McBackup would fit well if you can lure him to EDM. He might get too much but you're used to that (say 2@2).
Seriously, get Connor Brown. I'm not just being a homer when I say he could be a huge value add for you. Should cost a 3rd and a 5th or something.
JP is worthless, maybe trade him for another underperfoming guy or get picks, but you won't like the return.

Connor Brown is cool but I really don't want to spend assets like Matt Benning to get him. And really production wise, it's not a given he'll produce with McDavid although they had chemistry in junior together. I mean if all it took was a 3rd round pick, I would do it. But anything more than that, I wouldn't. Even Matt Benning or Khaira 1 for 1 I wouldn't do it. We can't trade for him and project him as a first line winger. If we trade for him, we'll value him at what he has played at to his career.

And for the back up role, I keep coming back to Talbot. I think he's the best bet on a 1 year 2M deal out of Smith/Elliott/McElhinney because he has the highest upside and also familiar with the team already. His family still lives in Edmonton so it wouldn't be hard for him to transition. And I think he's a good bet at rebounding because he'll be hungry for a new contract.

Which is a swiss army knife of a player who can put up 20 in the right situation lol. You badly need wingers, for a 3rd round pick or a guy like Benning (I don't think the Leafs would do that for cap reasons) picking up a guy who would be your best full time winger even if he doesn't explode like I think he could is just good business.

Nyquist could be a nice addition to the top 6. I am guessing his deal will come in around 6 mill over 6 years. Only leaves about 4 mill to fill out a backup goalie and defender.

I think he would be a good addition to the Oilers. But as you said a 3rd-4th is enough. Not Benning. He has better value than most think.

JP for Burakovsky and put him on the 3rd line
Bear/Persson on the 3rd pair
Mike Smith @ 1.75 x 2

problem for that trade is, we can't give Burakovsky less than 3.2M because of his QO. There's also talks of WSH not even qualifying him at that price so he could be had for free. If that happens, the most I'd be willing to give him is 2.5M x 2 and EDM would be a prime destination for him, and then I would remove Pirri and insert Burakovsky on that line with Nuge.

A JP trade though, I would like to package him if we can with another asset and land a bonafide top 6 player. Preferably guys like Roslovic/Trochek/ or anyone around Nuge's age that could grow with the team.

Also for goalies, at this point it's either Smith/Elliott/Talbot for me. And they'd all have to be 1 year deals.

I think so too, but I'm not sure he would fit the bill on Nuge's line. Completely agree with your assessment of what his next contract is going to be like. Might even be around 6.5-7M considering what Hayes got so he might be too pricey for the Oilers.

in all seriousness: would EDM ever take Strome back from NYR for a mid-rounder? He was not good in EDM obviously but he played decently in NY. RFA at end of season with 1 year left and cheapish. Could play C or wing again. Or is relationship with him in EDM definitely over after some bad play in the past

@Random2152 would the Josh Leivo trade work for someone like Connor Brown? Maybe a prospect who could play in the AHL for Brown? I think my offer would be Cam Hebig for Connor Brown. I'd actually keep the 2020 3rd rounder. Would a prospect like that work for the Leafs? He won't affect the cap, if anything he's another prospect for the cupboards.

I think with Chiarelli and McLellan gone, any and all players willing to play for the Oil again should be open to it. From the Oilers side, there should be interest. Not sure if the players would be though, but if they are, again I would be ok with that. For a 3rd rounder, I would definitely give that up for Strome.

Just under 10M in capspace.

1 backup: (1-1.5M)
If you can lure McElhinney to Edmonton, do it. Shouldn't cost too much and he's a proven backup. ~1-1.5M should do it

Forwards:
You really need NHL proven depth. Everything below the 1st line is questionable at best.

1st Line: I like Kassian on the top line w/ Drai and McDavid. He's a complimentary piece that's cheap.
2nd Line: Go after 1 of Donskoi/Connolly, type player. Won't break the bank but they aren't top line talent. Edmonton already has that.
3rd Line: As a Nashville fan, i'd be interesting in a Puljujarvi swap for 1 on Jarnkrok or Sissons. This would give Edmonton a versatile 30ish point forward that plays up and down the lineup and Nashville gets a potential upgrade (if Puljujarvi ever puts it together and doesn't flame out like Yakupov). Could also go for a Connor Brown related trade since that shouldn't cost too much.
4th line: Boyle would give you a good 4th line C and won't cost much. But w/ the inclusion of a UFA on the 2nd line and Puljujarvi or traded for player the 4th line can be filled w/ the other players sliding down.

Defense:

1 of Bear/Jones needs to be given a shot. Let Bouchard have 1 more year to develop unless he just demands it through great play.

It's a tough spot.

I think what EDM should do is load up on guys like Connor Brown or Charles Hudson who could potentially give solid production with a bit more ice time.

That's what Vegas did in their first season. They filled up their roster with 22-27 year olds who were underappreciated by their former teams.

Low risk high reward possibility is what they they should be going after IMO.

No. The Leivo trade was done that way because Babs wouldn't play him and Dubas promised that he would move him to somewhere that would if that continued to be the case.
Add to that fact that Brown is better than Leivo in pretty much everything and I'd be firm on my ask.
Carcone (the guy they got back for Leivo) is also a good prospect who was very good for the Marlies and who could (should?) turn into another Leivo.

sorry but it's not gonna be MTL for Kris Russel , we already have Weber , Petry, Juulsen and Folin as RHD we are full.

Russell is left handed who plays both sides. I think he could play well with any of the RHD on your team as all are solid puck movers and Russell is a bit more of stay at home guy. Mete/Russell/Kulak could be a could left side for MTL but I'm guessing you guys are aiming higher like Gardiner or maybe even Brodie (would probably cost more than a 4th to acquire)

Anyways as shown in the comment, it says any team lol

that's my thinking too, do you have any targets other than those guys?

Sissons for JP would be nice, I like Jarnkrok too and I wonder how much interest KH has in having him again. Bear/Jones I think need just a little bit more seasoning and I think one of them will be knocking on the door come the deadline. I project both to be full time NHLers in 2020-2021. Boyle would be a pretty good add as well for the 4th line, high character guy and can produce. I think that's why we signed Brodziak but he hasn't really played well here in his second stint. So that's why he's a 13th forward. But yea definitely Boyle is a good add but we've got a surplus of 4th liners already.

Kenny Agostino had a decent run with the Habs and Devils and likely won't cost a ton.

Nikita Scherbak would be on the riskier side.

Brandon Tanev or Pirri would also be low cost.

On the higher paid side; maybe Marcus Johansson or Richard Panik could potentially yield good results.

Looks fine to me