Vladimir Tarasenko might be the name that finally fills Edmonton's last real roster hole heading into camp.
GM Stan Bowman has done most of his work already this offseason, but one question keeps lingering. Does a veteran tryout still make sense before the season starts?
Bowman has shown real patience before. Last summer, Edmonton waited out the market and landed Jack Roslovic on a bargain deal, and that same approach could pay off again here.
A PTO carries almost no risk. If a player earns it in camp, Edmonton signs him. If not, both sides simply move on with nothing lost.
Tarasenko is the name generating the most buzz. At 34, he posted 23 goals and 47 points in 75 games last season, proof he can still finish even if his elite sniper days are behind him.
His skating has slipped and his two-way game isn't what it was, but Edmonton doesn't need him killing penalties. It needs another finisher for the chances McDavid and Draisaitl create nightly.
Evander Kane represents a different kind of bet entirely, a reunion rather than a fresh addition.
Tarasenko emerges as the best overall fit for Edmonton
Kane struggled last season, managing just 13 goals and 31 points in 71 games, but Oilers fans have seen what he brings when healthy and motivated.
His familiarity with McDavid, Draisaitl, and Edmonton's systems would cut down the adjustment period most tryout candidates deal with, though his declining underlying numbers are a real concern heading into another camp battle.
Michael Bunting brings a quieter kind of appeal. The 30-year-old posted 14 goals and 33 points last season, and his game is built on getting under opponents' skin and battling in front of the net.
Edmonton has had real success surrounding Draisaitl with exactly that kind of linemate before, someone who retrieves pucks and creates space rather than needing to create offense alone.
Then there's Patrik Laine, the name with the highest ceiling and the most risk attached to it. He played just 5 games last season before another long injury absence limited him to a single assist.
If healthy, even a fraction of his old scoring ability could transform Edmonton's second power play unit. That "if" is doing a lot of heavy lifting in that sentence though.
Eeli Tolvanen might be the smartest long-term swing of the group. Still just 27, he scored 12 goals and 36 points last season while flashing the heavy shot that once made him a top European prospect.
He's the only name here with real youth on his side, responsible enough defensively to keep pace with Edmonton's transition game, and flexible enough to play up or down the lineup depending on need.
Bleed Oil Blue turned the question over to fans directly, asking which of these five they'd actually bring in for a tryout.
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If Edmonton only gets one shot at this, Tarasenko stands out as the safest overall fit, a proven finisher for a team that already has the playmaking covered.
Tolvanen makes the most sense as the longer-term swing if Bowman wants upside beyond just this season.
With camp only weeks away, don't be shocked if Bowman waits the market out one more time before deciding which of these five actually gets the call.
Which PTO candidate should the Oilers actually bring in, Tarasenko or Laine?
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