The Edmonton Oilers can learn a few things from the Avalanche
By Jim Lynch
A few seasons ago, the Colorado Avalanche were a one-line team. With Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, and Gabriel Landeskog, but now they are one of the best teams in the entire NHL poised to take a run at the Stanley Cup, the Edmonton Oilers could learn a few things from them.
The biggest issue the Edmonton Oilers have is depth.
The Oilers have the star players. Edmonton can out-star any team with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl along, there issue is the rest of the lineup. This off-season the Oilers need to take a page out of the Avalanche’s book and add some more depth.
Colorado traded from Kadri from Toronto, and Brandon Saad from Chicago. Saad has five goals this playoff run and he has been an instant hit with the Avalanche. We already talked about potentially trying to sign Saad this off-season, but in order to succeed this team needs a few more players.
More from Oil On Whyte
- 3 Oilers Players Who Should See An Expanded Role In 2023 And 1 Who Should Not
- Three Battles To Watch At Edmonton Oilers Training Camp
- Keys to Success: What the Edmonton Oilers Need to Focus on for a Successful Season
- The Edmonton Oilers Mean Business This Season
- Pacific division predictions
I think one area the team needs to target is a third line center. If Ryan McLeod is the guy for the Oilers on the third line, then they need to start playing him like it and give him that opportunity. He did not play much in the postseason and it seemed like they didn’t trust him. Targeting a few big name players will allow for the lineup to fill out and push guys that were int he top six down a little someone like Kahun for example.
But the only way that moving guys down a line if a big star top six guy is added is if they have a centerman they can trust on the third line. The Oilers were in a playoff series where they went to overtime in three out of the four games, the difference between winning and losing could have been just a couple of players.
If the Oilers can add just one or two more players similar to what Colorado has been doing in years past by not worrying about the main stars and doing their best to build a team around them. The Oilers will be in a good position.