what comes next for the Toronto Maple Leafs<\/a>. This time, we shift our focus West to another team that fell short in the second round of the playoffs despite significant star power: the Edmonton Oilers, who plenty of us believed had a chance to go all the way in 2022-23.<\/p>\nSuperstar Connor McDavid said this week that it\u2019s \u201cStanley Cup or bust.\u201d Fill in the blank, then: To reach the summit next season, the missing piece for the Edmonton Oilers is ________.\u00a0<\/p>\n
MATT LARKIN:\u00a0<\/strong>I\u2019ll go with Connor Hellebuyck.\u00a0<\/strong>The Oilers have the greatest player of the last quarter century, the best power play in NHL history, multiple lines that can score, great team toughness and even a shutdown blueliner after adding Mattias Ekholm at the trade deadline. What\u2019s missing? Starting goaltender Stuart Skinner got pulled four times in the postseason, and they still trusted him to tend their goal more than they did Jack Campbell. Edmonton\u2019s .889 team save percentage this spring just didn\u2019t cut it. McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have three and two years, respectively, remaining on their contracts. It\u2019s imperative to win in this window when they remain in their prime years. So pony up for a Hellebuyck trade. With just a year left on his deal and so much uncertainty in Winnipeg, there has never been a better chance to get him.<\/p>\nSTEVEN ELLIS:<\/strong> I\u2019m with Matt here; the Oilers need a goaltending upgrade. Hellebuyck is the one in the rumor mill now, and if it\u2019s really over in Winnipeg, Edmonton would be an excellent landing spot. But what about one of Boston\u2019s goalies, like\u00a0<\/strong>Jeremy Swayman or Linus Ullmark? Brandon Bussi has emerged as a potential backup option, and perhaps the Bruins could look to cash in on one of their two starter-caliber goaltenders this year. The Oilers can\u2019t keep wasting time \u2014 McDavid and Draisaitl deserve better. And any of Hellebuyck, Swayman or Ullmark could take No. 1 duties next year.<\/p>\nMIKE MCKENNA:\u00a0<\/strong>For me it\u2019s a new defensive system. Seeing the Oilers chase all around creation in their defensive zone against the Golden Knights was tortuous to watch. And without a complete overhaul to Edmonton\u2019s personnel \u2014 at both the defense and forward positions \u2014 I don\u2019t see how coach Jay Woodcroft can possibly think the current man-on-man system is going to work against the West\u2019s best. The Oilers were so confused in their defensive zone. Coverage was blown left and right while Edmonton players accidentally double- and triple-teamed the Vegas puck-carrier. The Oilers are so talented that they can get away with it against lesser teams. But their defensive structure simply hasn\u2019t been effective in the postseason. Playing man-on-man takes effort, awareness and brainpower. And I don\u2019t think Edmonton ever had all three ingredients available this season.<\/p>\nNICK ALBERGA:\u00a0<\/strong>Furthering Mike\u2019s sentiments, I think it\u2019s paramount that Edmonton adds at least one more quality top-four blueliner. Up front, I truly believe they have a good enough roster to get the job done. Additionally, Dylan Holloway\u2019s a player that needs to take a significant step next season in order for the Oilers to have success. While it\u2019s easy to blame the goaltending for the latest postseason exit, I just don\u2019t think Edmonton has nearly enough depth on the back end, especially when you compare them to some of the league\u2019s elite teams. And don\u2019t get me wrong, grabbing Mattias Ekholm at the trade deadline was huge. They just need more.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n