Analyst makes shocking claim on Edmonton Oilers defense after trade deadline

He felt that the game against the Utah hockey club showed that the Oilers defence was excellent on exit of the zone and passing the puck and their skating.

This season has been filled with tests an adversity for the Oilers as the team had some inconsistent performances over the past number of months. One area of the team that's always gone under the microscope has been their defence core.

After looking a little thin through most of the season, general manager Stan Bowman went out and picked up John Klingberg as an unrestricted free agent after he announced he was returning to the NHL, and making a trade with the San Jose
Sharks near the trade deadline by picking up Jake Walman.

Despite Klingberg not making the lineup currently, the Oilers defensive pairings have improved with Walman's addition and Troy Stecher along with Brett Kulak playing well as a pairing.

It's been noted several times that the best addition that the Oilers did with their organization was the return of Paul Coffey as assistant coach. Over the past couple of seasons, his teachings and the way he had played hockey have shown greatly in the improvement of the Oilers defense.

If what Curlock has seen continues with their defence core, it will give relief to their goaltending in Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard while giving the Oilers a better chance to win as a team that has now won three games in a row after routing the
Utah Hockey Club last evening 7-1.

It's important that the Oilers finished strong in their last fourteen games of the season as the team is only now two points behind the Vegas Golden Knights for sole possession of the Pacific division.

If the Oilers wish to go far in the playoffs, home ice advantage would always go a long way to help with travel and give their team a better opportunity.