With the first day of free agency in the books, where do the Edmonton Oilers stand? The following is a complete organizational depth chart, which includes expected members of the Oklahoma City Barons. Minor-league deals in orange.
Forwards
The Oilers look pretty good on the wings at the NHL level, but centre is a mess. As it stands, the Oilers are banking on both Mark Arcobello and Leon Draisaitl to be top-nine NHL forwards; in a perfect world returning Draisaitl to junior would be a realistic option and Arcobello would be starting on the right wing of the fourth line.
Thus, it doesn’t take a genius to realize the Oilers are almost certainly going to add another pivot to the organization.
At the AHL level, the decision to qualify Curtis Hamilton is a bit of a head-scratcher.
Defence
This is the best defensive group the Oilers have iced since at least 2011-12, and if that’s damning with faint praise it at least indicates progress.
It’s also going to be pretty hard for Darnell Nurse to crack the team – he’ll basically have to force himself past Marincin or get a lucky run of injuries.
That’s a pretty nice collection of prospects at the AHL level, starting with Oscar Klefbom (who is likely close to NHL-ready, but the Oilers are intelligently taking no chances) and then featuring five decent prospects and a veteran hand in Brad Hunt.
Links to the NHL’s July Shopping Spree
Centres: Should the Oilers look at Statsny, Grabovski, Bolland or some other UFA centre?
Jason Spezza, Ottawa Senators [Dallas Stars]
Wingers: Should Oilers target Iginla, Moss, Kulemin or some other winger?
Benoit Pouliot, New York Rangers [Edmonton Oilers]
Ales Hemsky, Ottawa Senators [Dallas Stars]
D-men: Should Oilers sign Fayne, Gilbert or Stralman? [Edmonton, Montreal, Tampa Bay]
D-men part 2: Fayne, Boychuk, Stralman, Phaneuf
Christian Ehrhoff, Buffalo Sabres [Pittsburgh Penguins]
Dion Phaneuf, Toronto Maple Leafs and here
Mike Green, Washington Capitals
Braydon Coburn, Philadelphia Flyers
Kris Letang, Pittsburgh Penguins
Anton Stralman, New York Rangers [Tampa Bay Lightning]
Brian Campbell, Florida Panthers
Dmitry Kulikov, Florida Panthers
Mark Fayne, New Jersey Devils and here [Edmonton Oilers]
Kyle Quincey, Detroit Red Wings
Derek Engelland, Pittsburgh Penguins [Calgary Flames]
Mark Fraser and Taylor Fedun [San Jose Sharks]
Five free agents to stay away from: Bolland, Vanek, Niskanen, Engelland andRichards
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