Team: 2019-20 Edmonton Oilers

Initial Creation Date: Nov. 13, 2019

Published: Nov. 13, 2019

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

The Oilers are in position to get back to the playoffs, but if they have aspirations beyond the first round they will need some depth and need to do a quick retool around the TDL.

The Oilers are a flawed team, but with a lot of high end talent among their top forwards. A couple moves at or before the TDL could help firm up some depth weaknesses and see whether they can make it to the second or third round. Here's a breakdown of the trades and the justification:

Connor Brown: The Oilers get a young winger who could slot into the top six. We've seen Chiasson and Kassian get some success providing grit for the top two lines in Edmonton, and Brown is a more skilled version of those players. The cost is a 2nd and 3rd, but comes with the benefit of dumping Gagner's contract.

Matt Benning: Oilers unload Benning on the Leafs for a third, and retain 50% of his deal. Leafs are weak on the back end and once Larsson is back, the Oilers will have to make decisions on the blueline. The play of Bear so far has made several defencemen expendable, but I think Benning might be the easiest to move.

Jeff Carter: If the Oilers are going to make some noise in the playoffs, they'll need some players with experience on the roster. Luckily two former cup champions are garbage this year, so there will be plenty to pick off LA or Chicago. Carter is a pure goal scorer who would thrive on either McDavid or Nugent-Hopkins wing. The cost of a 1st and Chiasson is offset by getting back a couple picks and having LA retain some contract.

Valtteri Filppula: Ken Holland gets one of his old Red Wings back with salary retained for a 3rd. Filppula is getting older, but he has a ton of playoff experience and could slot in as a solid 3C or 4C.

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