As training camp approaches, one thing is clear about the Edmonton Oilers
strategy this offseason: find suitable players on cheap, cost-effective
contracts to fill depth spots. Moves like signing Tobias Rieder, Kyle Brodziak,
 and Kevin Gravel didn';t break the bank for general manager Peter
Chiarelli. Rieder';s one-year $2 million deal gives the club a suitable top
nine option that can also help the penalty kill.

On paper, Brodziak';s two-year deal at $1.15 million gives Edmonton a 
cost-effective signing to fill that fourth-line center job. Previously the
Oilers were paying Mark Letestu $1.8 million to fill that role. Kevin Gravel
(one-year at $700,000) was signed this summer as well, and he';s penciled into
the No. 7 job on defense. Unfortunately, the Oilers only have roughly $4.9
million in cap space heading into the season.Kyle Brodziak (Amy Irvin / The
Hockey Writers)

They';ve still got to sign Darnell Nurse, who';s expected to ink a short-term
bridge deal at roughly $3-3.5 million per season. So really that gives the club
 just a shade over $1 million in cap space. The budgeting for this club
hasn';t been shrewd, and it';s prevented the club from being overly active in
free agency. It';s also made it difficult to move some of those less favorable
contracts out.Are the Oilers Done Making Moves?

It looks like the Oilers might be done, but there';s still plenty of question
marks with this club. We likely don';t see them making any big signings or
trades, not that they could from a salary cap perspective, but there are still
a few holes. Cam Talbot and Mikko Koskinen are seemingly set in stone at the
club';s two netminders. Oscar Klefbom, Darnell Nurse, Adam Larsson, Andrej
Sekera, Kris Russell, Matt Benning, and Kevin Gravel look to make up the seven
spots on defense. Is that a strong enough blueline?

Projected Oilers Defense for 2018-19

Left Defense

Right Defense

Oscar Klefbom

Adam Larsson

Darnell Nurse

Kris Russell

Andrej Sekera

Matt Benning

Kevin Gravel*

Evan Bouchard*

The most apparent depth is at center. Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Ryan
Strome, and Kyle Brodziak hold spots No. 1-4. Where things get, a little hairy
is on the wings. Behind Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, the left wing is full of
uncertainties in Milan Lucic, Drake Caggiula, and Pontus Aberg. Jujhar Khaira
seems to be the only other sure thing, but he';ll be starting the year as
a fourth-line energy forward. Is this a group that';s strong enough on both
sides of the puck?Related: Oilers - Trading Milan Lucic is Unlikely

The right side is a complete wildcard. Ty Rattie is getting a golden
opportunity to start the season alongside Nugent-Hopkins and McDavid. Rieder
is currently penciled in to start camp next to Leon Draisaitl. Jesse Puljujarvi
 has the highest potential amongst anyone on the right side, but he';s yet to
break the 20 point barrier. Zack Kassian is firmly entrenched in the No. 4
right wing spot. With all this uncertainty that opens the door for a rookie
like Kailer Yamamoto.

Projected Oilers Forward Depth 2018-19

Left WingCenter

Right Wing

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

Connor McDavidTy Rattie

Milan LucicLeon Draisaitl

Tobias Rieder

Drake Caggiula

Ryan StromeJesse Puljujarvi

Jujhar KhairaKyle Brodziak

Zack Kassian

Pontus Aberg*

Brad Malone*

Kailer Yamamoto*

Wild Cards Amongst Oilers Lineup

Circling back, Aberg has been inconsistent since being acquired from the
Nashville Predators. The juggling of wingers and the potential of moving one of
 the right side guys to the left is a reason to believe Yamamoto could
seriously challenge for a spot amongst the top six. Is that the right course of
 action for his development? It';s far more likely he starts the year in the
AHL playing for the Bakersfield Condors.Related: Kailer Yamamoto Tearing Apart
the WHL

Brad Malone and Cooper Marody will also challenge for fourth-line duties, but
the Oilers might prefer to have both start with Bakersfield. So where does
that leave us? Edmonton has 43 of 50 contract spots spoken for. Regarding
depth, it might be wise of Chiarelli to maybe add another defense option as
Gravel';s health has been called into question and played a factor in the Los
Angeles Kings not retaining his services.Kevin Gravel (Sergei Belski-USA TODAY
Sports)

