Edmonton Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli knew the recent history, he saw the dearth of talent, he understood the poor state of the franchise of which he was agreeing to lead, and he took the job anyway. Still, it'd be hard to blame Chiarelli for feeling the disappointment he reportedly now feels only a few shorts months into his tenure in the top spot for the Oilers. The team's potentially elite young forwards not named Leon Draisaitl can't stay healthy, the blueline is a mess and the goaltending, led by offseason acquisition Cam Talbot, simply hasn't been up to snuff.
Add it all up and it makes sense that Chiarelli and Oilers head coach Todd McLellan are, as reported Tuesday by TSN's Darren Dreger, per Today's Slap Shot, feeling a bit let down by the current effort of the Edmonton players. But don't take that to mean they'll be selling off some of their most important pieces in the near future. To hear Dreger tell it, Chiarelli and McLellan are in it for the "long-haul," so while they may be disappointed, they're not discouraged. Darnell Nurse needs time to develop - he'll get it. Same for Oscar Klefbom. A number of those forwards - Taylor Hall, Draisaitl - aren't going anywhere.
But that all being said, don't be surprised if players are dealt at some point. The holes, especially the defensive ones, are glaring and, as it always is, you've got to spend money/assets to make money/assets. A defensive upgrade isn't going to come without shipping something else out and, to hear Dreger tell it, there are a couple of names you may be able to circle in your ledger as likeliest to be dealt by Chiarelli and Co - Jordan Eberle and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.
Eberle, an elite scorer, has been struggling to create an impact this season, thanks in part to a preseason shoulder injury. The 2008 first-round pick has been one of the best scoring wingers in the league over the past four seasons, but he's an ancillary piece who provides a topnotch complementary skillset. He does little to create on his own and can disappear for stretches, though his finishing ability is elite.
Nugent-Hopkins, a natural center, seems like something of a luxury to some - he's a potentially elite pivot playing on a team that has one generational talent at center and another, Draisaitl, who looks like he could very well become the Malkin to McDavid's Crosby. Nugent-Hopkins has struggled this season, and questions persist as to whether he's got the physicality to play center in the NHL for the long-term. There's always the possibility of moving RNH or Draisaitl to the wing, where Draisaitl has blossomed thus far this season, but the question isn't whether keeping all three is possible, it's would moving a player like Nugent-Hopkins, likely just entering his prime at 22, allow the team to bring in an elite presence to a sorely lacking area like the blueline?
To hear Dreger and others tell it, upgrading the defense has been and remains Chiarelli's No. 1 priority. But just don't expect any kneejerk moves. If - when? - something comes, it will be because Chiarelli and McLellan believe it's going to aid the team now and in the future. There's also the fact that letting guys like RNH and Eberle work their way back into a groove would probably increase their trade value.
