Quote:
Originally Posted by Bourque's Twin
I hate to say it but the truth is, this is a good signing. They have about $4M per player to fill their roster and stay under the cap next year, so this does the job with a good player. He is really old, but I don't think they'll find much better at that cap hit. They are still missing a #1D and a goalie and a ton of forward depth.
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To be honest, I think their forward depth is fine. The problem the Oilers have had for years is having depth play up because they continuously fail to develop top 2-line talent.
Hyman and Nuge are players like a Backlund or Coleman. They are good enough to play up, but they should be more in a 3rd line role. Oilers continue to need them to play up in the top 6 due to 0 new talent coming up year over year.
In a perfect world if the Oilers want to win it all, they need to slide Nuge and Hyman to the 3rd line. They need a true scoring winger have everyone slot in the correct role with the team.
Savoie and Howard will fail without top 2-line roles, we have seen it in Edmonton for years where youth sit on the bench and then goes on to excel elsewhere. They both need PP time.
IMO Hyman and Nuge are 2nd/3rd line guys that should be slotted as the 3rd liners to give the Oilers balance.
Frederic, Kapanen, Janmark, Henrique and Mangiapane all fit well in a 3rd line or 4th line role. Too many of these guys are playing 1st or 2nd line, 1 or 2 of these types in the top 6 is ok, not 4. They have the right depth guys who excel in the playoffs to win.
Same goes with D. They need a true shut down defender. Ekholm might be the best dman, but he is 36 soon. Nothing wrong with keeping him, but they are still overspending on d for what they actually have and top dmen aren't getting 4-6M anymore, cost to pick up someone that fits that role has gone up. Players with existing contracts that fit the role probably are priced much higher than the Oilers have assets for.
I think they need a true scoring winger, top 4 defensive lock down dman and a true #1 goalie to be the best team in the league. They might be able to get away with 2 of the 3 with Mcdavid and Draisaitl, but they will be past their prime soon too. Need to plan for them to be great, but great for 20 mins a game not 23.