Oil Change: Edmonton’s future is finally now

With a bigger, tougher roster and a new culture, the Edmonton Oilers are ready to enter a new era. The team has been rebuilding for the last decade, but now it seems they’re finally taking change seriously.

General Manger Peter Chiarelli put the term “Oil Change” into circulation this offseason, and it all came to a head at the end of June. It took just one week for Chiarelli to fully transform the Oilers.

After drafting Jesse Puljujarvi fourth-overall, the new Edmonton General Manager orchestrated a trade that shook the hockey world, sending All-Star forward Taylor Hall to New Jersey in exchange for Adam Larsson, a little-known, stay-at-home blueliner.

Just one day later, Chiarelli signed left winger Milan Lucic to a seven-year deal to fill the void left by Hall. Although the former Bruin doesn’t exactly have the skill to replace Hall, his redeeming qualities make him somewhat of an upgrade.

For instance, Lucic brings leadership to the locker room, as well as a positive attitude and seasons of NHL experience. Hall, though he is an elite player and led the Oilers statistically, wasn’t always a positive influence.

Sure, he’s a passionate player — that much is obvious in the way he plays. He wears his heart on his sleeve and isn’t afraid to express himself. However, his negativity and frustration flowed over at times, especially in his exit interview.

Obviously, this is not the attitude you want on a team. And though the trade may have been difficult for Oilers fans to swallow, it had to be done. Edmonton needed change, and though it’s unfortunate Hall was the one who had to go, the benefits outweigh the costs. It may not seem like the right move for fans mentally, but logically it makes sense.

The Oilers now have a stable, shutdown right-handed defenseman in Larsson and have a high-scoring yet physical winger in Lucic. This not only changes the culture but makes the team stronger in the areas it was lacking.

Oilers roster a lot tougher

Edmonton’s roster went from one that lacked overall size and strength to one of the toughest in the league. Chiarelli loves size, as evidenced by the “Big Bad Bruins” era he oversaw in Boston.

Sure, the Oilers already had Matt Hendricks and Darnell Nurse on the team, both of whom provided some toughness, physicality and enforcer-like qualities. But elsewhere the team was lacking physically. Not even Luke Gazdic made much of an impact.

Chiarelli started moving toward bigger players when he made the risky decision to trade for Zack Kassian. Though the right winger struggled with substance abuse problems, Chiarelli took a chance on him, and since then, Kassian has proved his worth to the organization. He’s a solid two-way forward on the bottom six and provides physicality and aggression where necessary.

The next big acquisition was Patrick Maroon, who Chiarelli got for a bargain at the deadline. Maroon has not only been a physical force, but he’s also impressed when it comes to the offensive rush. He crashes the net and creates plays, and also has the strength to protect his linemates and start a fight every now and then.

However, it wasn’t until Lucic was added to the roster that Edmonton’s lack of toughness really became apparent. In one quote, the 28-year-old described one of the biggest issues with Edmonton:

"“You were never scared or intimidated heading into a game against the Oilers. I think that’s something we all have to change.” – Milan Lucic"

Lucic hits the nail on the head. Edmonton’s lack of physicality and toughness has been one of its biggest weaknesses for years. When no one’s afraid of you, you become a lot easier to beat.

Now, with Lucic, Maroon, Kassian, Hendricks and Nurse, Edmonton has one of the toughest rosters in the NHL. This will likely translate to more physical hockey, and Edmonton winning more of the rough-and-tumble battles they have lost in recent seasons.

Because the team is a lot bigger and more physical, they will no longer be pushed around or outworked through 60 minutes. The Oilers are more aggressive and determined and are ready to win hockey games. This in itself should translate to success and is part of an ongoing culture change that will make Edmonton better.

Blueline looks a lot less blue

Without Larsson, the Oilers had to rely on Mark Fayne as their top-pairing RHD. Now, for the first time in a while, Edmonton has somewhat of a stable defense. Larsson is a big blueliner who takes good care of the puck and is able to take on big minutes. Not only that, his point shot is underrated, and he’s an all-around defender.

Larsson will pair with Oscar Klefbom to give Edmonton a Swedish shutdown pairing to lead the defensive corps. The biggest question surrounding this top pairing is whether or not Klefbom can remain healthy. If he can — and he assured the media at training camp that he’s 100 percent ready to play — the Oilers have one of their strongest combinations in years.

Not to mention, the Oilers are stacked on the left, with Andrej Sekera, Brandon Davidson and Darnell Nurse filling out that side. While Davidson often plays on his off-hand, it would be more beneficial to have him in his dominant area, given his overall ability.

To add some more strength, Chiarelli signed Kris Russell following Friday’s Nail Yakupov trade. He’ll pair with Andrej Sekera and provide extra security and shot-blocking ability on the Oilers’ backend, and he can play the right side. The Russell signing does leave questions regarding Eric Gryba and Matt Benning, two RHD competing for a spot with the team.

Gryba remains with the team but is reportedly exploring other options as his PTO comes to an end. While Benning has surp

While Eric Gryba and Matt Benning had strong camps, Gryba is exploring other options as his PTO comes to an end, and Benning may benefit from more time in the AHL.

Between two posts: Cam Talbot gives stability in the crease

One of the first moves Chiarelli made as GM was to find a stable NHL starting goaltender. He decided to trade for New York Rangers backup netminder Cam Talbot, who proved to be outstanding when substituting for Henrik Lundqvist.

