2. A Top 6 Scoring Winger
Another issue that is caused by a player having a completely underwhelming season is the fact that there is a need for another top 6 scoring winger. Recently healthy scratched Connor Brown was brought in to play with McDavid on the top line.
If you take a look at his stat line there is no doubt that not only are the Oilers unhappy with these results, but Brown himself was hoping to bounce back after missing almost the whole season last year, but obviously the 1 assist through his 24 games is not going to cut it.
What the Oilers need is a player who can take advantage of playing with either McDavid or Draisaitl. This is something they have been wishing for the last few seasons. They have tried lots of players in that role over the past few years with a low success rate.
From Yamamoto to Puljujarvi and add in the odd bump up of a bottom six player, no one can seem to hold on to the final top 6 spot. Hyman, Kane and Nugent-Hopkins are the players who are the other three, but the Oilers need to find another player that belongs.
I don't expect Brown to turn this season around and get on a heater and lock him into that spot. That means the Oilers will need to make a trade or hope someone can take and hold on to that spot. If that happens this team would become a serious contender.
The problem with every move the Oilers need to make is they don't have the cap space to do it. This means the solution will likely need to be internal. The most likely outcome is that things are going to stay the way they are. Hope the Brown can find his game or just shuffle the hot forward in the top 6.