There's a million-and-one hindsight arguments to make- I'm over them. Now's the time for an actionable plan for the future and it starts with a new, more adaptable coach.

Follow that up by packaging Lucic with one of our next two 1sts (a likely higher one, or an extra Lafreniere ticket) with Lucic to bring in a tangible improvement. Something like Lucic and a 1st for Kreider and Smith. Retain where necessary.

Then, buyout whichever of Russell or Sekera is gonna be less useful in the next two years (based on Sekera's recovery).

Then seek to acquire the next of my Cirellis and Foegeles to help support the upcoming waive of youth (Yamamoto, Benson, Marody, McLeod, Maksimov, etc).

Hope Jones continues his positive development path and prepare to ice a young defense (Nurse/Larsson, Klefbom/Bouchard, Jones/Bear and Russell/Smith).
- MaximumBone

Still not 100% certain on trading away Lucic just like that. Last season (pretty much after Christmas) was a hard one on Lucic. He was doing great in the first half, but faced what seemed like a lot of tough luck in the latter (and his frustration began to show later into the season). Plus, I'd rather keep my 1st's and try to draft some blue-chip prospects.

So far this season, he has been one of the better Oilers. A Lucic that plays a simple game, finishes his checks, opens up space for other players, while contributing offensively (40-50 points min.), is a guy that I would want on my team.

However, if it was me, I would try to trade away Sekera to a team that needs to hit the cap floor (Coyotes?) and buyout Russell after this year (unless you can somehow manage to trade him). The 2020 (?) Seattle expansion draft should be taken into consideration. Not to mention the CBA opt-out clause and how that might turn out going into next year... All in all, by 2020, both should be gone.

Our pipeline is alright, but we really need a goalie to blossom and be in the discussion to take the reigns sooner than later. Brossoit clearly isn't the destined one. One person I would keep an eye on is Benson. He is finally healthy, he had a great year in juniors last year, great camp this year ( wished he could have stayed up for a while longer), and seems to be doing well in the AHL so far this year. I have him pegged as a top 6 LW by probably 2019 tbh. Injuries f'd him up a little, but he has been healthy for nearly 2 years now and it seems to me that those injuries are now just a part of the past. Then there is Marody as well. Jones too, along with hopefully Bear and Bouchard making big strives.

What we really don't need right now is a big trade (kind of shifting my opinion here). A couple of small, smart moves (like you mentioned) would probably be the team's best bet at this point.

Alternatively, we could just stack up one line and hope for results like Colorado and Boston get.

Nuge- McDavid- Draisaitl
Lucic- ______- Puljujarvi
Khaira- Strome- Rieder

Honestly, I'm lost. Just drop the coach, start the countdown on dropping the GM and try not to sacrifice the future pieces we have in pursuit of possible short term gains (ala 2015).
- MaximumBone

Who would you want to replace McL?

Yes, two years later you can trade him finally for the needed #4-defender...
- VeryModernMan

Pfft.. such high expectations.

- Reveen.

Btw, lmao at the link for the image.

Still not 100% certain on trading away Lucic just like that. Last season (pretty much after Christmas) was a hard one on Lucic. He was doing great in the first half, but faced what seemed like a lot of tough luck in the latter (and his frustration began to show later into the season). Plus, I'd rather keep my 1st's and try to draft some blue-chip prospects.

So far this season, he has been one of the better Oilers. A Lucic that plays a simple game, finishes his checks, opens up space for other players, while contributing offensively (40-50 points min.), is a guy that I would want on my team.

However, if it was me, I would try to trade away Sekera to a team that needs to hit the cap floor (Coyotes?) and buyout Russell after this year (unless you can somehow manage to trade him). The 2020 (?) Seattle expansion draft should be taken into consideration. Not to mention the CBA opt-out clause and how that might turn out going into next year... All in all, by 2020, both should be gone.

Our pipeline is alright, but we really need a goalie to blossom and be in the discussion to take the reigns sooner than later. Brossoit clearly isn't the destined one. One person I would keep an eye on is Benson. He is finally healthy, he had a great year in juniors last year, great camp this year ( wished he could have stayed up for a while longer), and seems to be doing well in the AHL so far this year. I have him pegged as a top 6 LW by probably 2019 tbh. Injuries f'd him up a little, but he has been healthy for nearly 2 years now and it seems to me that those injuries are now just a part of the past. Then there is Marody as well. Jones too, along with hopefully Bear and Bouchard making big strives.

What we really don't need right now is a big trade (kind of shifting my opinion here). A couple of small, smart moves (like you mentioned) would probably be the team's best bet at this point.
- EdmHockeyMan

Lucic has proven that he's ineffective with most other players. At some point, you've gotta cut bait with a player that just doesn't fit for the betterment of your team. He slows down whoever he plays with and I'm sick of watching it. Be rid of him. One of the few times Im confident that addition by subtraction will work.