In just one year with Edmonton, Talbot has proven himself capable of being a stable option in net and even earned a three-year extension and a guaranteed spot as the Oilers number one. Talbot stacks up very well compared to recent Edmonton goaltenders; he’s the team’s most stable option in net since Nikolai Khabibulin.

Talbot’s impressive play in net gives the Oilers much more depth on the backend. The defense will look a lot more secure knowing it has a capable goaltender as the last line of defense.

Not to mention, Jonas Gustavsson is set to back-up, meaning they have two stable NHL-experienced netminders at their disposal.

Captain Connor: McDavid ready to lead

Connor McDavid is now officially the new Oilers captain, and the youngest player in NHL history to don the “C” at 19 years, 266 years old. And yes, he’s ready to take on the role. It’s supposed to be an honor, not a burden, and McDavid is already a proven leader. Putting a “C” on his jersey won’t take away from his skill; it just gives him a title.

The 19-year-old is a beacon of hope and someone who the Oilers can rally around. He’s one of the most outspoken players in the league and the future of the franchise and the NHL. On top of all that, McDavid possesses the ability to make those around him better. The positivity, attitude and work ethic he brings to the ice make him seem years older than he really is.

With the heart of a veteran, the mind of a star and the skill of a player in his prime, McDavid is ready to lead this team.

Acing the audition: Oilers hopefuls proving themselves

Edmonton has a lot of interesting players vying for spots on the opening night roster, and many of them are nailing their auditions with the team.

One of the hopefuls is centre Drake Caggiula, who was one of the most sought-after NCAA free agents available. So far during training camp, he’s creating quality scoring chances, skating hard and making the most of his ice time. He did suffer an injury in a preseason game against Winnipeg, but will likely remain on the roster, as he has proved himself worthy of a spot.

Caggiula’s addition would likely mean Leon Draisaitl starts the year on the top six alongside Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, or that Caggiula could become the fourth-line centre and make Letestu the odd-man out.

Kris Versteeg is also dominating his tryout, and head coach Todd McLellan called his play “admirable.” He is providing a lot on the offensive rush and proving himself capable of strengthening the Oilers’ right side. Like Caggiula, he was injured in preseason play, but will likely remain on Edmonton’s roster going into this season.

Jesse Puljujarvi has been quiet during training camp but was excellent at the Young Stars Classic during rookie camp. Right now, he seems to be a work in progress, and perhaps time in the AHL wouldn’t hurt. If he continues to develop and make a smooth transition to the NHL, it will only make him stronger at the major level. The Finnish winger still needs to become accustomed to North American hockey, and the AHL can only benefit him. Besides, Puljujarvi is only 18, and not yet expected to earn a full-time NHL job.

Other players proving their ability in camp include Tyler Pitlick and Anton Slepyshev, both of whom are competing for the last spot on the fourth-line wing. Matt Hendricks was also hurt (all these injuries shouldn’t be shocking), so there is an open spot for one of these players to steal.

If you ask me, Pitlick has earned this spot fair and square. The forward is entering his sixth year vying for a spot with the Oilers, and despite adversity and injury stopping him in previous attempts, he looks strong and healthy this preseason. He is scoring and proving himself capable of leading the offensive rush.

Slepyshev got his chance with the Oilers last season, and Pitlick deserves his chance now, while he is healthy and clearly proving his worth.

Final Nail in the Coffin: Yakupov’s Departure Speaks Volumes

With the addition of Versteeg and Caggiula, as well as the impressive play of Pitlick and Puljujarvi, Yakupov’s chances of cracking the top six, let alone the opening night roster, were slim. His injury in the preseason, as well as continued hostility with the organization, signaled that it was only a matter of time before he was dealt.

As the preseason dwindled to an end, the Oilers were engaged in talks with multiple teams about dealing Yakupov, but his trade value was low. They finally struck a deal with the Blues, and in return, the Oilers got a conditional 2017 draft pick and a prospect. With the additional funds, they signed Russell.

The former 2012 first-overall pick did not fit well with Edmonton since being selected at the draft. Five different head coaches and poor management definitely took a toll on his development, and in the end, led him to struggle in the NHL. Hopefully, he can thrive with St. Louis, but it was no longer working with the Oilers.

Chiarelli’s trade also shows that each move is taken seriously. If the player isn’t working on the roster, they have a chance to be moved. He is making the team stronger and is doing everything he can to make sure each player is giving his full effort.

Can the Oilers’ changes translate to the playoffs?

Edmonton has missed the postseason for the past decade, so it’s only fair for fans to expect more from the team. With McDavid’s leadership, added physicality, deep scoring lines and a more stable defense, things are looking up, and success seems to be in the cards for the Oilers this season. However, this is only Chiarelli’s second year with the team, and the Oilers are still experimenting when it comes to which players work and which ones don’t.

If the team can stay healthy, I see Edmonton succeeding and possibly squeaking into the playoffs, or at least coming close. They are a lot bigger, stronger and more positive, and with optimistic voices, culture change and more aggression, the Oilers are a different team. And yes, they can compete in the Pacific Division.

Next: Edmonton Oilers 2016-17 Season Preview

While it’s reasonable to expect to see the team win more often, fans shouldn’t expect the transformation from basement team to top contender to happen overnight.