I've been thinking about this ever since the Oilers stole a victory away from the Columbus Blue Jackets yesterday: 5-4-3 isn't so bad, especially considering how injured the Oilers are.
Yes, every team needs to deal with injuries, and the good ones keep winning regardless who is out. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is obviously playing hurt. Shawn Horcoff is gone. Eric Belanger has just returned and he's playing with two broken toes. Anton Lander has a broken foot and he's gone for at least a month. Sam Gagner truly is the only healthy 100% functioning NHL-level center the Oilers have on the roster.
You can't take away everyone at one position on a roster and expect a team to win all the time. The biggest issue here for Oilers management to consider is why so many injuries keep happening to their team; not if players are performing to their full potential.
Certain players have stood out in very positive or very negative ways. Justin Schultz, Sam Gagner and Devan Dubnyk have all exceeded expectations. Ryan Smyth and Ryan Whitney have been terrible. Everyone else is pretty much playing as well as they can. This team is doing pretty much as well as it can. Why am I the only Oilers-focused blogger who seems to understands this?
Everyone, myself included, was going crazy on Twitter yesterday as the game took place. Outside of Dubnyk, who was sensational, the rest of the team played brutal hockey. This won't be the last performance like that we can expect this season. The Oilers are better than they have been over the last three seasons, but this is still a work in progress.
I'm reading plenty of bashing of Oilers Head Coach Ralph Krueger today too. Am I missing something? I don't get it. Aside from this team having a winning record so far, he's coaching a team that has significant injury issues. He, like his players, is doing the best he can with these circumstances. Cut the man a little slack.
If you look at the stats, the Oilers have little-to-no offense during 5-on-5 situations, and six players seem to be scoring all the goals. You can't blame Krueger for fiddling with the lines in an attempt to find scoring. If anyone deserves criticism at this point it's Oilers management who have yet to bring in big, physical center to help. Maybe the "right" deal just isn't there to be had, but I'm not convinced much effort is being made. It's not that management doesn't care...There's a plan in place in Edmonton, and the focus is on trying to win beginning in 2013/2014. This year is about trying to figure out if and where the pieces fit. In that respect, this has already been a success: Sam Gagner IS good enough to be this team's 2nd line center; Devan Dubnyk IS good enough to be the starting goalie; Ryan Whitney ISN'T good enough to be re-signed; Ales Hemsky HAS rediscovered his game and is worth keeping. That's four questions answered already.
Oilers management must realize the team is at least one puck-moving defenseman short of success. The Oilers also need a long-term 3rd line center solution. Both of these missing pieces could be dealt for now, or could be picked up during the summer (draft a center; acquire a left-handed D man via free agency or through trade). This is not rocket surgery we're talking about here. The Oilers are very close to being the team we want it to be.
You could see a little bit of movement on the Oilers roster over the next few days. Darcy Hordichuk has been placed on waivers. If he clears, I suspect he'll be sent to OKC and Theo Peckham will be brought up. After that, it's likely one of Whitney, Peckham or Corey Potter will be dealt. My money is on Whitney, who completely wants and needs a change of address.
As for the center situation, the Islanders continue to be a potential trade partner. Columbus, Washington, Florida, Buffalo, NYR, Los Angeles, and Colorado are present legitimate trade options too. If the Oilers aren't willing to give up a quality young prospect like Magnus Paajarvi, or draft picks from the first two rounds this June, don't expect anything significant to occur.
Edmonton Oilers Blogger • 
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