Who would you want to replace McL?
- EdmHockeyMan

Don't really know that many. Keefe is still out there. Nelson did just as well with a much worse roster. A top AHL coach might make sense. Even Manny or Yawney might be worth a shot.

Lucic has proven that he's ineffective with most other players. At some point, you've gotta cut bait with a player that just doesn't fit for the betterment of your team. He slows down whoever he plays with and I'm sick of watching it. Be rid of him. One of the few times Im confident that addition by subtraction will work.
- MaximumBone

This

Happily pony up the extra value to make the deal happen. It helps the organization in so many ways.
And even if you’re unable to attract a buyer willing to give u proven piece (u mentioned kreider) you still do it and use those dollars wisely elsewhere later. And neither will it make u significantly worse in the short term

I’m not saying looch can’t be effective and is totally done, just saying that this team needs to get rid him ASAP. It’s broken and he’s part of the reason. He slows down the attack and is passenger for offence. But the money saved is the real plus In trading him

And then look to jettison russel at all costs as well.
Same scenario as mentioned above applies

Todd and pc are just trying to keep their jobs at this point. They don’t have a winning strategy other than Hope to eke out a few wins with a mediocre roster on the back of Connor and wait till next year for draft pick kids to maybe step and fill the holes.

Trade the dead end players for whatever u can, (Lucic, russel, Kassian, caggiula) play puljujarvi in the top 6, consider playing bear on the 3rd pair. (Keep garrison off the ice as he’s just more of the same washed place holder) Keep Yamamoto up. Maybe even Keep Bouchard up.
Reassess, save those dollars from the trades to use wisely and see where we’re at in a couple Months .

Honestly, i take this plan even if we lose over the current deadend lunacy.
Seriously, even If we made zero moves and kept the roster in tact, how many teams in the league can we honestly say we’re better than on paper ? 5 maybe? So why keep banging our heads against the wall hoping for better Results?

And then fire both of em at the end of the year before pc can spend that money

Todd and pc are just trying to keep their jobs at this point. They don’t have a winning strategy other than Hope to eke out a few wins with a mediocre roster on the back of Connor and wait till next year for draft pick kids to maybe step and fill the holes.

Trade the dead end players for whatever u can, (Lucic, russel, Kassian, caggiula) play puljujarvi in the top 6, consider playing bear on the 3rd pair. (Keep garrison off the ice as he’s just more of the same washed place holder) Keep Yamamoto up. Maybe even Keep Bouchard up.
Reassess, save those dollars from the trades to use wisely and see where we’re at in a couple Months .

Honestly, i take this plan even if we lose over the current deadend lunacy.
Seriously, even If we made zero moves and kept the roster in tact, how many teams in the league can we honestly say we’re better than on paper ? 5 maybe? So why keep banging our heads against the wall hoping for better Results?

And then fire both of em at the end of the year before pc can spend that money
- HB77

I just look at the incredible roster turnaround Boston achieved post-Chia and ask why can't we do the same?

Give me a Lucic trade and a Sekera or Russell buyout and we've changed the complexion of the team easily.

An influx of more effective puckmovers in Bouchard, Bear and Jones is around the corner so if we can shape our forwards to better compliment that, then we'll be well off with our relatively young core. This team is salvageable so long as the right steps are taken.

In order to ship out Lucic the Oilers are gonna have to eat some of the salary, and send another piece. Teams will want a young ready- near ready player with him in order to take him on. That and he has to be willing to go to wherever is willing to take him on. Not a lot of hope he would be willing to go to somewhere like Ottawa, nor that Ottawa would be willing to take on any of his contract.

In order to ship out Lucic the Oilers are gonna have to eat some of the salary, and send another piece. Teams will want a young ready- near ready player with him in order to take him on. That and he has to be willing to go to wherever is willing to take him on. Not a lot of hope he would be willing to go to somewhere like Ottawa, nor that Ottawa would be willing to take on any of his contract.
- wreckage

The Rangers are the only team I can envision: big city, attractive team to be moved to, rebuilding with cap space and a desire to add 1sts (either in a deep 2019 or in Lafreniere's draft year).

The Rangers are the only team I can envision: big city, attractive team to be moved to, rebuilding with cap space and a desire to add 1sts (either in a deep 2019 or in Lafreniere's draft year).
- MaximumBone

I can see the leafs if they feel Willy is unsignable if Klefbom was attached and the return was meh for them. A vet line with Lucic and Marleau that takes it's time and sets up could be intriguing to them, doubtful, and all their fans will flame the thought, but it's one possibility I'd consider when broadening things. Phoenix as a cap guy now that Datsyuk and Pronger are off the books and as a possible vet leader of he wants to just sail off. Vancouver if they want to use a contract to bring them up towards the cap if they want to sink more exp into entry levels and he is just ok playing for his home team. Otherwise pray he'll waive for Seattle in 2 years if there isnt a lockout to prevent that, and they'll accept a secondary piece to take him. Options are limited because of chia and his Oprah Winfrey ways with NMC's. Players used to refuse to go to Edmonton, apparently now they refuse to leave.