One of the main water cooler topics over the past few months among Oilers fans has centred around if this year’s team is better than last year’s.

Before we get to that answer, in case you didn’t know… The water cooler used to be the place at the office where people would meet and discuss things. Yes, they did it face-to-face. Social media has replaced the water cooler, except you get interrupted by people you don’t know and don’t work with, but I digress.

Back to the question. Are the Oilers better?

It seems many feel they aren’t. Statistically, they are slightly worse. Last year, the Oilers finished the season with 104 points and a .634P%. This year they have a .620P% through 75 games and are on pace for 102 points.

But when you dig deeper, I see a team that is better, especially after the Jake Walman addition, and we’ve yet to see the complete roster. Trent Frederic will make his Oilers debut next week — possibly as early as Monday in Anaheim, but if not, definitely at home vs. St. Louis or San Jose. He will make them better. Evander Kane is also getting closer and is trending to be available in the playoffs. He’ll be an upgrade as well.

The main reason I feel the Oilers are a more complete team this year is because of their record without Connor McDavid in the lineup.

The Oilers are 36-22-5 (.611P%) with McDavid in the lineup, but surprisingly they have a better record, 8-4 (.666P%), without him. Of course, they aren’t a better team without him, but the supporting cast has shown an ability to step up and win when he isn’t playing. It shows their depth. They’ve been led by Leon Draisaitl. No other team in the NHL can lose a top-three forward in the world and replace him with another top-three forward in the world, but the Oilers can and that is a huge advantage.

Here’s a look at the nine games without McDavid and with Draisaitl in the lineup. The team went 7-2-0.

• Draisaitl: 7-9-16
• Bouchard: 0-8-8
• Hyman: 4-2-6
• Skinner: 3-3-6
• RNH: 3-3-6
• Nurse: 0-6-6
• Arvidsson: 4-1-5
• Podkolzin: 0-4-4
• Perry: 2-1-3
• Kapanen: 1-2-3 (6GP)
• Ekholm: 0-3-3 (6GP)
• Henrique: 1-1-2
• Janmark: 1-1-2
• Walman: 1-1-2 (2GP)
• Brown: 1-0-1
• Emberson: 0-2-2
• Philp: 0-2-2 (6GP)
• Caggiula: 0-1-1 (3GP)
• Kulak and Stecher: 0-0-0

Draisaitl was the leader, but others elevated their offensive production, mainly Viktor Arvidsson and Jeff Skinner.

Edmonton is 1-2-0 in three games without both McDavid and Draisaitl. Here’s who produced in those games.

• RNH: 3-0-3
• Henrique: 2-1-3
• Hyman: 2-1-3
• Ekholm: 0-3-3 (2GP)
• Bouchard: 0-3-3
• Perry: 1-1-2
• Nurse: 0-2-2
• Walman: 0-2-2
• Skinner: 1-0-1
• Brown: 0-1-1
• Kapanen: 0-1-1

They beat Seattle, played quite well but lost 4-3 to Dallas, and had a stinker in Seattle on the second half of a back-to-back and lost 6-1.

In the 12 games without McDavid and three of those without Draisaitl:

• Hyman and RNH each have six goals and nine points.
• Bouchard has 11 assists.
• Nurse has eight assists.
• Skinner has seven points.
• Arvidsson has four goals. Perry has three.
• Henrique has five points.
• Walman has four points and only played five games.

The Oilers have shown they have enough offensive depth to fill the void, short term. That is a positive. It is valid to be concerned about the rash of injuries for the Oilers. Draisaitl left last night’s game with an undisclosed injury. He could miss tomorrow’s crucial game in LA, and playing the Kings without Draisaitl, McDavid, Ekholm, Frederic, Kane and Stuart Skinner lowers their chances of winning. It might cost them home-ice advantage in round one v. the Kings.

However, how the team has performed in games without key players has been impressive. It is giving other players more opportunity and responsibility and many of them have stepped up. It should only make the Oilers better when they have a full lineup. Edmonton has had some rough patches, no question, but overall, I think their playoff roster will be better than last season’s roster.

As long as they are healthy.