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.

Expectations for 2008-2009: Defensemen

Lubomir Visnovsky-one of the premier offensive defensemen in the NHL. Had a little bit of an offseason last year but will definately help out our powerplay and overall goals for. If you can't tell by the numbers below I have high hopes for Visnovsky.

Projected numbers: 78 GP, 20G, 40A, 60 points

Sheldon Souray-the chronic shoulder problem. The Visnovsky-Souray pairing on the powerplay is one of the best if not the best. Souray can definately be a very solid defenseman but he needs to stay healthy.

Projected numbers: 58 GP, 15G, 30A, 45 points

Tom Gilbert-fresh off signing a new 6-year/$24M deal, Tom has some big expectations. He played extremely well in my opinion last year. He will still be on the 2nd powerplay unit and will get points off jumping in plays. He may not reach the expectations $4M commands this year but two or three years down the road he will outperform that.

Projected numbers: 75 GP, 15G, 25A, 40 points

Denis Grebeshkov-formerly known as Garbagekov, he has taken out all the trash and proved to be a very good defenseman. After being traded for Marc-Andre Bergeron and a 3rd, the expectations weren't exactly set very high. At the beginning of the season, he looked terrible, but as the season wore on he adapted to the North American game and started showing what he was made of.

Projected numbers: 80 GP, 5G, 25A, 30 points

Steve Staios-Steady Steve. At some points of last season he didn't exactly look to steady. He's a veteran on the team and one of the best penalty killers on the team. At the Worlds he was one of Canada's best penalty killers and I expect him to play a similar role this season. Along with holding a steady defensive presence with one of the offensive defensemen.

Projected numbers: 70 GP, 4G, 10A, 14 points

Ladislav Smid-former 1st rounder, traded for Chris Pronger. Big expectations for a 20-year -ld. But back then he met them as he made a very weak Oilers squad and played surprisingly well. However, last season he didn't make the Oilers on a slightly better defensive squad. After being sent down to the AHL it didn't take long before the Oilers called him up due to injuries. He ended up playing 65 games with constant injuries to Souray and Pitkanen. He's now 22-years-old, has 2 NHL seasons under his belt, and proven he can play at the NHL level. Is this the year that Smid takes a big leap forward in his development and proves to be a top-4 defenseman or will he just stay as the number 6 defenseman?

Projected numbers: 70 GP, 4G, 8A, 12 points

Jason Strudwick-just another journeyman brought in to toughen up this defensive core. He's a proven NHL defenseman and can take a regular shift as well as get in a tussle to spark the team. From what I've heard, a good guy in the room. He should just be a quick fix, and give prospects like Peckham time to develop in the minors.

Projected numbers: 25 GP, 0G, 1A, 1 point

Overall not a bad defensive core, but I worry about the team defensively. However we should be able to move the puck up better thus improving our forwards' stats.