Following another disappointing season in 2014-15, the writing appeared to be on the wall when it came to the Edmonton Oilers and Justin Schultz. Coming off a year in which the club failed to make any inroads in the Western Conference Standings and the player continued to struggle to find his way as an NHL defenceman, there was only two ways this situation was going to play out.
It may not be what fans of the Edmonton Oilers want to hear, but chances are Peter Chiarelli is done upgrading his blueline for the 2015-16 campaign. While many appear to still be holding out hope on the pipe dream of acquiring Chicago Blackhawks defenceman Brent Seabrook, it looks as though Todd McClellan has a pretty good idea of what he will be given to work with during his first year behind the Oilers bench.
Over the past eight weeks, the Edmonton Oilers have added three goaltenders from outside the organization, in hopes of addressing an obvious weakness. While Peter Chiarelli is banking on Cam Talbot being able to carry the mail as an NHL starting netminder in the here and now, he is also hoping one of Laurent Brossoit or Eetu Laurikainen will eventually develop into a so-called goalie of the future.
When the Edmonton Oilers announced the signing of Mark Letestu to a three-year deal worth $5.4 million, most felt the organization had found their replacement for Boyd Gordon as the team’s fourth line centre. While on the surface it may look like a fairly straightforward swap, chances are the Elk Point native will give Anton Lander a run for his money as the team’s third line centre.
