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The Edmonton Oilers have been as active as anyone this off-season.
After missing the playoffs once again the team has elected to make big changes this summer.
Newly appointed GM Peter Chiarelli has signed Andrej Sekera and Mark Letestu, traded for Cam Talbot, Eric Gryba as well as Griffin Reinhart. Oh, and he drafted Connor McDavid.
In this edition of the hotstove our members share their thoughts on if Edmonton has done enough to be a playoff team next season.
Todd Cordell
The Oilers are heading in the right direction and will be competitive, for sure, but I'm not quite ready to say they're a playoff team.
They play in a very tough conference and it will be tough to unseat a playoff team from last season and fight off San Jose, Los Angeles and Dallas, among others, in the process.
Again, I really like what they're doing and I think they'll be competitive but I think they're still missing a piece or two.
The biggest issue for me is their defense. That said if they were to sign, say, Cody Franson or Christian Ehrhoff I may be inclined to put them in as a wild card team.
Close but not quite there is how I view the Oilers but there is still time for them to make a move or two and change my mind before the season begins.
Matt Henderson
I think the Oilers have done enough to contend for a Playoff spot but I am not ready to say they are a playoff team yet. Lots of things need to break right for them to do it still. A lot of the Oilers' high end pieces have been in place for a while now, but the additions need to hit the ground running. Connor McDavid is expected to produce right away. The truth is that the lowest point total I've seen projected for him is 60 points. If he struggles at all then there are going to be issues for Edmonton. If Sekera has any issue meshing with Schultz or Fayne then the Oilers will also be greatly affected. The right side of the ice is weak at the top of the depth chart. A lot still depends on Justin Schultz at this point. I like the addition of Letestu because he brings more offense than Gordon, but without Gordon the Oilers wont have a "Shutdown" line the way they have for a couple years. That also means new roles for the other forwards. Most importantly, Cam Talbot needs to prove he's a 1G. If he is not a starter then the Oilers are royally screwed.
So lots of gambles, but I like them all. I say they get very close but still need to add to their D to make the Playoffs.
James Tanner
Easily. Adding McDavid to any team in the NHL is probably enough to get them at least close to the Playoffs and the Oilers already had a decent team. Another year of experience on all their kids + Mclellen + Talbot + Sekara, and I imagine they'll still add another piece before the season.
Playoffs for sure. Anaheim, Edmonton and the Kings should be the top three teams in the Pacific next year.
Michael Stuart
I think they'll be a bubble team, and that it could go either way for them. My guess is that they just miss, simply because there are so many quality teams in the West. If Edmonton makes it, do we really expect Los Angeles to miss again? Are the Stars supposed to be on the outside looking in for the second straight year? I can see Vancouver and Winnipeg falling out, but I think those two aforementioned squads get in before the Oilers do.
The big X-factor for me is Cam Talbot. If he can be the goaltender he was in New York, the Oilers have a legitimate shot to surprise people and make the playoffs. If he struggles behind a non-NY defence, things could go the opposite way. Like I said, I'm betting that they'll just miss. We'll have to see what happens.
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