freelancer

Edmonton • Canada • 25 Years Old • Male

What Edmonton's Depth Chart Should Look Like

"The Oilers won against Calgary and are now going to turn the season around, everything is saved, yay."

- Some Oiler Fans Right Now Probably

By now everyone who follows this team should have a fairly firm grasp on what issues plague this team. Here in my opinion is what the team's depth chart should look like going into next season. This is not me saying the Oilers should necessarily keep all the players I list. Simply, this is to show where I believe each player should be regularly slotted in on a nightly basis.

Here is the Oilers depth chart in full

Maroon - McDavid - _________
Lucic - Nuge/Draisaitl - _________
Caggiula/Cammeleri - Nuge/Draisaitl/Strome - Puljujarvi/Slepeshev
Khaira - Letestu - Kassian

Klefbom - Larsson
Sekera/Nurse - ________
Russel - Benning
Gryba/Auvitu/Davidson

Talbot
_______
Brossoit

TOP LINE

Maroon - McDavid - _________

I do hope the team is able to sign Maroon to a reasonable contract that could see him stick around for another two to three years. Maroon has been for McDavid what Kunitz was for Crosby; an average hockey player who has found chemistry with an elite player and elevated his game. Of course McDavid is this team's top line centre so nothing needs to be explained there.

Do not mention Puljujarvi's last couple games or that Draisaitl produces with McDavid. The Oilers do not have a top line right winger.

SECOND LINE

Lucic - Nuge/Drai - _______

There are certainly some big issues with Lucic; his contract first and foremost followed, ironically very quickly, by his speed. However he does produce and has been much better 5 on 5 this season. Nuge and Draisaitl are both natural centres and should play as such and either should be in this spot.

Once again the right wing depth is shown for what it is: awful. I will admit here that if Puljujarvi can continue to score he should certainly find himself slotted as a top 6 right wing but it is way too early to do so.

THIRD LINE
Caggiula/Cammalleri - Nuge/Draisaitl/Strome - Puljujarvi/Slepeshev

Okay here is where things get a little nutty. Caggiula and Cammalleri are fine in a third line spot. Right now this is where Puljuarvi lines up but I certainly see him rising. Slepeshev has been derailed by injuries but paired with the right centre I still put stock in him as a top 9 option.

So about that centre depth...

If Nuge plays the second line that leaves Draisaitl as the third line centre and vice versa. That leaves Strome in a strange position. Some have suggested that Strome is a better winger while others think he is a better centre. Personally I have been luke warm on the player all year and don't think he has been remarkable either way. Right now the team has shown SOME success splitting Nuge and Drai and McDavid up. Strome's contract negotiation will be an interesting thing to follow this off-season.

FOURTH LINE
Not much to say here. This combo has worked pretty good this year. Khaira is coming into his own, Letestu is solid, and Kassian has some offensive potential.

TOP D PAIR
Klefbom - Larsson

Way more question marks with this pair this season. Larsson has battled some injuries and Klefbom has not shown the same confidence with the puck as last year. Larsson is adequate as a #2 defenseman but if Klefbom is not playing like a #1 this pairing falls apart. There needs to be some kind of upgrade on the right side which leads us to...

SECOND D PAIR
Sekera/Nurse - _______

One of the few bright spots this season has been the emergence of Darnell Nurse. His 10 points in 27 games over a full season would put him at 30 points on the season. This leaves the Oilers with some interesting options when Sekera returns. For this season I'm assuming they may put Sekera on his off wing (he's done it in the past) but that is a short term fix. The leftorium is looking pretty good but the right side is pretty barren.

THIRD PAIR
Russel-Benning

Aside from the brutal contract this is where Russel belongs; playing the lowest possible minutes and away from the tough minutes. Benning is a good young player but he has yet to show he can handle a top 4 role with consistency.

GOALIES
Talbot
_______
Brossoit

If the Calgary game showed anything it's that the Oilers do not have a backup goaltender they can play with any regularity. Talbot has not had an ideal season and while I think the level he played at last season may be difficult to replicate, I also certainly believe he is better than he has shown this season.

TLDR

The Oilers have some big issues with the right wing and the right side defense. They have an abundance of centres and will need to make some decisions this off-season about the future of some of these players.

Thanks for reading!

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