There's gonna be a lot of changes occurring within the Edmonton Oilers' organization this summer, this report will attempt to enlighten you, the reader, as to which direction this team is heading.
New Faces:
Despite a roster freeze in effect, the Oilers are already anticipating the arrival of several new fresh faces, with many prospects ready to step into various roles with the team, whether it be professional or on the farm team in Toronto. Expected to make a legitimate run a roster spot are Chris Higgins, Jean-Francois Jacques, Maxime Talbot, Marc-Antoine Pouliot, Jeremy Colliton and Tony Salmelainen. Also making the jump, purely for positional depth reasons are Greg Mauldin, Martin St. Pierre, Jesse Niinimaki, Richie Regehr, Mathieu Roy, Dan Jancevski and Brennan Evans.
Departures:
Impending unrestricted free agents likely not resigned include Mathieu Dandenault, Todd Harvey, Shawn Heins, Yannick Tremblay and Darren Rumble.
It is also believed that, as soon as it's feasibly responsible to do so, forwards Niklas Sundstrom, Brad Chartrand and Christoph Brandner will be bought out.
Depth Chart: Left Wing
The Left side boasts plenty of grinders and checkers, as well as players that are capable of putting up big points, although no real game-breaking offensive powerhouses. With the current roster, the left wing boasts a top 4 of:
Marco Sturm
Chris Higgins
Brian Sutherby
Steve Ott
Grinding wingers Mark Mowers, Vernon Fiddler, Clarke Wilm and Pat Rissmiller are all more than capable of filling in, in case the injury bug strikes. As said before, JF Jacques will be looking for playing time as a rookie, and Greg Mauldin is capable depth.
Depth Chart: Centre
The Oilers are set down the middle, for now and the future. Arguably one of deepest teams in the entire OTHL at this position. The Oilers boast plenty of players that can hurt you at any aspect of the game. With the current roster, the centre position boasts a top 4 of:
Saku Koivu
Jason Arnott
Dave Scatchard
Alyn McCauley
Behind the big 4, Edmonton has a long list of youthful players looking to squeeze in some playing time, whether they be offensive, as in Marc-Antoine Pouliot, Martin St. Pierre and Jared Aulin, or two-way, as in Erik Christensen, Maxime Talbot and Zenon Konopka.
Depth Chart: Right Wing
This is where help is needed. Edmonton has an interesting mix of offensively-gifted players and defensively responsible wingers. However, each player is not without question marks in their respective games. As of now, the Top 4 looks like this:
Alex Kovalev
Chuck Kobasew
Sami Kapanen
Matt Stajan
If any of those go down to injury or slump, they could easily be replaced by checkers Grant Stevenson or Branko Radivojevic, or by rookies Jeremy Colliton and Tony Salmelainen. Norm Milley and Kent McDonell are also on the right side, more than capable farm depth.
Depth Chart: Defence
Edmonton has an excellent top 4, but there is still room for improvement. In addition, the Oilers have lost a lot of depth through trades and free agency, an issue that will need to be addressed, in case an injury situation arises. As of right now, Edmonton boasts a top 6 of:
Andrei Markov
Robyn Regehr
Greg DeVries
Steve Staios
Francis Bouillon
Richie Regehr
Obviously, the depth issue is obvious by the talent drop between #5 and #6 D men. Mathieu Roy, Dan Jancevski and Brennan Evans are all capable injury replacements, but none are long term solutions.
Depth Chart: Goal
Another position where the talent is good, yet unproven. Edmonton looks to be willing to give Marc Denis yet another chance to prove that he is among the elite goaltenders in the league, with stats just inflated due to playing on sub-par teams.
Curtis Sanford is penciled in as #2, where he is very impressive, and has the ability to steal a game or two, however GM Seaman has hinted at possibly trying for an improvement.
Yann Danis, as of now, will start in minor affiliate Toronto. He is still considered an unknown asset due to some games where he looks like an elite talent and others where he looks like merely a capable back-up. Consistency is needed. But, he will be given every opportunity to earn playing time with the big club.
Off-Season Needs
Edmonton has never been a team to hunt for players by positional depth first, then talent second. But, this summer will change that as the Oilers have a very concise detailed list of needs. It looks like the following:
1. Top Pairing Defenceman
2. Second Line Right Winger
3. Defence Depth (and more than one)
4. Backup goaltender, or better yet, a starter to split time with Denis
5. Left Wing Depth
Coaching Situation
It is widely speculated that Andy Murray has been relieved of his duties and the Oilers are holding meetings to find a suitable replacement, a coach that can bring them over the hump of being a team that is always fighting for a playoff spot, to a consistent Stanley Cup threat. Rumoured to have had interviews with Edmonton are Peter Laviolette, Alain Vigneault and Bobby Francis.
Overview
Edmonton boasts a young, relatively inexpensive, exciting team that is well on it's way to being in very good position for the upcoming season.