TSN hockey insider reveals the scope of losing Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway last summer

Late last summer, the Oilers received word that both Broberg and Holloway signed offer sheets with the Saint Louis Blues and forced the Oilers to decide on whether to retain them or collect draft picks.

The organization chose the draft picks and let both players walk leaving the team with less depth and two young pieces that could have remained with the team.

Dreger explained that losing both young players hurt their depth and let two tradeable assets walk away that could have fetched more during this trade deadline.

The team has managed to stay competitive and be one of the best teams in the Western Conference even with the loss of both players. The Oilers are considered one of the oldest teams in the NHL in average age and losing players this young is not helpful.

The Oilers, however, are in a win now mode and will be sacrificing more draft picks and prospects during this trade deadline as they need to shore up areas like defence and secondary scoring.

Several names have been attached and linked to the Oilers over the past couple of weeks including Connor Murphy, Ryan Donato and Radek Faska.

As more teams fall out of the playoff race with only seven games between the Four Nations face break and the trade deadline, the Oilers may have a chance to pounce on better options that could help them go on a long playoff run.

There will be a point in time for the Oilers will need to recoup more draft picks and prospects but not hit the near future.