As the dust settles

Team: 2021-22 Edmonton Oilers

Initial Creation Date: Jul. 28, 2021

Published: Jul. 28, 2021

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

After day one of 2021 free agency, the Oilers remain without a 3C and fans probably have to resign themselves to another year of the Smith/Koskinen duo in net. This is not a disaster.

Hyman and Foegele offer significant depth and should bring a harder, heavier style of play. There is no reason to think that Puljujarvi won't continue to get better and better as he builds confidence and experience. If Kassian and Yamamoto can rebound from poor seasons, and McLeod continues to impress the Oilers should have a vastly improved forward group. The special teams remain unchanged, for the most part. McLead shold be able to replace a lot of what is gone with Khaira, and Hyman should be able to replace the roles Chiasson and Neal performed of=n the power play. The defense is probably still going to struggle from time-to-time, but it is bigger, more mobile, more experienced, and more adept at getting the puck to the forwards.

What to do about that 3C though. Maybe Turris gets another chance, but I think there is another solution. Foegele wants to play top six, RNH wants to play centre. Why not give them what they want and see how it turns out?