Connor McDavid reached the NHL trade deadline, and the Edmonton Oilers still had him handling everything alone.
Edmonton made some additions, but not the type that would help No. 97 feel more relaxed in May.
Connor Murphy and Jason Dickinson are good players in the NHL, and they should improve both five-on-five play and penalty killing.
However, it was clear that the biggest need was more players who can score around McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
This is why Mark Lazerus was critical of Edmonton’s moves at the deadline and who it affects most.
“Connor Murphy and Jason Dickinson are solid defenders who will make Edmonton better in five-on-five situations and on the penalty kill, but they won’t help much with scoring,” Lazerus said. “It still falls on McDavid and Leon Draisaitl to do all the offensive work. ”
The Oilers have a record of 37-16-10 in the Pacific, showing they are not panicking, but are a team competing to get better.
McDavid has an impressive 35 goals and 71 assists for a total of 106 points, yet it still seems like he needs another player to score alongside him.
Connor McDavid senses the urgency of the Edmonton Oilers.
You can tell the fans are starting to lose their patience because every quiet trade deadline shouts that they’re not serious enough.
Lazerus called attention to the roster issues Edmonton is unwilling to fix.
“The Oilers needed a scoring winger and ended up with two defense-first players,” Lazerus mentioned. “The Oilers wanted a true top goalie but got Tristan Jarry instead. ”
That comment about Jarry is important because it suggests that the management has already given up on finding a solution for their biggest question in goal.
So now, it’s the same situation where McDavid has to act like a superhero while everyone else hopes the puck will come their way.
Lazerus also noted how the chaotic situation in the division keeps things open for the Oilers.
“The Pacific Division isn’t the strongest, so Edmonton still has a chance to reach the playoffs, maybe even the Stanley Cup Final,” Lazerus mentions. “However, Bowman didn’t make the Oilers seem like they could actually compete against teams like the Colorados, Dallases, Minnesotas, Tampas, Carolinas, and Buffalos. ”
That’s the worry; there is a chance, but the limits are still in place.
Now, the next part of the season needs to build teamwork quickly, or this upcoming deadline will be even more stressful.
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