Oilers Free Agent Targets

Here's a potential Oilers depth chart:

Hall - Nuge - Eberle

Pouliout - McDavid - Yakupov

(Free Agent B) - Lander - Purcell

Klinkhamer - Gordan - Hendricks

Draisaitl

Fayne - (Free Agent A)

Klefbom - Shultz

Ference - Gryba

Nurse - Reinhart

Talbot

(Free Agent C) or Scrivens

Candidates for Free Agent A:

1. Cody Franson

2. Mike Green

3. Andrej Sekera

4. Paul Martin

Candidates for Free Agent B:

1. Jiri Tlusty

2. Blake Comeau

3. Daniel Winnik

4. Sean Bergenheim

5. Curtis Glencross

6. Patrick Eaves

Candidates for Free Agent C:

1. Karri Ramo

2. Thomas Greiss

Summary:

Please note that these players are in order based on potential price, type of player Oilers are looking for, and age. They are not in order of skill. For Free Agent A spot I was looking at anyone who could play top 4 minutes. For Free agent B I was looking for big wingers who can chip in on the score sheet every now and then. And For Free Agent C I was looking for backup goalies that have starter potential, and will challenge Talbot for the crease at times. Karri Ramo would give us a good 1B option. However I still would not rule out keeping Scrivens.

2015 Mock Draft

Pick	Team	Player  Name  and Position	Notes/Wildcards
1	EDM	Connor McDavid                                         F	HELL YEAH BABY!!!!!!!!
2	BUF	Jack Eichel                                         F
3	ARZ	Dylan Strome                                    F
4	TOR	Mitch Marner                                   F
5	CAR	Noah Hanifan                                   D	Hanifan may drop like Fowler
6	NJD	Mathew Barzal                                 F	Lawson Crouse, Mikko Rantanen
7	PHI	Ivan Provorov                                   D
8	CBJ	Lawson Crouse                                 F	Zach Werenski
9	SJ	Pavel  Zacha                                      F
10	COL	Zach Werenski                                  D
11	FLA	Mikko Rantanen                               F
12	DAL	Kyle Connor                                       F
13	LAK	Timo Meir                                          F
14	BOS	Evgeni  Svechnikov                           F
15	CGY	Nick Merkley                                     F	Travis Konecny
16	EDM	Thomas Chabot                                 F	Oilers likely to move this pick
17	WIN	Colin White                                        F	Travis Konecny
18	OTT	Jakub Zboril                                       D
19	DET	Travis Konecny                                  F	Oliver Kylington
20	MIN	Paul Bittner                                       F	Ilya Samsonov, Joel Eriksson EK
21	BUF	Daniel Sprong                                    F	(Potentionally traded) WC: Oliver Kylington
22	WSH	Brock Boeser                                     F
23	VAN	Jansen Harkins                                  F
24	TOR	Brandon Carlo                                  D	Oliver Kylington
25	WIN	Joel Eriksson EK                                F	Jake Debrusk
26	MTL	Denis Guryanov                                F
27	ANA	Jake Debrusk                                     F
28	TB	Jeremy Roy                                       D	Gabriel  Carlsson
29	PHI	Jack Roslovic                                     F	Filip Chlapik
30	ARZ	Oliver Kylington                               D

Summary:

    Some bold moves include Provorov going to Philly and New Jersey taking Barzal. I understand that the Flyers have a ton of defensive prospects but I believe that Provorov will be too good for Philly to pass up, and will elect to use their pick at 29 to stock the forward shelf. I know right away that Barzal rising to 6th overall is controversial, I could easily see the Devils going with Crouse, Rantanen, or Zacha as well. However my gut feeling is that they go with Barzal, the best draft eligible forward in the WHL. I think Columbus will ultimately not be able to pass up Crouse, even though they would like a defencemen. If they decide to pick based on their needs rather than than picking the best available player, they'll take Werenski. But I don't think they'll pass up Crouse. Oliver Kylington is a player to watch in this draft, I can see him going anywhere from the top 20 to the top 40. I feel that Arizona will be the team to snag him at 30.

   I would like to see the Oilers trade their 16th overall pick and one or two more of their picks in the top 3 rounds. If they lose out on the Talbot sweepstakes, and the 33rd pick alone isn't enough for Lack, the Oilers could trade 16 and 33 to Vancouver for Eddie Lack and 23. A solid defencemen like Chabot or Jeremy Roy would still be available at 23. Either that or trade the 16th overall pick for a defencemen, and then trade 33 and a 3rd rounder for either Talbot (I don't think this would be the highest bid on him, I think whoever gets Talbot is going to have to overpay bigtime) or Lack.

Why Todd McLellan might be the Perfect Candidate for the Oilers

With the Oilers winning the Mcdavid sweepstakes just a few days ago it means that it is time for management to get their act together and prove that they mean business. Hiring Todd McLellan would do just that. McLellan is an experienced coach that has paid his dues working in many leagues like the Western Hockey League and American Hockey League, as well as winning a cup as Mike Babcocks assistant coach in 2008. The following year McLellan got a head coaching gig with the San Jose Sharks. A gig that would see him lead the sharks to the playoffs each and every year since the 2008/09 season except this most recent one, along with one presidents trophy.

