Fansided

5 moves the Oilers can make to get back to the playoffs

By Derek Grochowski

EDMONTON, AB - APRIL 7: Players of the Edmonton Oilers salute the crowed following the game against the Vancouver Canucks on April 7, 2018 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images)
EDMONTON, AB - APRIL 7: Players of the Edmonton Oilers salute the crowed following the game against the Vancouver Canucks on April 7, 2018 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 5
Next
CHICAGO, IL – JUNE 23: (L-R) Peter Chiarelli and Wyane Gretkzy of the Edmonton Oilers attend the 2017 NHL Draft at the United Center on June 23, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL – JUNE 23: (L-R) Peter Chiarelli and Wyane Gretkzy of the Edmonton Oilers attend the 2017 NHL Draft at the United Center on June 23, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

4. Nail the Draft

The Edmonton Oilers have six picks in this year’s draft. With the 10th overall selection, the Edmonton Oilers need to hit a home run. There is plenty of elite talent in the top 10 of this year’s draft in all positions. Defense is still an area of need for the Oilers — Noah Dobson, Bode Wilde and Ty Smith may all be available and would be great additions to the organization. As far as forwards go, the Oilers need help at wing and bottom two centers. Joe Veleno and Joel Farabee would help on the wings, while Ryan McLeod could be a boost down the middle of the ice.

Outside of the first round, the Oilers have not found much success drafting. That hurts the depth of your team and you end up needing to spend money in free agency just to put together a full squad. In terms of prospects potentially ready to make the jump, the Oilers will be high on Kailer Yamamoto to make the team this year. This will help them fill a need on the right side of their offense.

There have been some rumblings that the Oilers are interested in trading the 10th overall pick. That would be a mistake. Yes, the team could bring in a talented player with that pick, but the Oilers are better off adding a piece for the future. Even with a top-line winger, the Oilers still are not in a place to compete for a Cup run. They have too many holes on defense and their bottom six. The Oilers need to take the 10th overall pick and add a sure-fire NHL player.

Home/Edmonton Oilers