Top deadline targets to increase Oilers' depth at center

At first glance, the Edmonton Oilers look stacked at center ice.

Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins - a team with these three pivots in tow would be foolish to give up anything to acquire more help at center. But the Oilers find themselves on the cusp of doing just that, as their crew of middlemen come with one fatal flaw - faceoff proficiency.

First off, that three-man group mentioned above is down to just two, as Draisaitl has spent plenty of time on the wing this season and has looked far too good alongside McDavid to slot in anywhere else.

That being the case, the team's four regular centermen are actually McDavid, Nugent-Hopkins, Mark Letestu, and a rotating cast of fourth-line pivots, with Drake Caggiula taking the most draws among them.

Here's how that group stacks up in the circle at even strength:

There are a few obvious problems here. First, the two pivots in need of the most ice time, McDavid and Nugent-Hopkins, are both brutal at taking faceoffs, with third-liner Letestu currently the only center on the team winning more than 50 percent of his draws. For the record, Draisaitl has posted a 49.3 percent clip when suiting up in his natural position this season.

Secondly, the team has no viable option at the fourth-line center position, as consistently losing draws doesn't seem like a winning formula for a line already possessing less skill.

So what are the Oilers' options heading into the deadline? They don't need to spend big, as the asset they covet need only fill a minor role - either taking over on the third line and moving Letestu down, or adding some skill and faceoff proficiency to the fourth line.

New York Rangers forward Brandon Pirri may be an affordable option. He hasn't taken a ton of draws this season, but Pirri's 113 faceoff wins are still more than Caggiula has managed, and he possesses a sterling 56.5 percent success rate in the circle.

He's also got some decent offensive skill - the 25-year-old posted 22 goals just two seasons ago - and he might be able to rediscover that scoring touch in Edmonton's offensive scheme.

University of Alberta alum Derek Ryan is another option. The veteran Carolina Hurricanes pivot doesn't provide much offensive skill, but he does boast a dominant 57.1 percent faceoff win rate - ninth-best in the league among players to have taken at least 200 draws.

Peter Chiarelli could also inquire about Montreal Canadiens pivot Torrey Mitchell, who's won 54 percent of the draws he's taken this season.

The Canadiens have more than a few talented faceoff practitioners on their roster, and Mitchell has been slumping as of late. He's posted just 15 points this season and is pointless in 12 straight games as Montreal's offense continues to struggle.

If the Oilers can turn that disappointment into a deal, Mitchell could be a worthy depth option for them, assuming he leaves those offensive struggles in Montreal with the rest of his former mates.

(Photos courtesy: USA Today Sports)