from Robert Tychkowski of the Edmonton Journal,

The Edmonton Oilers are good, but not good enough.

Not yet.

With the trade deadline fast approaching, it’s up to general manager Ken Holland to find the necessary ingredients to make a good team great and position the Oilers for their best chance to win a Stanley Cup since 2006.

Everyone around him is loading up already. The first overall Vancouver Canucks got a jump on the trade deadline by adding what every contender wants, a solid two-way centre in Elias Lindholm. The Winnipeg Jets added Sean Monahan and the Colorado Avalanche are about to find out how much Zach Parise has left in the tank.

In Edmonton, Holland has a group that has paid its dues and is ready to win now. What he does prior to the deadline will play a major role in whether Connor McDavid and Company can finally push through or if it’s another long summer of ‘Wait till next year.’

So, what are those ingredients? What’s the biggest need? There are cases to be made in all three areas, goal, defence and forward, and the GM has limited assets with which to forge a deal.

This is going to take some creative manoeuvring.

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