The team has glaring weaknesses and a number of guys that don't belong in the NHL, and our GM and I would have it no other way. While the big three go through growing pains, the supporting cast has been far from stellar. Besides the goaltending of Nikolai Khabibulin, this has been a predictably rough start for the Oilers.
Once the kids hit their strides we will need players like Fraser, Jones, Stortini, Vandermeer, Cogliano, etc. to "keep up the good work". Once the big three get going we could see one of Hemsky or Penner on the outs at the deadline or even sooner depending on the offers coming our way. Maybe a deal with Buffalo for Zack Kassian and a pick would satisfy both teams needs at the deadline? The Oilers would add a player with skill and toughness as well as a pick while Buffalo would gain a consistent scoring threat and a player that would work great down low with Vanek.
With any luck the Oilers will see themselves as a bottom 3 club at the end of the year and drafting one of Larsson, Couturier, or Nugent-Hopkins. So far so good, steady as she goes.
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