I doubt vejmelka is for sale

We have learned long ago that firing a coach as soon as things get bad does nothing for player development. Get a goaltender a 3C and a 4LD and the coach can be blamed. Playing benson with mcdavid is not going to fix the team's defensive issues Dave Tippett however is a defensive specialist coach.

Doesn't seem wise to be trading all those future lottery picks.

Can't agree with that last statement - the Oilers are no better defensively under Tippett than with any previous coach. There doesn't appear to be any "system" unless they're playing "jailbreak" or some such thing.

I don’t think maurice will be taking a job any time soon. If his exit told us anything, it’s that he needs a break from coaching. Maybe he takes a job in the summer but I think it’s probably more a mid next season thing

I think they still have a bad mix of players and wont be good until 2 or 3 top 6 players are replaced and trickle down into the bottom 6. You cant just punt the coach because its go time and they need to win you've gotta look at the team and decide if you can reach the level you need to or it will take patience.

it would kind of be a slap in the face to winnipeg. He also said he had a terrible time in the bubble and hes had it with all the covid stuff so i doubt hes back till everything is normal.

Edmonton's defensive is built on the principle of a good offense is a good defense, that's why they don't have a true shut-down pair on the blue line. The strategy worked well when the Oilers were able to outscore their mistakes, it became a huge problem when the offense dried up. The options are to change defensive strategy, which will require significant changes in personnel and deployment of certain players; or, find a way to stop spotting a lead for the opposition on a consistent basis; or, find a way to start outscoring mistakes again. Ken Holland has some contractual and salary cap restraints that likely make a rebuild of the blue line impossible at this point, but it is clear he needs to find a way to improve the group if the Oilers have any aspiration of making the playoffs and going on a post season run. Improving his 3C would probably have a significant impact on team success. Ryan and/or McLeod are likely to fair much better at 4C, and an improvement of the third line will help support the defensive strategy. Reliable, consistent goaltending may be the most important improvement Holland can make. Although Koskinen and Skinner have played very well at times, many of those early goals against have been back-breakers. Smith looked pretty solid after that fluke goal against in Toronto, but I think it would be a mistake to rely on him to get the team to the promised land. He might be fully capable of doing it, but the risks of injury remain very high with him.

All this to say Edmonton's needs haven't changed since the beginning of the season. They need a veteran, shut-down, LD, a reliable 3C capable contributing offensively on a consistent basis, and more consistent goaltending. It is pretty obvious that Koskinen is the goaltender Edmonton would most like to move, and it should be obvious that the Oilers are unlikely to move Smith. There isn't much need to trade Kris Russell, he hasn't hurt the Oilers and has performed above expectations when called upon. Ceci has been a very good addition for Edmonton and I don't believe they should trade him. I don't believe Arizona will trade their young goaltender, nor do I think Chychrun will become an OIler. Varlamov has a NTC that includes a 16-team list. Its possible he might accept a trade to Edmonton, but that decision is his to make. The Islanders are one of the best defensive teams in the league, and Varlamov's stats are pedestrian; there is risk in taking him on for the rest of this season and next.

Both of those trades are laughable for Arizona