The club might wish to solidify that defense further so they can keep
youngsters like Ethan Bear, Caleb Jones, and William Lagesson playing key
minutes in Bakersfield. Up front, they could pursue some other options to
shore up the right side. Maybe there';s a more definitive answer still
available within the free agent market? The club could also look for cheap
scoring options, or some that';ll also strengthen their defensive abilities up
front.Related: William Lagesson Ready for North America

So if the Oilers were to peruse the market, here are five players worth taking
a chance on with a professional tryout (PTO) as camp approaches. Some of these
players might not except a PTO offer, but we';re seeing a lot more of these
scenarios nowadays. In fact, it';s become a common pathway for free agents to
earn a contract come September.Alexei Emelin (LD)

Age: 32| 2017-18 Stats: 76 GP - 1 G - 8 A - 9 PTS

2017-18 Team(s): Nashville

Emelin, 32, was a depth defender for the Predators last season averaging 16:53
in ice-time, and registering nine points in 76 games. He';s not going to help
the Oilers score goals, but his physical style would be a welcomed addition to
an Edmonton blueline that doesn';t exactly have a reputation of being overly
menacing. Emelin';s hard-hitting style could be a nice fit.

He led all Nashville defenders with 181 hits, which were far more than PK
Subban';s 111, which placed second amongst the team';s rearguards. In fact, the
 Russian finished eighth in the Western Conference in registered hits. That
would';ve put him behind just Adam Larsson for most hits on the Oilers last
year. If you want a physical boost, Emelin might be someone worth having
interest in.Tomas Jurco (LW/RW)

Age: 25| 2017-18 Stats: 29 GP - 6 G - 4 A - 10 PTS

2017-18 Team(s): Chicago Blackhawks

When Jurco was drafted 35th overall in 2011, he was highly regarded for his
silky mitts and offensive creativity. Add a touch of speed to his 6-foot-2
frame and this was a guy that looked like he';d be a key factor in the Detroit
Red Wings future. That didn';t happen.

Jurco put up just 39 points in 159 games with Detroit before being traded for a
 third-round selection in 2017. He was a healthy scratch during Chicago';s
first-round sweep in 2016-17 and split time between the NHL and AHL last year.
He';s been inconsistent, but his tantalizing offensive skills are hard to
ignore. Will a third club be the charm for Jurco?

Luca Sbisa (RD)

Age: 28 | 2017-18 Stats: 30 GP - 2 G - 12 A - 14 PTS

2017-18 Team(s): Vegas Golden Knights

Sbisa had one of his better years in recent memory, averaging 19:31 in ice-time
 on a Vegas team that marched their way to the Stanley Cup Final. Over a full
82-game season, those numbers translate to six goals and 38 points, which
would';ve led all Oiler blueliners in scoring last season.

Edmonton has Klefbom, Russell, and Benning on the right side, with Bouchard and
 Ethan Bear lurking behind trying to snag a spot on this year';s roster. If
Bouchard';s back in junior, and Bear is playing the year in the AHL, Sbisa
could be a fit. The downside is that his possession metrics weren';t that great
 in 2017-18.Nick Shore (C)

Age: 25 | 2017-18 Stats: 63 GP - 5 G - 12 A - 17 PTS

2017-18 Team(s): Los Angeles Kings, Ottawa Senators, Calgary Flames

Shore started last season playing the first 49 games of the year with the Kings
 before being thrown into the Dion Phaneuf for Marian Gaborik deal. The
Senators would flip him 13 days later to the Flames for a seventh-round pick.
He';s a decent fourth-line center option despite all the movement.

He averaged 14:45 in ice-time, and has a career face-off percentage of 50.3%.
Shore, 25, has good hockey IQ, is a decent penalty kill (PK) option and plays a
 two-way game that could benefit the Oilers bottom-six.

Scottie Upshall (LW)

Age: 34 | 2017-18 Stats: 63 GP - 7 G - 12 A - 19 PTS

2017-18 Team(s): St. Louis Blues

The 34-year-old Fort McMurray native would be a great addition to the Oilers
depth chart as a 13th or 14th forward. He';s played out a series of one-year
deals for the past three seasons with the Blues and averaged just over 10:51 in
 ice-time through 63 games.

A knee injury followed by a lacerated kidney shut him down late in the
season. Until then he was St. Louis'; second-most utilized player on the PK
averaging 1:22 per game. You know who was No. 1? Brodziak. The Blues'; PK
finished 18th in the league whereas the Oilers finished 25th. Could reuniting
the Blues'; top two penalty killers up front help Edmonton?

The post Oilers: 5 Free Agents Worth a PTO appeared first on The Hockey
Writers.

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