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New Names. Same Problems.

July 4, 2018, 6:55 PM ET [202 Comments]
Sean Maloughney
Edmonton Oilers Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT


Happy 4th of July to all my American readers! You all missed the real festivities of Canada Day three days ago but I'm sure you all will find your own way to entertain yourselves.

I would like to start doing a semi-regular Q/A on any hockey related topics for all who are willing to participate. Send any questions to [email protected], on Twitter
@SMaloughney, or here in the comments section. I'll have answers for this round for Monday.

Yesterday I wrote how the Oilers had made some good signings with the additions of Brodziak and Rieder... now for the bad news.

By adding Brodziak and Rieder the Oilers have essentially replaced Letestu and Maroon who the team lost during the trade deadline last season. Brodziak is an upgrade over Letestu at 5 on 5 and Rieder could produce like Maroon if he played with McDavid but is likely best suited on a second or third line.

Last season this was the Oilers opening night roster

Maroon-McDavid-Draisaitl
Lucic-RNH-Yamamoto
Caggiula-Strome-Jokinen
Khaira-Letestu-Kassian

Klefbom-Larsson
Russell-Benning
Nurse-Gryba

Talbot

*Sekera was out injured

As of today the opening night roster looks something like this

RNH-McDavid-Rattie
Lucic-Draisaitl-Puljujarvi
Khaira-Strome-Rieder
Caggiula-Brodziak-Kassian

Klefbom-Larsson
Sekera-Benning
Nurse-Russell

Talbot

Sekera's health is still a big question mark but at the very least he should be in the lineup to start the season. If Sekera is close to the player he was two years ago the Oilers D will be in much better shape.

Aside from this, the issues that plagued the roster before the beginning of last season are the same issues the team currently faces...albeit some of the names and positions are different.

Here were our questions/concerns about the forward group at the beginning of last season.

- Last year the Oilers had one strong line in Maroon, McDavid and Draisaitl. Leon was on the right wing because of the lack of natural skilled wingers.

- Ryan Nugent Hopkins was on the second line and we questioned if Lucic was going to produce and if a young player like Yamamoto could make the jump.

- The Oilers had an extreme soft minutes third line with a jumbled group of names we hoped would find chemistry and be effective at providing secondary scoring.

- A decent 4th line of NHL players but questions about whether or not they could produce.

This season we have….

- RNH with McDavid and Rattie. RNH is on the left wing because of the lack of natural skilled wingers, meanwhile the team hopes Rattie can continue to serve in a complementary role.

- Leon Draisaitl is on the second line and we question even more whether Lucic can produce and if a young player like Puljujarvi, Rieder, Caggiula can produce at that level.

- A third line running the soft minutes parade. Admittedly I like this third line better if it involves Khaira and Rieder on the wings.

- A decent fourth line with a more proven 5 on 5 producer.

In short, the Oilers have filled in one of their many issues on the wing by moving a centreman; only this time it’s moving Nuge to the left as opposed to Leon on the right. There are still issues with both wingers on the second line, whether they are too old or too unproven. Secondary scoring is still a question mark depending on who will be playing where in the bottom six. The makeup of the bottom six depends heavily depends on which wingers have been slotted where to try and form chemistry.

The issues on the back-end remain the same so a comparison isn’t necessary. The team is still missing a top 4 right shot defender. Benning struggled in the role last year, Russell is worse when he plays the right side and Bouchard and Bear are completely unproven.

Last year the Oilers were 14th in even strength scoring. Chiarelli and company seem to be banking that a new system will improve the horrendous PK and PP of last year which were 25th and 31st respectively. Frankly it will be difficult not to improve with that bar set so low.

Bottom line, I believe the team is marginally better than where it was it this point last year. Better special teams and a stronger performance from Talbot might be enough to push this team back into a playoff spot. The simple issue here is we are discussing the Oilers maybe making the playoffs with Connor McDavid entering his fourth year...

There is plenty of summer left but not much cap space to work with. I would feel infinitely better about this teams chances if they could add one more good winger or another defender. If that doesn't happen this team is simply cycling chairs.
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