The Great One has huge endorsement for new-look Oilers

When talking about the Oilers this year, the NHL on TNT panel seems to have very high praise for this year's version of the team in comparison to previous years.

It makes sense why they would, since the things the Oilers have always been berated for are things that they have worked very hard to fix. Gretzky in particular has very high praise for the team, as he gives his reasons as to why this year's Oilers are built much tougher.

Gretzky points to their increased depth and their defensive simplicity, which have always been their two biggest weaknesses. The depth this year has been fantastic with the addition of guys like Connor Brown, Dylan Holloway and Sam Carrick who really help all lines be responsible defensive while chipping in some offense.

The defensive additions have been huge too, as Ekholm has been one of the most underrated additions of the past two seasons. Ekholm's addition to the first line has given Bouchard a great defensive option to play on his pairing, while helping Nurse play much better by taking minutes and pressure away from him.

The defensive depth has also been fantastic, as Kulak and Ceci both have seen major improvements in the playoffs and the addition of Desharnais has panned out incredibly well for the team.

Gretzky knows more than anyone what it takes to win and for him to be so confident in this year's team really gives fans promise. The Oilers have stepped up in every aspect of their lineup and it's not hard to imagine that these additions and improvements are just what they need to push them over the edge.