What Do the Oilers Need to Add?

That comment about a training camp invite really got me thinking. What could the Oilers possibly need? They have an abundance of top-six forwards, they've got 7 capable NHL defensemen including two elite offensive dmen. So the last part is goaltending. The Oilers have made it clear they want to start the year with three goaltenders. There aren't any good goalies in the free agent pool. So what could we possibly need?

Lots of fans may say we need that star shutdown defenseman. But those guys don't grow on trees. We would likely have to develop one. Others say we need an experienced center, who is reliable in his own end and can take key faceoffs. Perreault has been taken out of the equation according to Lowe (and personally I don't think the addition of Perreault would help this team a whole bunch). Bryan Smolinski is another guy, personally, I think Smolinski improves the team right now, but I also believe a kid can step up to the plate.

We passed up a chance at getting star, Zach Parise for Marc Pouliot and JF Jacques. I would hope Pouliot could at least develop into a 3rd line center. And judging by the way he played at the end of last season he could be a late bloomer. But that's a bit optimistic. However, last season Pouliot proved to me and the Oilers organization that he is a legit NHL player. His faceoff percentage was 47.7% in very few tries last season. So he will need to improve his faceoff ability. However, he can play the wing as well. Pouliot can play on the PK if needed but we have a lot of quality PK'ers so he likely won't get any time there. But it proves he's reliable defensively.

Kyle Brodziak was a late round, 19-year-old choice by the Oilers. Smart move as he scored 14 goals last season, which I believe could've been 17-18 goals if he hadn't missed so many open nets, or hit so many posts. His 51.5% faceoff percentage is impressive. Considering how he played center the whole season, he did well. That percentage is higher than Horcoff's. So, he seems like a prime candidate to play that 3rd/4th line center role. He is going to be on one of the PK unit's and is very reliable defensively.

The hole of shutdown defenseman will likely not be solved this year. Steve Staios is our closest thing to shutdown dman. He's not terrible at it, but he's not getting any younger and he's not getting any faster. Tom Gilbert and Denis Grebeshkov are reliable defensively, but aren't the "shutdown guys." Perhaps, in a few years the Oilers will develop Theo Peckham into that shutdown guy. But right now we don't have it.

To answer the question, what do we need to add? Well, a shutdown defenseman would be nice. Someone like a Komisarek or a Volchenkov. But we're never gonna get one. So, we've got to develop someone.

Time will tell whether or not this team really needs to add something or if the new NHL favours the Visnovsky's of the world and high tempo, puck-moving defensemen. It's not as if all of our players are terrible defensively. Gilbert, Grebeshkov and Staios can all play against top lines.