The Edmonton Oilers somehow didn’t end up with the first overall pick. Who would’ve thought that would happen until they either had all of them or they made the playoffs? Neither of them happened, and the Oilers fell to the fourth overall pick and perhaps the first Canadian taken in the draft.
1. Fourth Overall Pick
The rumor is, the first three picks are not available unless there’s a package way overpaying. An example: If the Blackhawks wanted Auston Matthews they may have to package Patrick Kane and Andrew Shaw to get him. That leaves the most available and perhaps wanted pick as Edmonton’s fourth overall. If the Oilers are willing to part with their pick, they could expect a later first – one they’d be able to use on a defenseman, an actual need for the Oilers moving forward. The offense is assembled. The defense, quite simply, is not.
They could take Jacob Chychrun with the fourth overall, or they could trade with Arizona, take one of Arizona’s multiple great young prospects, and get Chychrun at 7th. Matthew Tkachuk is almost unanimously the fourth overall pick in all mock drafts, and he’s not a need for the Oilers. The Coyotes want somebody else on offense, and the Oilers should not.
Figuring out what to do with this pick needs to be Peter Chiarelli’s first move this offseason.
2. Rebuilding the Defense
Jacob Chychrun’s not by himself going to improve the Oilers defense, which ranked near the bottom in every category. From Goals Allowed and Goals Allowed per game, to PK percentage and shots allowed per game. They don’t play defense well, and that needs an overhaul. The two most likely players in the Oilers defensive system to do well are Adam Clendening and Griffin Reinhart, both acquired via trades, and Clendening has bounced around a few teams.
Andrej Sekera can provide the leadership the defense needs, especially at first when the unit is just coming together. With Clendening, Reinhart, and Darnell Nurse are still entering the league, Sekera will be most important.
Another veteran presence will be important to acquire, especially with the defensemen available this summer. But Mark Fayne, Adam Pardy, and Jordan Oesterle aren’t what the Oilers need currently.
3. Trade One of the First Overalls
Not Connor McDavid. By any means, not Connor McDavid. Connor McDavid is going to be the future of the franchise. Will he be Wayne Gretzky? Maybe not. But he’s going to be better than any rookie this year, including Panarin. He’s going to be a rival to Sidney Crosby in his prime.
But Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Jordan Eberle, and Neil Yakupov – one of them needs to be made available. Hall, Eberle, or RNH will bring a spectacular return. Yakupov deserves a better chance on a different team. He’s not going to be happy lingering on the third line when he could be a top 6 winger somewhere else. Someone needs to be traded this offseason, especially when there’s too good of a return to pass up. Chia should start shopping until he hits upon that deal he just can’t leave on the table.
4. Andrew Ference
Whether it’s a trade or a buyout, the current captain of the Oilers can’t remain on the team. 3.25 mil is too much to spend on what Ference is providing. Ference could be playing in the minors for the Oilers, and when your defense includes Mark Fayne, that’s not a good sign. Taking on a bad contract from another team in trade could be a good deal, especially when that person could do more for the Oilers and just needs a fresh place. This could include somebody from the Rangers’ older defensive core (Dan Girardi). Ference could also be traded to a team near the cap floor with some need for experience on defense – Arizona.
Chiarelli has his work cut out for him. Expect a different Oilers roster next year, especially on the defensive side of the puck. But everybody better look out, because the Oilers are young and hungry once more.