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In No Particular Order- Margarita Edition |
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As I sit beside the pool, palm trees overhead and a sneaking suspicion that I sweat off all my sunscreen, another thought enters my head.
My margarita glass is empty.
After I get another I start to think about the Oilers.
THE MILAN LUCIC DEAL
I shared some quick thoughts on the deal went it first went down. Seeing all the details this really is a massive win for the Oilers and I don't think it's possible to spin it any other way. Lucic adds toughness to the Flames which Treliving clearly thinks is a need and Milan will do that. However Lucic 's decline in play has been telegraphed for a few years now, while Neal is only one season separated from a 25 goal season. For whatever reason Neal was not a fit in Calgary but I expect him to be much better in Edmonton. Especially since he will have a full summer to train, something the winger stated was a hindrance the prior year due to his Cup run in Vegas.
I would start Neal on the second line with Ryan Nugent Hopkins and keep Draisaitl and McDavid together. In a perfect world that creates two strong duos for the Oilers to play with and have supporting players slide in as needed.
Af THIRD LINE CENTRE
I think we see Holland still make one more move, in the addition of a third line centre. Many have pencilled Granlund into that spot but the player himself has stated he prefers to play the wing. A couple internal options like Cave and Marody exist but Holland wants a more experienced and proven scorer in that position.
Holland is still thankfully, playing hardball with the Jesse Puljujarvi camp and we have not see him traded for scraps yet. I do wonder if the Jesse Puljujarvi situation and the third line centre conundrum are linked. Acquiring a younger third line centre that has top 6 potential in a deal for Jesse Puljujarvi could be in the cards.
GUESSING THE LINEUP
Moving out Lucic, we can now say that Holland has had a successful , if uneventful summer. He has created some competition in the bottom 6 and added some proven players as well as young talent who could become established.
I am going to go ahead and say Holland does bring in a third line centre this off-season. This is my first guess at the Oilers opening night roster.
Draisaitl-McDavid-Kassian
Neal-RNH-Chiasson
Granlund-New Centre-Archibald
Khaira-Marody-Nygard
Haas, Cave
Nurse-Larsson
Klefbom-Bouchard
Russell-Benning
Koskinen
Smith