McLellan is a coach who would never consider the Oilers a few years ago, but now we have a McDavid. The next NHL superstar surrounded by a bunch of young talented players like Hall, Eberle, Yakupov, Nugent-Hopkins, Shultz, and Nurse just to name a few. Who wouldn't want to coach a team that is potentially the next dynasty if its managed right.

McLellan also had a legitimate goaltender last season. A goaltender who just so happens to be a free agent this summer. Depending on their relationship, McLellan could help the Oilers lure Antti Niemi to Edmonton. Now I know Niemi is no game changer, but he is a significant upgrade from Scrivens, and since he is a free agent we wouldn't have to worry about giving up someone from our young core to get a starting goaltender. Annti Niemi would be the first bonafide goalie Edmonton has seen in a long time. 

Now, obviously this isn't a decision the Oilers should make today. I'd suggest they make that decision after a few more big name coaches are relieved of their duties, or a bit after the Men's World Hockey Championships  A tournament which McLellan is coaching team Canada, and Hall, Eberle, and Shultz are all playing under him. So the Oilers will defiantly talk to their players participating at the Worlds. This will allow the Oilers to learn how some of their top players like McLellans coaching style before they even offer him a job. So we know that if the Oilers hire Mclellan they will be very confident in their decision.

I feel bad for Nelson in this situation, he did a great job and deserves to be a coach in the National Hockey League, and I believe he'll get there one day. However the Oilers can't pass up this opportunity to hire an experienced coach like McLellan or one of the other big names that could be available this off-season. It would show that we are committed to taking the next steps toward becoming a successful organization. A lot of people are tired changing coaches almost every year, however if we land a coach like McLellan it would be a long time before we decide we need to replace him.

Get ready to hear a lot about Todd Mclellan. He will be very high on the Oilers radar. There is a very good chance he could be working the bench for Edmonton next season.

5 Reasons the Oilers Aren't a Playoff Team this Season

Most of us aren't very happy that another season involving the Oilers missing the playoffs for the 9th consecutive year is finally coming to a close. There are many reasons why the Oilers summer is starting early. I've narrowed it down to the 5 biggest reasons the Oilers won't be participating in the postseason and are again stuck at the bottom this season.

5. Lack of Veteran presence

With an average age of 26.236 the Edmonton Oilers are the second youngest team in the NHL. It doesn't help either that none of our top players are older than 24. Unless you consider Derick Roy and Benoit Pouliot top players which I most defiantly do not. Roy and Pouliot are doing great, however they are barely impact players on cup contending teams. We have some older players in the depth roles of our defence. However we don't have a good top two veteran defencemen to carry the load. The Oilers are losing many games because we are forced  to rely heavily on our young stars due to the lack of veteran presence in our top roles. Mac T has done an alright job in bringing depth role veterans in our lineup. He's still gonna have to make a splash this summer and bring in veterans that can help our young stars carry this team to the postseason.

4. Lack of size in our top roles and consistent physical play

The Edmonton Oilers are playing in the heaviest, hard-checking division in hockey. They need more size and consistent checking throughout the game. The Oilers beat the Kings last Tuesday because they were the more physical team. They were hitting everything in sight against a team that usually pushes them around like a junior team. The Oilers have one of the smallest top lines in the NHL. They are bound to have troubles being successful against the big teams of the West. Our 3rd and 4th lines are getting bigger and starting pushing back against larger teams. If we can start to integrate big top line players into are system it shouldn't be long until we see some playoff action in oil country.

3. 2nd Line not up to par with NHL powerhouses

The Oilers active second line consist of Purcell - Roy - Yakupov. However when the Oilers are injury free their second line is usually Pouliot - Roy - Yakupov. This is a very very good 3RD LINE and a below average 2nd. It is pretty close though, in a few years Draisaitl will take over the 2nd line centre role so they are really only one accusation away. Depending on who they draft this year could also potentially upgrade our second line significantly. Although, Mac T should not focus on acquiring players for our top 6 forward crop this off season. Unless they come as part of package deal involving a top defencemen or legitimate starting goaltender. Those issues are much more severe than our 2nd line problems.

2. Horrendous defence core 

Our defencive core does not even consist of one top two defencemen. Some may argue that Justin Shultz is a top 2 NHL defencemen. He defiantly has the potential to be, However he needs someone else to do the heavy lifting. Justin Shultz could become an outstanding line mate to support a large skilled defencemen. Marincin still is does not look ready for the NHL. You could likely make a very long video of mishaps and turnovers made by young Oilers defencemen this season. Although it may not seem like it our depth is coming along nicely. We are mainly just missing a strong top 2 defencemen to carry the load.

1. Goaltending

The Oilers average less shots against per game than both the Montreal Canadiens and Chicago Blackhawks. Yet they are still dead last in goals against per game. It has been an extremely long time since the Oilers have seen a true number one goalie in their system. Scrivens, Bachman, and Fasth just aren't gonna cut it if we plan on ever being competitive. Mac T has got to lay all his cards on the table this summer  to insure start next season with a proven starter that can put the team on his shoulders and steal those tough games like a good starter does. We have a few great rookies in our system but they are still quite a few years away from being starters in the big leagues. So the Oilers are going to have to seek help by acquiring a proven goaltender through  free agency or a trade.