what they do at this year\u2019s deadline could play a big factor in that.<\/p>\n Headline News<\/p>\n Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Advertisement 3<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Where should Holland move and shake?<\/p>\n GOAL<\/strong><\/p>\n Two months ago goal was the obvious choice, with Stuart Skinner and Jack Campbell posting the worst numbers in the NHL. The floundering Oilers needed a starter AND a backup, just for an outside chance at making the playoffs.<\/p>\n The crease was a mess. Now it\u2019s a strength, with Skinner giving them a chance to win almost every night. So starting goalie is off the table. They have one.<\/p>\n And the emergence of Calvin Pickard is no small thing, either. Instead of having to go out and spend assets and cap space on a veteran backup, he might have solved the problem internally.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In Edmonton\u2019s revamped defensive structure Pickard is 6-1 in his last seven starts with a .917 save percentage. He\u2019s been great, but he\u2019s started just 21 NHL games since 2019. Do the Oilers risk putting their entire season on his shoulders if something happens to Skinner?<\/p>\n Right now the recent body of work suggests he wouldn\u2019t fall on his face, and there are other, more pressing areas to spend the assets and cap space on, but if you think an experienced, proven backup is necessary then Holland should spend some assets here.<\/p>\n Advertisement 4<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n DEFENCE<\/strong><\/p>\n When a team wins 16 games in a row and holds its opponents to two or fewer goals for 14 straight games it goes without saying that the defence is playing pretty well.<\/p>\n Edmonton\u2019s blue line is evolving from a liability to a strength with Mattias Ekholm and Darnell Nurse anchoring the coverage and Evan Bouchard quarterbacking the power play.<\/p>\n This group has also been freakishly healthy. Every single defenceman has been injury free all year, which sucks if you\u2019re Philip Broberg sitting in the minors waiting for a chance to prove yourself, but it\u2019s been a blessing for the Oilers.<\/p>\n How long does this last? They will almost certainly need some sort of insurance over the course of a long and arduous playoff run, so another veteran could be the way to go.<\/p>\n That head coach Kris Knoblauch shuffled things up, moving Cody Ceci to the third pairing and Vincent Desharnais to Darnell Nurse\u2019s right side, also tells you he\u2019s not entirely content with things as they stand.<\/p>\n TOP SIX<\/strong><\/p>\n This has been a curiously-difficult situation for years, with Jesse Puljujarvi, Kailer Yamamoto and Connor Brown failing to produce in one of the most coveted spots in hockey \u2014 top six right wing in Edmonton.<\/p>\n Advertisement 5<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n But the addition of Perry and the newly-formed line of he, Leon Draisaitl and Evander Kane might be exactly what the Oilers have been looking for \u2014 a second line right winger with size, grit, experience and gamesmanship. He checks a lot of boxes.<\/p>\n Then again, Perry is 38 and he\u2019s been here for three games. Adding another proven goal scorer to the lineup would make Edmonton an even more lethal offensive force.<\/p>\n BOTTOM SIX<\/strong><\/p>\n The Oilers just went five games without anyone from the bottom six scoring a goal. This, after 11 different players popped game winning goals during their recent winning streak. So it\u2019s a hot and cold thing with the third and fourth lines right now, but some additional size and strength is definitely required.<\/p>\n The jury is still out on Warren Foegele, Dylan Holloway and Ryan McLeod as a third line and the fourth line isn\u2019t getting anything done.<\/p>\n E-mail:\u00a0rtychkowski@postmedia.com<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Share this article in your social network<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/20240123db021.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=288&h=216&sig=gmzvD3W3Td3xNAyVyJBVMw\" "\\"\\"")
The Edmonton Oilers’ Dylan Holloway (55) celebrates his goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets during third period NHL action at Rogers Place, in Edmonton on Jan. 23, 2024. The Oilers won 4-1.<\/span> Photo by David Bloom<\/span> \/Postmedia<\/span><\/p>\nArticle content<\/h2>\n
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