Oilers GM Chiarelli: 'I thought we'd be better at this point'

Through 23 games, the Edmonton Oilers find themselves in all too familiar territory.

With a record of 7-14-2, good for 16 points, Edmonton sits dead last in the NHL standings and is on track to be in the running for the first overall pick at the 2016 draft.

"I came into this position knowing there'd be heavy lifting and we're right in the midst of it," general manager Peter Chiarelli said Saturday. "I thought we'd be better at this point."

He added, "I'm disappointed on a number of fronts ... Obviously I don't like our record. We've had a number of one-goal losses."

The Oilers suffered seven losses by one goal, five of which have come since potential difference-maker Connor McDavid fell to a broken clavicle.

With the phenom set to return as early as January, Chiarelli won't deviate too far from his plan regarding personnel changes.

Edmonton's in the midst of a five-game road trip - having lost the first three - with stops in Pittsburgh and Toronto left on the docket before returning home.

Nine points out of a playoff spot with little hope of catching up, the rebuild appears set to continue in earnest.