While the Oilers made an indefensible trade this summer by sending Taylor Hall to New Jersey for Adam Larsson, they're likely to be an improved team this season.

The biggest reason for any expected improvement is the expectation (or hope?) that newly-minted captain Connor McDavid will be healthy for a full season. The 19-year-old is already one of the most dynamic players in the game. He scored more than a point per game as an 18-year-old and, if he stays healthy, could challenge for the scoring title as early as this season.

Another player who missed a lot of time last season was defenceman Oscar Klefbom - another reason to expect better from the Oilers this year. 

Klefbom's injury might have hurt the Oilers even more, because they didn’t (or don’t) have any depth on the blue line to make up for his absence, compared to the lines up front where they had some capable scoring forwards while McDavid was out.

The long-standing issue in Edmonton has been that the defence isn't strong enough and, even with the acquisition of Larsson, that’s likely still the case. Klefbom, Larsson and Andrej Sekera could be okay and Brandon Davidson was a pleasant surprise last season. If Darnell Nurse could take a significant step forward, that would mean a lot to this group.

There's ample skill up front, as Jordan Eberle, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Leon Draisaitl have all shown NHL talent, while Benoit Pouliot and Kris Versteeg (on a tryout) are useful vets. 

Fourth-overall pick Jesse Puljujarvi might be ready to contribute this season too. But Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli is loading up to have a physical, bruising group of forwards. The Oilers signed Milan Lucic to a multi-year deal and already have Patrick Maroon, Zack Kassian and Matt Hendricks on the roster.

Seravalli: I see Puljujarvi making Oilers' roster

Frank Seravalli from TSN joined Lowetide to discuss NHL free agency, waiver wire and how likely it is that Jesse Puljujarvi makes the opening night roster for the Oilers.

 
The goaltending should be okay when Cam Talbot is in net – he's been solid in three NHL seasons – but it could get a little dicey when backup Jonas Gustavsson is in – he's hasn't been solid (liquid?) in seven NHL seasons.

The talent suggests that the Oilers should be competitive. Probably not playoff-worthy, but competitive. For a team that hasn’t made the playoffs since 2006, or been over .500 since 2009, that would count as progress.

Off-Season Headlines

June 29: Oilers ship Hall to New Jersey for Larsson 
July 1: Lucic re-joins GM Chiarelli in Edmonton 
Oct. 5: Oilers make McDavid the youngest captain in NHL history 

Three Key Oilers Questions

1. Are Oscar Klefbom and Adam Larsson a legitimate top pairing? 

They will play heavy minutes in all situations against the best competition on the league. If they are in over their heads, it will be a long season for the Oilers, who have few other defenders capable of pushing them for this type of responsibility.  Considering what the Oilers had to give up to get Adam Larsson, they are banking he will realize higher end potential indicative of his 4th overall section in the draft.

2. Can Cam Talbot establish himself as a true No. 1 goaltender? 

After bobbling the ball early last season, Talbot rebounded nicely and for a period of time put up numbers comparable with the best in the league. A year older, more experienced, and with a new contract in his pocket, the World Championship-winning netminder will look for consistency. And with little competition, he should play a ton.

3. Health matters? 

This holds true for every team, but the Oilers in particular were hampered with bad injuries to key players over the last season.  Connor McDavid played just 45 games his rookie campaign, but the likes of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Jordan Eberle, and Oscar Klefbom also missed significant time.  The Oilers do not have the depth to withstand injuries to multiple top 6 forwards, or top 4 defencemen.  

2016-17 Edmonton Oilers

 

TSN's Projected Lineup

  Lines and Pairings  
G LD RD
Cam Talbot Oscar Klefbom Adam Larsson
Jonas Gustavsson Darnell Nurse Brandon Davidson
  Andrej Sekera Eric Gryba*
    Mark Fayne
LW C RW
Milan Lucic Connor McDavid Jordan Eberle
Benoit Pouliot Ryan Nugent-Hopkins Jesse Puljujarvi
Drake Caggiula Leon Draisaitl Kris Versteeg*
Patrick Maroon Mark Letestu Zack Kassian
  Anton Lander  
ON SPEED DIAL INJURY LIST  
LW Anton Slepyshev LW Matt Hendricks  
D Griffin Reinhart RW Iiro Pakarinen  
D Matt Benning    
D Jordan Oesterle    

* - on PTO contract

 

Button's Top 2016-17 Prospects

1. Jesse Puljujarvi (18) – RW (Karpat Oulu - SM Liiga)
- Terrific blend of skill, power and will. Smart and understands how to take advantage of those he plays with and against.
2. Drake Caggiula (22) – LW/C (North Dakota – NCAA)
- Smart, competitive and versatile. Can play in multiple situations, move around the lineup and is highly profuctive.

Button's Top Long-Term Prospects

1. Tyler Benson (18) – LW (Vancouver – WHL)
- Injuries plagued him in his draft year but Tyler has all the requisite skills, sense and determination to be a very solid NHL Player. 
2. Anton Spleyshev (22) – RW/LW (Bakersfield – AHL)
- Capable of being a heavy player who can add offense from down the roster. Smart and competitive and has been a leader throughout his career.
3. Dillon Simpson (23) – D (Bakersfield – AHL)
- Has improved his quickness and has always been smart and poised and could be on the cusp of breaking through. 
4. Ethan Bear (19) – D (Seattle - WHL)
- It’s really simple with Ethan, he finds ways to get the job done. Defensively, offensively and in the most critical times, he is a 'go to' competitor.
5. Matt Benning (22) – D (Northeastern - NCAA)
- A freewheeling defenseman who can start the rush or join the rush and plays with a lot of confidence. Just needs to work on some details.


Travis Yost's Analytic Storyline

Only one player scored at a higher per-60 rate than Connor McDavid (2.7 points per 60 minutes) at even strength last year, and that was the legendary Jaromir Jagr. It’s probably worth remembering that this was accomplished at the age of 18 – an age where most players are still toiling in less competitive leagues, waiting patiently for a call-up. McDavid’s excellence knows no bounds, and it’s very possible – assuming he can stay healthy – he can not only compete for, but win next year’s Art Ross Trophy.