Have Oilers surrounded McDavid and Draisaitl with enough?

Last season was fantastic for the Oilers as they came incredibly close to winning the Stanley Cup before losing Game 7 to the Panthers. They've made some changes over the summer and the team looks a little bit different, but is it enough to win the Cup this year? TSN Hockey analysts Mike Johnson and Craig Button share their thoughts in this edition of One Big Question.

[@defstone999]

I feel like the best solution for Nurse is to have someone compliment him. He sucks defensively, everyone knows that, but offensively hes above alright. Find someone who can pick up on the defence that nurse lacks instead of forcing nurse to be more defensive. The dude is a lost cause in that regards, if thats the case, let him be the offensive defenceman he wants to be. Find a defensive defenceman with good defensive hockey IQ.

[@randybegon3191]

there was a time not long ago where we had a log jam of defensive talent in the minors all traded

[@fontainefitness5698]

The forwards as a group, are top of the league. 3 of the 6 dmen definitely hold their own. However, 2 and 3 rd are big question marks. And then the BIG problem, the Nurse contract. Skinner has problems with consistency.

[@popeluigi]

TSN could you figure out your goddamn audio already? My left ear is getting tired of having to work twice as hard

[@tylerrohlicek3196]

You know, everyone’s talking about the defensive spots, I think Edmonton is perfectly fine and I honestly believe they are going to win if not they’ll at least be in the final again.

[@moemanncann895]

The Stanley Cup loss will help them this season like it did with Florida last season… one would hope.

[@Pandamama29]

reading the comments about Nurse.. "Nurse's chaos", "need someone to compliment him", "defence that Nurse lacks"... this is someone earning 9m, we shouldn't be even saying these things but we are. That is the real problem. He has to really step up this season. Give Stecher/Emberson a chance, lets put some faith in them. Brown - lets see what Coffey can do with him, find him a specific roll. Its a long 82 game season, we have enough time to change things round.

[@michaelscore6763]

Seider got a contract over 8 mio and Nurse gets cover 9 mio.... They should make a deal with the wings for Seider... All goalies by the Canucks are extremely strong! For all silavs against the Oil. Here is also potential for more quality.

[@danielnam9026]

The defence should be addressed by TDL. They have the draft capital to go all in. This is probably the year they’ll finally win it all.

[@steverogers5956]

The forward group is fine. The defense will get them into the playoffs but unless Emberson turns out to be a revelation - big ask for a guy with 30 NHL games - they will have to make a move for a bona fide top 4 RD at the trade deadline, ideally a positionally solid defense-first guy who can balance out Nurse's chaos. That's all they need: Emberson and Kulak would be fine as a 3rd pairing. Goal could be an issue but they are committed to Skinner and if he keeps developing he should be enough.

[@avarddearman2619]

They look slow and small. Comparing who they lost and who they added, the blue line is very small. Someone needs to teach the d to shoot pucks thru the body and not directly at the players. Lots to work on

[@petesurovic5178]

Absolutely enough it's the best top 6 in the league

[@colecadieux9370]

Make nurse dustin buffalin a hybird someone that plays forward. Like i dont know why this has not been a thought in the nhl. Like jesus i would run for a while.

[@abovewater6918]

No they haven't. I'm an Oilers fan and they need defense badly, like they have for years. This is an ongoing problem. We had Broberg who would have been able to step up, but he's gone now. We also lost Desharnais and Ceci this off season. Yes they weren't the best, but they were NHL caliber Defensemen. There's massive issues on the right side of the defense right now. Emberson seems like he might do well, but the other RD spot is a massive liability right now. Josh Brown is not it

[@jough_no]

Audio

[@tonykung8756]

All you need is McJesus...Lol Isn't Nurse supposed to be a top dman in the league? He's getting paid like $9.5mil/season...

[@mmayat]

Lose the music 🤦‍♂️

[@timw4369]

They are weak and Skinner was not an upgrade. No goaltending and no defence equals no cup.

[@thealbinorhino8760]

They are fine lol everyone loves to over react

[@modeisin7]

As I see it offensive yes definitely not yet 1 more solid top 4 d man goaltending is not bad regardless of what all the keyboard warriors say.

[@sukhpreetsingh4488]

Top 6 and top D pairing look great. Rest of the team drops off

[@marknelson4390]

I like Henrique on the 3rd line, but yeah after that, there's some decent depth but nothing special. The big question I think is the 2nd pairing on D. Not overly confident in that pairing but hopefully Emberson surprises people.

[@modeisin7]

The bottom 6 is arguably better than last year

[@randybegon3191]

@@modeisin7 solid top 9 and comparative 4th line to the league

[@jashanbrar8668]

they’ll have a short post season lmao

[@warrenlafond1878]

Oilers will be 112-122 points, i am thinking 20 pts more than Canuckleheads.... life is good for Oiler fans... And by the way I am a 'Hawks follower

[@brianw3749]

You forgot to add that your a canucks hater too.

[@harmangill7509]

No, he needs more wingers. Trade Ekholm and Bouchard for more offense.

[@jashanbrar8668]

Mike Johnson said “they have more than enough” LOLLLL this guy drank dog water this morning , goof

[@jashanbrar8668]

Lmao “only problem” that’s the biggest problem : defense wins chips bud