As we say goodbye to July (and some of the most violent Edmonton thunderstorms in memory), it’s fair to say Stan Bowman has delivered a satisfactory offseason. That’s a tough task after an early playoff exit, but the general mood of fans is positive as they look forward to the coming season.There are things the general manager could do before training camp. The issue is at centre, and could be pivotal in the Oilers’ efforts to win a sixth Stanley Cup.The issueEdmonton’s roster screams for a right-handed centre capable of playing second- or third-line minutes. That’s an extremely valuable player type, and teams are paying heavy prices in trades and free agency.Earlier this summer, Boone Jenner signed for $5.75 million for four years, Colton Sissons for $4.25 million for two years and Scott Laughton got $3.5 million for the next three seasons. Even when factoring in the increased cap number, these are high prices driven by the lack of available centres.The Oilers are loaded at centre. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are the best 1-2 punch at the position in the league. It isn’t close. The club also traded for checking centre Jason Dickinson at the deadline, and signed him over the summer ($4 million times five years). His shutdown and penalty-killing ability is top drawer. Young Josh Samanski played 24 games one year ago with Edmonton, and showed impressive two-way acumen.Added to the group is winger Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who can still make things happen at centre, but is fading. In his time in the middle during 2025-26 (all five-on-five minutes away from McDavid and Draisaitl), Edmonton delivered a 37 percent goal share in 375 minutes. Even the expected goal share, while more respectable (46 percent), suggests the club will need a stronger second-line centre when McDavid and Draisaitl are on the ice together.That’s no small item. Mike Babcock has already mentioned the team will run, at times, its top two players together at five-on-five. If Babcock approaches last year’s numbers (318 minutes, when Kris Knoblauch was head coach), Edmonton would be wise to add another centre with skill. A right-handed centre would be ideal, as there isn’t one currently on the roster.