The Edmonton Oilers can score, everyone knew that. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl rank first and second respectively in league scoring, each well ahead of third-place Tage Thompson. Even Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Zach Hyman are among the league’s best, sitting tied for 13th and 20th in points. The thing they can’t do is keep the puck out of their net.
Last night was a great example. After getting out to a 3-1 lead over the St. Louis Blues halfway through the third period, the ice tilted and the Oilers defense couldn’t handle it. First Robert Thomas, then Vladimir Tarasenko – shorthanded – scored to bring the Blues back and force overtime. A shootout loss and another blown point for Edmonton, who sit fourth in the Pacific Division after 31 games with a 17-13-1 record.
It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, then, when Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reports that the Oilers have already been doing some due diligence on defensemen that might be available this season. LeBrun lists John Klingberg and Joel Edmundson among the names that the team has already looked into, though those two in particular offer very different skill sets.
The interesting part of any Oilers trade speculation though, is how their cap situation will be affected. The team currently has some wiggle room but that is provided by Evander Kane’s placement on long-term injured reserve. When he is ready to return, it would seriously complicate things. Adding a difference-making defenseman would be difficult in that scenario, even with salary retention from a rebuilding club.
That reality will only fuel the Jesse Puljujarvi speculation that continues to suggest this will be his last season with Edmonton. If the team is going to cut bait in the summer, they might as well do it a bit early to clear some cap room.
Either way, the Oilers can’t keep letting games slip through their fingers if they want to be a serious contender in the Western Conference. With Philip Broberg not yet ready to elevate the defense corps, they’ll have to look elsewhere for an answer on the back end.
Talk about a headline that can be used over and over again. You guys should set a reminder to run this item every three weeks or so. Just do a simple find-and-replace with the names of the guys who lit them up the night before and the D-men they are looking into.
McDavid on the Oilers is like Mike Trout on the Angels – top talents on poorly run franchises.
Im pretty sure they just made the final 4. And the playoffs several times. Dont compare them to Anaheim, thats an insult.
1990.
shocker
need defense and better goaltending. the makings of a champion contender
Now imagine if Stuart Skinner hadn’t stepped in & provided above-average goaltending when Jack Campbell lost the ability to play goalie.
come home, Ethan Bear! lol