The Oilers D is funny because I currently see it this way:
Nurse: top pairing, paid and played as a #1.
Barrie, Ceci, Kulak, Bouchard - all ideally #4's right now with a stronger partner than they are and only Ceci has a stronger partner than they are, but he's also being played a pairing too high.
Broberg - developing 5/6
There's nobody BAD, per se, but just about everyone is being asked to play above their heads.
Classic oiler problem. Wich thou hurts the entire team when they are asked to play pver their heads.
Why not create solid 2nd and 3rd pair at lest, that makes 2 pairs at reasonable level.
I see it as :
Nurse - can play a whole lot of miniutes - is a weak 1st D, or a strong 2D. 1 pair at least
Ceci - 3rd D. Solid D backup for an offensive D, should play with Barrie or Bouchard. Why not Bro'?
Bouchard - wildcard. No one knows where he should be. Everything between 2 - 5th D. I say 3rd-4th D. Not really a 4th. Thats mean. He though need a stud D, defensive brick beside him.
Barrie - just as Bouchard. The redundant other. A 3rd D if there is a defensive Dbesides him. Like Kulak.
Kulak - great to have here. Perfect match for oilers. 4th -5th D, defensive backup-er. Wich means - if he plays with Bouch or Barrie, he has to take the D, and shouldnt be 2nd pair.
Bro" - rookie, right now 4th or 6th D, that said- should not drive a D pair.
Makes it
Nurse -
Ceci - Bouchard
Kulak - Barrie/Bro'
That would for me make Bro play 1st pair, so nobody except one player plays over their heads.
Nurse - Broberg.