OILERS INSIDER | NHL TEAM | EDMONTON OILERS

This is the Oilers top objective for the 2024-25 NHL season

PUBLICATION

Finnegan Frost
September 16, 2024 (9:13)

SHARE THIS STORY

Photo credit: CBC

Its crunch time in Oil country - with the NHL season just a few weeks away, the Oilers have some important decisions to make.

The Oilers will be looking to duplicate their success from last season as they made it all the way to game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final. With that in mind, Oil on Whyte gives a breakdown of the top objective for the Oilers moving forward.

The Edmonton Oilers will make a move before the start of the regular season during the pre-season of action. This is where they might engage within a team from their division and improve their chances of securing a depth filled defense system.

Must read on Oilers Insider

Should the Oilers trade Darnell Nurse?

Corey Perry and Leon Draisaitl crash CCMA's

Pulling the trigger early means the team would have no option but to acquire a player or two. A defenseman is mainly a seasoned veteran or upcoming prospect coming their way as well. This would fill the void of paying a heftier price for a defenseman at the trade deadline and give the Oilers unit options to work with in the future.

So who can the Oilers bring in to help bolster the Oilers heading into the regular season?

Stauffer indicated specifically that the Oilers would be in the market for a right shot defenseman with some term left on his contract.

Jonathan Bailey of Philly Hockey Now believes that would make the Flyers an ideal fit for a trade with the Oilers, pointing to often maligned defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen as a potential fit on the Edmonton blue line.

From Philly Hockey Now:

The one name that fits Stauffer's criteria is Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen, who has three years remaining on his contract at a $5.1 million cap hit.

That would of course make a great deal of sense when it comes to the dollars involved, with Evander Kane having a near identical cap hit to that of Ristolainen with Kane coming it at $5.125 million per season when compared to just $5.1 million per season on Ristolainen's current deal.

Even a rental, bringing in Ristolainen would be an effective move for the team. He's a proven NHL D-man with a big right shot - just what the Oilers need.

source: Oil on Whyte
The Edmonton Oilers coaching strategy heading into the upcoming season

Previously on Oilers Insider

Should the Oilers trade Darnell Nurse?

Former Edmonton Oilers goaltender gets hired as a broadcaster

Oilers new signing being called a "slam dunk"

POLL
16 SEPTEMBRE \| 74 ANSWERS This is the Oilers top objective for the 2024-25 NHL season Should the oilers trade for a RSH D-man?
Yes	60	81.1 %
No	14	18.9 %
List of polls