Against the Sharks, Oscare Klefbom reminded us all what he is capable of when he isn’t dealing with shoulder pain. The “procedure” done to his shoulder that many assume was to temporarily provide relief freed him up to put pucks on net the way we were expecting after last year’s campaign. He ended up with a goal and an assist in what looked like a throwback performance.

It’s a reminder that Klefbom has been playing on 1 shoulder for the majority of the year. The fact that he’s tied with 2-shouldered defensemen for the team in lead in D scoring despite his health problems is a wonder. He’s 2nd on the team in shots on net – not for defensemen, for the whole team. The messaging from Oiler media about Klefbom being one of the primary sources of Edmonton’s disappointment sets the stage for him to be moved this summer.

The top two names for Oiler trade rumours and murmurs from inside this city are Klefbom and RNH. The biggest reason is that they are the last players who are good, have movable contracts, and might conceivably have value in the league. Everyone else who fits that bill is either already traded or Connor McDavid.

There is an internal pressure to try to fix this mess of a roster right away, but at this point it’sa reflex that just might kill the team. This is akin to reflexively cranking the wheel when you’ve hit a patch of ice on the road and start to skid. It’s not intuitive, but the smart play is to steer into it.

Edmonton has already screwed up and it will cost them in years before they are challenging for cups. However, if the team starts trying to correct by trading Klefbom and RNH, the odds are this skid becomes a complete tail-spin and is headed for the ditch or worse.

The damage that Peter Chiarelli has done to the Oilers is real and irreversible, but that doesn’t mean Edmonton cannot move on and try to build its roster back up. That said, trading away quality centermen or inexpensive top pairing defenders for wingers isn’t the solution – that’s just a symptom of the real problem (Chia).

Edmonton may need to go into next season with a bunch of kids like Yamamoto, Puljujarvi, and whomever they draft in 2018 (depending on the lottery balls) playing in significant roles because the team is essentially rebuilding again. It’s not what people want to hear, but the reality is that the Oilers will probably come out of this sooner with RNH and Klefbom than with whatever Chia pawns them for.

The wings are clearly a problem today, but the future isn’t so bad. Kailer Yamamoto has 52 points in 27 games since returning to the WHL from the World Junior Championships. He’s rolling at almost 2 points per game after a slow start when the Oilers had first returned him to the WHL. The diminutive winger is an offensive dynamo. Jesse Puljujarvi is caught between the 2nd and 3rd lines as Todd McLellan fumbles his way through handling a player more talented than the vets ahead of him on the depth chart. He is another future top 6 winger for the club. The Oilers will be at the mercy of the lottery balls like every other non-playoff team in the league and could add another high end forward or defender before next year. Even if that player isn’t ready, it’s a high likelihood they make the NHL team by 2019.

With a top 6 that could be very young but very talented, does it make sense to trade away a versatile center known for his 2-way play. That question is doubly important to get right if that player also shows chemistry with McDavid.

RNH McDavid Yamamoto
Lucic Draisaitl Puljujarvi

There is a very possible Edmonton top 6, barring the team abandons Lucic. Even if they aren’t ready to take on all challengers yet, is it worth breaking them up find McDavid a shooter?

I don’t think so.

LINEUP

Russell might not pay after blocking a shot in the last game.

RNH McDavid Rattie
Lucic Strome Puljujarvi
Caggiula Draisaitl Slepyshev
Pakarinen Khaira Kassian

Nurse Larsson
Klefbom Benning
Sekera Bear

Talbot

OILERS KEYS TO THE GAME

1) All About Barkov. Aleksander Barkov sits 20th in league scoring today with an impressive 67GP, 25-45-70 on the year. He already has 11 points up on his previous career high in points and is just 3 goals back of his previous high water mark. The 22 year old center is having the breakout campaign offensively that was envisioned when he was drafted 2nd overall in 2013. He has always been a solid 2-way player and a good offensive performer. Now he’s reaching that next level where the truly elite players of the game operate.

2) Leon Bounces Back. If there’s one player that needs to bounce back the most after that overtime loss to the Sharks, it’s Leon Draisaitl. He hasn’t been adapting to his new role down the middle and the teammates that go along with it nearly as well as RNH has adapted to playing with McDavid. He was on the ice for all 4 goals against and it was his attention to detail defensively that let him down. He wanted to get paid like a center, but by all accounts still wants to play the wing. That contract he signed means significant time down the middle and thus away from 97. He has to adapt.

3) Afternoon Delight. The team is 2-7 in afternoon games this year. There is nothing delightful about these midday games. Edmonton has been awful at these for as long as I can remember. Maybe it’s all the young players, maybe it’s just part of the gypsy curse that was placed on Darryl Katz after he ran over that Romanian family. Who could say, really? The only truth I know is that Oiler games played during daylight are an abomination.

Puck drops this afternoon at 12PM Mountain Time on Sportsnet West. Tank On!

Follow me on Twitter @Archaeologuy

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