Team: 2019-20 Edmonton Oilers

Initial Creation Date: Jan. 23, 2019

Published: Jan. 23, 2019

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

With the cap going up to 83m next year, we Oiler fans should take a deep breath and realize we're going to have close to 13m in the offseason to retool this thing. I signed Hagelin to play on the 3rd line because he's a fast player who drives possession. I added Silfverberg because he's the best option on the market with respect to our budget and needs. Lucic, believe it or not, is a decent possession player even if he doesn't pass the eye test. So, adding a capable winger to a line with Draisaitl and Lucic should result in a decent balance between defensive responsibility and scoring. Silfverberg is also pretty likely to actually make it to free agency. I added a cheap but reliable backup in McElhinney. Patrick Russell showed well in his brief time this year, he didn't give up much which is all you need from a 4th liner, I'm open to giving him a shot. He also drove possession while here. Yamo has come a long way this year, he's still not scoring but he's close. He's driving possession and making good, confident plays. I think he may be able to handle the top spot next to McDavid and Nuge. He'd be far better than Chiasson who has scored but has also been terrible when it comes to possession. That's a big reason why McDavids line is struggling a little bit defensively this year. Spooner is a wild card, he's had great years and terrible years when it comes to the faceoff dot, but he does drive possession. If he can build some confidence down the stretch and in the minors (where he currently is) then I think he can be a decent 3C. You'll notice that Puljujarvi is signed but not on the roster. He's seen a drastic dip in his possession numbers this year and I attribute that to confidence issues. I think it would be wise to take a step back with his development and let his game take shape away from the spotlight. He was a solid player who drove possession for his first two years, but the inability to find his game offensively and the mounting pressure on him has taken it's toll. I left the D alone because I actually think it's a passable group. Klefbom and Larsson are a solid pair and both players drive possession while playing big minutes. The second pairing is the biggest question mark on the team. Sekera may never be the player he once was, Russell's possession numbers have slid since last year, Benning isn't quite there, and Manning has to find his game before we can assess his place. Nurse, I think, is a sure thing for the second pair but we must choose his partner wisely. The bottom pair should be solid regardless, barring another injury riddled season. Overall, this team just needs a little reworking. We all need to take a deep breath and let whoever takes over patch a couple holes up.