The 2024 NHL Season has primarily been a tail of two halves for the Edmonton Oilers. Following a humiliating loss to the San Jose Sharks in November, the team chose to part ways with head coach Jay Woodcroft while sitting in a tie for last place in the Western Conference at 2-9-1. However, highlighted by a franchise record 16-game winning streak, Edmonton has won 23 of its previous 29 contests.
Primarily due to the play of Stuart Skinner, the 25-year-old netminder was named the NHL's second star of the month for January. Over his last two starts, he has stopped 70 of 74 shots to push his save percentage to .904 on the year. Currently, three points up on the Vegas Golden Knights for the second spot in the Pacific Division, expect general manager Ken Holland to be ultra-aggressive in trying to add a top-six winger and forward depth in the bottom six.
5. Adam Henrique
Edmonton has reportedly had talks with the Anaheim Ducks about Henrique over the past few weeks. In the middle of another strong year, the 34-year-old has recorded five points in his last four games as he tracks toward the sixth 20-goal campaign of his career. Possessing the versatility to play both center and on the wing, the Brantford, Ontario native is an excellent penalty killer who can match up with the opposing team's top players in the postseason. Furthermore, the former NHL All-Rookie Team Member has been outstanding in the faceoff circle, winning 52.9 percent of his draws. With a $5.825 million cap hit, fitting the 15-year veteran under Edmonton's salary cap will take some creative accounting from the Oilers front office.
4. Vladimir Tarasenko
In search of a top-six winger to play on the right side, Edmonton has a glaring need behind Zach Hyman. With a revolving door of options, head coach Kris Knoblauch has tried moving mid-season acquisition Corey Perry up the lineup while moving Warren Foegele down. Bouncing back after an injury-riddled campaign a year ago, Tarasenko has racked up 17 goals and 24 assists in 57 games with the Ottawa Senators, with 31 of those points coming at 5-on-5. A pending unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, Tarasenko has a no-trade clause and a $5 million cap hit. Nonetheless, while he is not the dominant play driver he used to be, the 32-year-old would be a strong depth addition for a franchise with Stanley Cup aspirations.
3. Jordan Eberle
In a potential trip down memory lane, Eberle was selected 22nd overall by Edmonton in 2008. In seven seasons with the team, he racked up 382 points before being dealt to the New York Islanders for Ryan Strome. Now, with the Seattle Kraken after being selected by the group in the expansion draft, the 33-year-old right-winger is a pure rental player on an expiring contract. He has just 14 goals and 22 assists in 57 games after a 63-point season a year ago. Furthermore, with Dave Hakstol's group currently sitting nine points out of the final wild-card spot in the ultra-competitive Western Conference, expect the Kraken to begin to sell off assets before Thursday's trade deadline.
2. Nic Dowd
A former seventh-round pick of the Los Angeles Kings in the 2009 NHL Draft, Dowd has spent the last six seasons with the Washington Capitals. Establishing himself as one of the best defensive-minded centermen in the league, the 33-year-old leads the team in plus-minus (8) while ranking second in defensive zone start percentage (88.2) and faceoff percentage (48.9). He is also a willing penalty killer who can chip in offensively after a career-high of 25 points a season ago. With one year left on his contract at just a $1.3 million cap hit, Dowd has an outstanding attention to detail and work ethic to his game. He would help solidify Edmonton's bottom six and improve upon the group's 15th-ranked penalty kill.
1. David Savard
Edmonton was among the teams interested in Calgary Flames defenseman Chris Tanev before being dealt to the Dallas Stars in a three-team trade. Holland is looking to add a top-four defenseman to his roster. In 39 games this season, Savard has racked up four goals and ten assists. He averages over 20 minutes of ice time a night, which ranks third among Montreal Canadiens blue liners. A physical presence on the back end at 238 pounds, Savard can shove opposing players off the puck to kill plays in his own zone. Furthermore, he is unafraid to put his body on the line to block shots. With one additional season remaining on his contract, the asking price for the one-time Stanley Cup champion is reportedly a first-round pick.
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