Quoting: ARMCHAIRGMOFTHEYEAR
The Oilers have to try the best they can to get Erik Karlsson. They will probably need to have two teams retain but its worth the price if they can become legit contenders
I don't understand that at all. They're already leading the league in GF/G and PP%.
Last year they lost 8-6 and 6-5 games to Colorado, while giving up 40 shots per game, 4 goals, and a 2:1 PP advantage in the other 2 games, en route to getting swept.
Yes, they were shut out in one of those games, but you simply can't give up 40 shots and the special teams advantage in the playoffs and expect to come out on top.
They've already improved offensively over last season in league ranking, and most of that was without Kane who should boost them further as he gets up to speed.
You don't need more offense to win those 4-0 and 4-2 games. You need to get your team on the right side of the puck to win it starts with not taking penalties and giving up 40 shots.
You need better defense/goaltending so that you aren't losing games where you score 5+ goals. Those are the kinds of losses you can't take. It's the 2-1 and 3-2 games you need to be able to come out on top of, but when you allow 4 or more goals every game, you aren't even getting that opportunity.
The year before was actually better, as they lost 3/4 1 goal games in OT. However, they also allowed 4 or more goals in all but 1 game (a 1-0 shutout), in that series.
So they've been shutout twice and haven't won a playoff game in 2 years, but they've allowed 4 goals or more in 7 of 8 games.
The takeaway from all that is that they need an offensive defenseman? Especially one with a high acquisition cost due to an even higher cap hit when they're already stretched cap-wise?
It makes no sense.
Use your best players to transition the puck. Get your bottom 6 more involved offensively. Improve your defensive play and goaltending (whether that means strategy wise or with personnel changes).
Maybe you need to try to score a little less in order to win a little more. Obviously the offense-only strategy isn't working.