Not going to bothering trying to discuss anything about the Oilers absolute no show against the Montreal Canadiens last night. It was the Oilers worst performance of the year, no contest. I won't defend the team except to say this was the team's third game in four nights after being forced to spend a week in their hotel in Montreal.

Instead I'm going to fire out some of my thoughts on the Oilers roster, specific players, and anything else that's currently rattling around in my brain.

- Ryan Nugent Hopkins has not done himself any favours this season. The soon to be 28 year old forward has brought next to nothing to the team at even strength this year, despite playing a large portion of the first half of the season with Connor McDavid. I love Nuge as a player but at this point I don't know if I would go for anything above a 4 year deal at 5 million and even that may be too high. It might be in both parties best interest to take a 1 or two year deal.

- Can the Oilers win a Cup with Puljujarvi and Yamamoto as the top two right wingers? Both players bring a unique skill-set to the lineup, with JP's shoot first mentality and the tenacious feisty play of Yamamoto but I don't know if either will ever be 60+ point players. That being said if both players are the third best player on each line I don't think that's an issue.

- IF RNH walks, Edmonton needs to find two top six left wingers this summer. I don't want to see Nuge walk but if he does there are a number of options to look at. Taylor Hall, Gabriel Landeskog, Jaden Schwartz, Tanner Pearson, Ryan Dzingel, Tomas Tatar, and Zack Hyman to name a few are all UFA options.

- Dylan Holloway's broken thumb is bad news as he could have signed an ELC deal with Edmonton and joined the Oilers, similar to what Cole Caufield just did with the Canadiens. Holloway had a brilliant NCAA campaign with 11 goals and 35 points in 23 games. There could have been a situation where Oilers fans could have watched the 19 year old get in some NHL games this year.

- I have no clue as to how Holland is going to approach his defense for next season. I see both Barrie and Larsson receiving some form of extension which then leaves Bear and Bouchard fighting for one spot. Bouchard has played the left side before so perhaps he slides over but that means that one of Jones or Lagesson is on the outside. Then there is the situation with Klefbom and of course the Seattle Expansion. At least one of Bear, Jones, and Lagesson will not be back next season and possibly more.

- From February 8th when Mike Smith returned to March 29th (not counting last night's team debacle) Mikko Koskinen has a 0.935SV% at 5 on 5 which is actually better than Smith's 0.927SV%, though Smith has played double the number of games. I think the Oilers have two good goalies in their system and while I think Tippett leans on Smith too much, the old vets strong numbers this year make it hard to argue much.

- That being said I wouldn't be surprised if neither goalie is here next season. It's clear Tippett doesn't view Koskinen as a starter and at 4.5 million he is an expensive backup, meanwhile I absolutely would not role the dice on Smith for a third straight season.

- Edmonton is a good team but they are not a Cup Contender this season. Next year is the year I want to see Ken Holland go all in. The Oilers will have over 28 million in cap space next season. Part of those dollars will be used to sign RFA's such as Kailer Yamamoto, Jujhar Khaira, Tyler Benson, and some other depth guys but that isn't going to break the bank. Even if Edmonton signed RNH at 6 million they would still have plenty left over.

- Is now a good time to thank the Calgary Flames for outbidding the Oilers on Markstrom? Markstrom has been subpar for most of the year and has another five years on his deal after this season. With a couple exceptions I don't think there is a goalie in this league I would sign for longer than 3 years. Voodoo.

- Right now it's looking like the North Division playoff teams will be the Leafs, Canadiens, Jets, and Oilers. Which do you feel is the best matchup for Edmonton? I feel Montreal is the weakest of the lot but the numbers don't favour Edmonton in the head to head results. Meanwhile I think the Jets are the toughest matchup yet the Oilers have done the best job against them.

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