Connor McDavid's Oilers add forward depth, primed for big playoff push in 2021-22

The Edmonton Oilers have signed up a new supporting cast for Connor McDavid. The question is how far can they go in playoff prime time.

The Edmonton Oilers have signed up a new supporting cast for Connor McDavid. The question is how far can they go in playoff prime time.

General manager Ken Holland worked the phones in the off-season to deliver depth to a corps of forwards that too often went into passenger mode last season when twin superstars McDavid and Leon Draisaitl were taking a breather.

In are Warren Foegele, Zach Hyman and Derek Ryan while Edmonton said goodbye to Jujhar Khaira, James Neal, Alex Chiasson, and others.

“You can put all the names on the paper you want, you still have to get out on the ice and do it,” said head coach Dave Tippett on Monday. “And you've got to do it each and every night.

“We've been 12th and 11th the last couple of years and we want to be in that top 10. We want to be in that top 10 and keep pushing forward.”

Hyman is the big prize. The 29-year-old former Toronto Maple Leaf free signed a seven-year free agent deal and is slotted in on McDavid's left wing. He's a banger and a crasher with offensive upside. He had 15 goals and 18 assists with a plus-19 rating in 43 games last season.

On McDavid's right, big things are expected this year from Jesse Puljujarvi, who had 15 goals and 10 assists last season with a plus-6 rating.