The Edmonton Oilers absolutely manhandled the Pittsburgh Penguins last night in a 7-2 shellacking. The game started on an ugly note when Leon Draisaitl made a completely unneeded turnover to put the Penguins up 1-0 but after that it was all Edmonton. Shots ended up 44-24 in favor of the Oilers. McDavid had a casual 4 point night and Stuart Skinner was more than good enough to earn the Oilers another 2 points.
This Oilers team is not without it's flaws, that should be clear to anyone watching. However, this flawed team still has a legitimate shot at finishing first in the Western Conference as they sit only 3 points back of the current leader in the Vegas Golden Knights, a team Edmonton has beaten twice already this season.
Slowly the conversation regarding trades in Edmonton have shifted from "Erik Karlsson" to "we might look at add some depth." That is inexcusable for where this team is at right now. The Eastern Conference is taking part in an arms war right now while the West seems to be staying at status quo. It is going to be an absolute brawl in the East with the stacked Rangers, Bruins, and likely the Hurricanes and Devils all beating each other up. Some would say that it seems a given whoever comes out of the East will win the Cup but I think whoever comes out of the rubble will be worn out and beaten.
"Depth" isn't good enough for a team with Connor McDavid putting up the numbers he is this season... nor is it good enough for Draisaitl who has been rather poor defensively but still on pace for another 40+ goal season or for RNH who is having a career year himself, cracking 70 points for the first time and could even reach the 100 point plateau, or Zach Hyman who should reach the 30 goal mark for the first time in his career.
The weapons are there are they are just waiting for something to help push them from a good playoff team to a legitimate Cup winning threat but here we are less than 10 days from the trade deadline and things have gone rather quiet.
There have been talks that the Oilers are still looking at Gavrikov. There are some good things about the player but he does not move the needle enough in my opinion, especially for the price tag the Blue Jackets are still looking for. The Bruins were looking at Gavrikov before making a 180 to acquire Orlov. That would have been an excellent acquisition for the Oilers. Orlov wasn't on anyone's radar as being a candidate for being traded before Sweeney made it happen.
Ken Holland is paid 5 million dollars a year to be the Oilers General Manager. That is the most by any GM in the league and like a player who is paid a high amount of money, there is an expectation that comes with that. If a high paid player isn't producing than fans and media members have plenty to say. It is hypocritical to stay silent when the GM isn't doing more to help the team.
The Boston Bruins have been the best team in the NHL this season by a country mile and were right up against the cap. They were able to acquire another high calibre player to improve the team. There is no excuse why the Oilers should not do the same.
Jesse Puljujarvi, Kailer Yamamoto, Warren Foegele. Each of these players have useful skills that can help the team win but they are also players that by my eye could easily be parted with if it means adding a player of note. We have seen more three team trades this season than in the past. It's becoming more common place in the NHL to get another team involved to eat cap space. If this deadline comes and goes and Holland tries to state that "his hands were tied because of the cap" it will be pure bologna.
Forget about what a 1st round pick might look like 5 years from now, forget about what Xavier Bourgault might turn into... there is a real window for this Oilers team right now and letting it slip away is absolutely inexcusable at this stage.
Thanks for reading.