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Oilers Need To Trade From Strength To Address An Area Of Weakness

By Devon Hladunewich |
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - DECEMBER 03: Philip Broberg #86 of the Edmonton Oilers shoots against the Seattle Kraken during the third period at Climate Pledge Arena on December 03, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - DECEMBER 03: Philip Broberg #86 of the Edmonton Oilers shoots against the Seattle Kraken during the third period at Climate Pledge Arena on December 03, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

There is no mistaking that the Edmonton Oilers have some weaknesses on their team, but they also have areas of strength. The thing they need to do now is to find a team that has a weakness where the Oilers have strength and strength where the Oilers have a weakness.

Identifying Edmonton Oilers Strengths

Right now the Edmonton Oilers have no shortage of areas of strength. The main issue is finding an area of strength that also has depth. In my opinion, the area that the Edmonton Oilers have the most quality depth is left-handed defenseman.

Right now the depth chart goes as followed. Darnell Nurse, Mattias Ekholm, Brett Kulak then Philip Broberg. The first three are under contract till the 2025-26 season whereas Broberg is still an RFA and he is due for re-signing after this season.

If the Edmonton Oilers would like to make a move to improve this team I would expect to see either Kulak or Broberg traded away. Kulak is a serviceable defenseman who is a good third-pair guy, but he is likely not going to be anything more than that on this team.

As far as Philip Broberg goes, he is below Kulak on the depth chart. In order for him to get any meaningful playing time he would need to jump Kulak in the lineup. The way Broberg has been getting ice time last season was the Edmonton Oilers would dress 7 defensemen and he would be that 7th guy.

If a move was to be made Philip Broberg would be a more valuable asset. He is much younger than Kulak and his cap hit is much lower right now than Kulak’s. If the Oilers want to really improve their team this offseason their biggest chip is Philip Broberg.

Identifying Edmonton Oilers Weaknesses

The Edmonton Oilers are a good team. This means an area of weakness is not so much a weakness, but an area they are less good than the rest. The Edmonton Oilers are in the business of upgrading and not just getting good.

This is why aside from top centers and top left defense there is nothing they can’t really improve on. Connor McDavid and Leon Draistail as a 1/2 center punch doesn’t get any better than that. Nurse and Ekholm are also going to be very hard to upgrade on.

For the Edmonton Oilers areas where they are looking to upgrade are everywhere outside of that. There are areas they will look to upgrade first though. These areas are scoring right winger, depth forwards and the ever-elusive shut-down right-shot defenseman.

There are lots of these types of players out there, it is up to the management team to find a way to get a deal done to upgrade this team. It is not going to be easy to do and there is a chance they will not be able to get a deal done. The one thing I always need to remember when it comes to trades is both sides need to be happy.

An opposing GM isn’t out there thinking to himself “How can I help out the Edmonton Oilers?” he is out there trying to help his team. This is why the Oilers need to move their strengths to address weaknesses.

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