Oilers logjam and emerging player may prompt defence trade before next season
Photo credit: Imagn Images
The Edmonton Oilers are entering next season with an incredibly deep blue line, and while that may be an asset in the postseason, it's a logjam that could prompt a move in training camp.
The Oilers will be bringing back all of their defenceman from last season, aside from John Klingberg. However, they've still got 4 NHL quality defenceman battling for essentially 1 roster spot.
Oilers face logjam of talent on blueline that may prompt a move in training camp
Next season, the Oilers will be seeing Ty Emberson, Troy Stecher, Alec Regula, and Atro Leppanen battle for a roster spot in training camp. The first three all have NHL experience, and Leppanen is a European signing on a 1 year, 2-way contract.
The most likely player to be cut is Leppanen, who's an interesting story coming out of Finland. Leppanen set an all time record for defenceman scoring in Finland's top league with 63 points in 60 games.
He's had a monstrous rise to North American pro hockey after playing in division 2 Finland - a very low ranked league - just three years ago. Now 26 years old, he's a slick skater and passer that may want a path to the NHL. If he doesn't make the Oilers, there's a chance he heads to another team or back to Europe.
The Edmonton Oilers claimed Alec Regula on waivers last year, and GM Stan Bowman clearly believes in him from their shared time in Chicago. He's played 22 NHL games, and could get a much longer look now in his age 24 season. Analyst Kurt Leavins believes he could see an increased role.
I think a dark horse player worth watching for the Edmonton Oilers this season is D-man Alec Regula.
His 6'4 frame, right shot, hockey sense and offensive upside could challenge for a spot.
- Kurt Leavins
His 6'4 frame, right shot, hockey sense and offensive upside could challenge for a spot.
- Kurt Leavins
That leaves the two players who shared the most time last season, Ty Emberson and Troy Stecher. Emberson faded in the playoffs early on, and became a consistent scratch for the journeyman Stecher.
For now, Stecher and Emberson remain the two best NHL options for the Oilers, but they've got two depth options waiting in the wings ready to take their jobs. Keeping depth is good for injury insurance early in the year, but a decision will come to a head eventually.
My take is that Regula could be the 3rd pairing right shot defenceman by the time the playoffs roll around. The Oilers will like his size and reach on the third pair, and if he can at least match the play of his peers, his size will give him the edge for the lineup.
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 20 | 512 ANSWERS Oilers logjam and emerging player may prompt defence trade before next season Who do you think will be the Oilers 6th defenceman? | ||
| Emberson | 116 | 22.7 % |
| Stecher | 247 | 48.2 % |
| Regula | 53 | 10.4 % |
| Someone else | 96 | 18.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
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