Team: 2019-20 Edmonton Oilers

Initial Creation Date: Apr. 17, 2019

Published: Apr. 24, 2019

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

I think the best thing for the Oilers is to be patient with this. Whenever they hastily make decisions, it always turns out terribly. Here's how I think they can pull it off:

First off, McDavid needs his own line. This team has a lot of young players who need support of talented veterans. Always keeping McDavid and Draisaitl together just creates a cluster of depth players at the bottom of the lineup. They need to run the Pittsburgh model, where Sid and Malkin are given talented rookies as their wingers.

Trade:
Brown was already rumored to be on the trading block with a deal being discussed before the trade deadline. He has chemistry with McDavid when they were both on the Erie Otters in junior, and put up 20 goals his first season in the league in an offensive roll. A 2nd rounder may seem a bit steep for a 3rd/4th liner, but if it wasn't for the depth at wing on the Maple Leafs, he would be in a bigger role. I think with McDavid as his linemate, he can easily break 20 goals and 50 points.

Call-Ups and not Call-Ups:
Benson and Marody are both 21 and are point per game players in the AHL. That level of success is right about what Guentzel was at before he got put on a line with Crosby. Putting one with McDavid and one with Draisaitl with a veteran winger on the other sides gives both lines the star power and support needed to be successful with a first year player.

I am leaving Puljujarvi in the AHL because, let's be honest, he needs it. They need to just let the kid develop and stop trying to force it if he's not ready.
The same goes for Bouchard and Yamamoto. Unless they are absolutely lights out during training camp, I would let them develop. This team has rushed too many prospects (ie. Puljujarvi) and it's about time that they learned to just be safe and let them develop.

Signings:
To avoid anymore Lucic contracts, I just re-signed Chiasson to a cheap deal. He had a breakout year, but he was carried by McDavid and was a PTO just last year. I know it doesn't give RNH a lot to work with, but they can't be bogged down by another bad contract.

If all goes well, this new forward lineup could help boost their offensive production to top-10 in the league. It might slightly improve their ability to maintain the offensive zone, but the team's defense is still a concern. However, unless the defense core is so atrocious to start the season, I wouldn't touch it. They have Bouchard and Bear coming up in a few years, and it's better to wait it out than to overpay some UFA who ends up taking a roster spot when those guys are ready.