Oilers’ Loss to Flames Exposes 2 Major Deadline Needs

The Edmonton Oilers have had an odd 2023-24 season, as they have had some serious downs and some serious ups throughout their campaign. They started the season 3-9-1 before deciding to fire Jay Woodcroft and Dave Manson who were replaced by Kris Knoblauch and Paul Coffey. They also chose to call up Calvin Pickard as the new backup goaltender after a terrible start to the season for Jack Campbell, who was sent to the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Bakersfield Condors. 

Related: Oilers & Blues Emerging as Potential Trade Partners

With the season more than halfway complete and teams focused on the upcoming trade deadline, the Oilers will have to decide soon what their plans are and what they’ll be looking to add in hopes of bolstering their roster. Their loss to the struggling Calgary Flames on Saturday (Feb. 24) night exposed two major issues heading into the 2024 Trade Deadline that the team needs to address. 

The Oilers had a rough game against the Flames, and their defensive lapses and lack of scoring throughout their lineup were evident all game. While the team does have a few players who can continue to provide offensive power, it’s clear they could benefit from more scoring on their depth chart. They outshot the Flames 35-30 and still couldn’t find the back of the net more than their opponent. Defensively, the Oilers left Stuart Skinner out to dry and the Flames took advantage. The lack of goals and weak play in the defensive zone exposed two massive needs for the Oilers at the 2024 Trade Deadline.

Defensive Depth/Upgrade

The Oilers have struggled to find consistency on their blue line for several seasons, and this season is no different. Evan Bouchard has elevated his offensive play in a way that has him amongst candidates being considered for the Norris Trophy, which is awarded to the league’s top defenceman, and Mattias Ekholm has remained strong since being acquired last season. Other than those two though, there isn’t much to be excited about. Vincent Desharnais has stepped up in a big way in his limited role, but he is still a season or two away from being ready to take on a bigger role, while Cody Ceci, Brett Kulak, and Darnell Nurse have been okay, but not great. 

The Oilers will need to either acquire a big-name defender who can stabilize the blue line, like Chris Tanev, or…