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A few days ago, Edmonton Oilers General Manager Craig MacTavish offered up some revealing comments, into his club’s current roster, and what changes he may (or may not) entertain between now and the start of next season. MacTavish seemed to go to great lengths to compliment some of the men that are currently in Oilers silks.

By the time he was done, I (for one) had begun to wonder if the G.M. was planning more subtle tweaks than many would like. If that is the case, then a gaze into the old crystal ball could be fun:

GOALTENDING –

Craig MacTavish gave us the least to consider, I would argue, at this position. I believe that only one of Ben Scrivens or Viktor Fasth will return next season, and given that Scrivens had another year on his contract, he would seem to have the inside track. There’s much talk of NCAA prospect Matt O’Connor, and Laurent Brossoit is having a good year in the AHL. But one hopes MacT goes hunting for a proven starter….because that is what this team needs. We will see.

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DEFENCE-

While I would love to believe that The Edmonton Oilers plan to re-sign Jeff Petry, their history suggests otherwise. MacTavish is clearly sold on Oscar Klefbom and Justin Schultz (I know, I know), and Andrew Ference, Nikita Nikitin and Mark Fayne have significant term remaining. If Petry IS gone, that is 5 men returning, and Martin Marincin on the bubble. So, then, who comes in for Petry?

Well, the way Darnell Nurse is playing this year, the Oilers track record would suggest he’s an Oiler next September. But as good as Nurse has certainly been, does anyone believe that a 20 year old kid can fix the sort of problems we witnessed in Toronto Saturday night? And remember…that would be a blue line without its best performer right now, Jeff Petry.

If they were really smart (no cracks), Nurse would start in the AHL, and get a good 40 professional games in, before he is called up, and Craig MacTavish would go out and sign a legitimate 1-2D such as Johnny Boychuck. The Oilers have cap space, it’s “only money”, and it would be well spent on a 25+ minute a night, top-pairing defender.

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Blackhawk Up

Blackhawks: Chicago acquires another former MVP forwardDa Windy City

Adding Taylor Hall was the perfect move for the BlackhawksPuck Prose

Boston Bruins Rumors: 2 takeaways from big Taylor Hall trade to ChicagoChowder and Champions

Boston Bruins deal Taylor Hall to Blackhawks in salary dumpCauseway Crowd

Taylor Hall to join Connor Bedard with the Chicago BlackhawksBlackhawk Up

FORWARD-

Reading in between the lines, I believe that the Edmonton Oilers are sold on the three-some of Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins as a top unit. And if Taylor Hall is healthy and his knees close to being right, then I can swallow that. The problem is when Taylor Hall is not right, as we have witnessed more often than not this season.

As much as I like Leon Draisaitl, and I do, he will not be ready to be a #2 center next season that can set the pace on nights when Taylor Hall is “off”. I believe that MacTavish needs to go out and get “one of those”, be it on the UFA market or via trade.

In fact, if MacTavish were really the smartest guy in the room, he would start Draisaitl in Bakersfield, and let the big German and Darnell Nurse turn the AHL on its ear. And if MacTavish were to re-sign Derek Roy as his 3rd line center, it makes it easy for him to do the right thing with the kid.

Does Roy have the required miles left? Judging by what I’ve seen of him in Edmonton so far? Well, he still does a lot of things right and would come at the right price. And if your 13F is Anton Lander, then I submit this is a gamble worth taking. This is all assuming (please, lord) that Boyd Gordon returns as 4C.

With that done, I would argue that there are 5 other forwards entirely serviceable or better already on the roster: Nail Yakupov, Benoit Pouliot, Teddy Purcell, Matt Hendricks and Rob Klinkhammer (would need to be re-signed). The likes of Matt Fraser, Luke Gazdic, et al, battle for the last 2 spots

I have seen it over and over on Twitter how fans want the Edmonton Oilers to “trade the young guns” and “blow it up”. Hopefully this accounting shows how that’s really not necessary, provided Craig MacTavish can add the 3 pieces I have described above.

Easier said than done? Sure. But that’s the great thing about my job. I don’t actually have to do it!

And are all 3 of these pieces that MacTavish should have acquired LAST Summer? Ummm…yes.