Edmonton Oilers: What is Our Future ‘Core’
By Sammi Silber
The Edmonton Oilers have a ton of problems to fix if they want to return to the playoffs. They have failed to become eligible for post-season play since falling in the Stanley Cup Finals in 2006. Now, as the team looks to the future, with new front office and coaching staffs, we have to wonder…
What does the future mean for our “core?” The core of course being the players that the team will rebuild around. We will go through the short list of our new “core,” explain it, and then discuss how the team can rebuild.
Forwards
The first forward is obvious. The team is going to rally around rebuilding around Connor McDavid. The 19-year-old may have been out with injury, but in all the games he has played, he has been more than phenomenal for the Oil.
He will be the centre of the Oilers’ rebuild, and due to his class, leadership and inspiration that he gives his teammates, I think he is more than worthy of some kind of captaincy in the future (whether in the form of an “A” or a “C”).
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Next, the team will hang on to Taylor Hall and Leon Draisaitl. These two have been absolutely insane this season, with Hall proving himself as not only a goal-scorer and clutch player, but as a leader, too.
Draisaitl has proven that his place is in the NHL, with the big club, on one of the top lines. He’s an impressive centre who not only plays a smart game, but can crash the net and create scoring opportunities. “Dr. Drai” is a must-keep for this team.
Defense
Andrej Sekera and Oscar Klefbom are the obvious first members of the defensive corps.
Sekera is our number one who had a great shot and tons of experience. He is becoming a leader, and he plays a smart game on the backend. It makes us happy and gives us comfort that there’s someone else besides Justin Schutlz out there.
Klefbom is by far our best performer and knows how to play the game right. With his wicked shot, he is also a solid defenseman that will be an Oiler for years to come.
Darnell Nurse is the other defenseman who will join the core. He is up-and-coming and plays a hard-hitting, solid game. In some time, when he is developing and continuing to get bigger, faster and stronger, he will be ready to play on the Oilers top pairing. But now, he is a solid second-pairing defender who can hit, fight and PROTECT THIS HOUSE. Though he makes mistakes, he is learning how to play smarter with more ice time and confidence.
Brandon Davidson is going to be great when finished developing. He has risen above cancer and is playing the game he loves, and proving himself worthy of a roster spot every time he steps on the ice. He has an amazing point shot, one that could be great on the power play, and he is one of the team’s best performing defenders.
Between the Pipes
Cam Talbot is our main man. I am confident in him as a starter, and despite some soft goals, he is usually solid and comes in clutch. The more he starts, the more confidence and self-esteem he will have to improve. Once our defense improves (aka we get a legitimate, proven #1), his numbers will reflect his amazing ability.
But, But… What about the others!?
Unfortunately, I don’t think many other Oilers will be making up the future core. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins sounds like he is fading out of Edmonton, and with him struggling greatly this season (and being lost to injury again), I’m going to guess that Edmonton tries to deal him for an amazing defender.
This is the same for Jordan Eberle. Considering that McDavid can turn any forward into a goal-scorer or point-producer (as proven by Nail Yakupov), the Oilers may try to trade him for defense and pick up another forward that McDavid can play with. However, I do have doubts about this, as Eberle and McDavid is an amazing duo. So don’t take too much away from this.
The rest of the defense won’t do. Sorry, Jultz, but your time is almost out here in Edmonton. It’s been a great few years of Jultzing, but the team needs to start thinking about potential top-pairing defensemen if they want to build around the core I named above.
Overall, Edmonton is in for a giant rebuild. The only question is when will this take place. I’m going to say that some dumping of contracts and players will be done at the deadline, then the big blockbusters we’re all waiting on happen in the offseason, right near draft time.