Humbling Season Raises More Questions Than Answers
Drastic Moves Should Be Expected After Oilers’ Missed Playoffs
Connor McDavid’s brilliance and Leon Draisaitl’s dominance have without a doubt masked some serious flaws with this Oilers’ team, most notably their porous defense that finished 29th in the NHL.
The Oilers’ inability to establish a strong presence in front of their own net allowed the opposition to capitalize on scoring chances seemingly at will. As a result, the Oilers have missed the playoffs once again.
Will Holland Make Changes?
Despite the team’s obvious shortcomings, Ken Holland has remained uncharacteristically silent regarding any potential offseason moves. Holland, who is known for being an active and aggressive general manager, has surprisingly shown restraint this offseason.
There are a number of reasons why Holland may be hesitant to make any major moves.
* Financial Constraints: The Oilers are already projected to be over the salary cap next season, making it difficult to add any significant pieces.
* Lack of Trade Partners: With most teams looking to improve their own rosters, there may not be many teams willing to take on some of the Oilers’ high-priced players.
* Hope for Internal Improvement: Holland may be hoping that the Oilers can improve from within next season. The team has a number of young players who could take a step forward, including Evan Bouchard and Philip Broberg.
What’s Next?
It remains to be seen what Holland will ultimately decide to do. However, it’s clear that the Oilers need to make some significant changes if they want to contend for a Stanley Cup.
There are a number of players who could be on the move this offseason:
* Jesse Puljujarvi: The Finnish winger has been a disappointment since being drafted 4th overall in 2016. He could be traded for a more consistent player.
* Tyson Barrie: The veteran defenseman is a liability in his own zone. He could be traded for a more defensively responsible player.
* Mike Smith: The veteran goalie has been inconsistent and injury-prone. He could be traded for a more reliable goalie.
The Oilers have a lot of work to do this offseason. If they can make the right moves, they could be a legitimate contender next season.
Kind regards
R. Bauer
