If the Edmonton Oilers are serious about adding an offensive defender this summer, then they’ll need to have a few options on their list. While everyone wants to talk Justin Faulk or Sami Vatanen, odds are Edmonton won’t be the only team after those players and may strike out on both defenders. Pending UFA Keith Yandle may be a nice alternative for Edmonton should that happen.
Why Is He Out There?:
The Rangers are going to be up against it this summer cap wise. The team has Rick Nash, Derek Stepan, Derick Brassard, Mats Zuccarello, Marc Staal and Dan Girardi under contract at big money for lengthy term. Factor in that they are currently right up against the cap and need to re-sign a handful of key players this summer, and things get complicated.
J.T. Miller, Chris Kreider and Kevin Hayes will all require raises, meaning that to cut costs the Rangers may let pending UFA’s like Yandle and Dan Boyle walk this summer. Young defenders like Dylan McIlrath, Brady Skjei and Calle Andersson are knocking on the door and may just make those higher paid veterans expendable.
Yandle is yet another player that may be crunched out of his current situation due to no reason but money.
What Does He Do Well?:
Keith Yandle is an offensive defender, no other way to put it. His passing skills rank up there as some of the best in the NHL, and his ability on the powerplay is uncanny. Watching him throughout his nine year career, I’ve always been amazed at how easily he gets the puck up to the attacking forwards. His impact in New York, in that regard, has been massive. Imagine him with Hall, McDavid, Eberle, Draisaitl and that crew?
He’s described as an explosive skater, someone who can keep up with a speedy team like Edmonton. Watching him in New York, he thrives with that offensive group and can join in on the rush with ease, it’s fun to watch. He’s also got a strong shot from the point and has, according to scouting reports, “superior” offensive abilities.
This past season, Yandle put up 5-42-47 in 82 games, extremely lethal offensive numbers for a defender. He’s going to be the best powerplay option on the free agent market this summer.
That said, Yandle does struggle against the bigger forwards and it must be noted that he is a very inconsistent defender when it comes to playing in his own zone. Simply put, he is not complete.
Where Will He Play / Where Should He Play?:
If the Oilers signed Keith Yandle, he’d likely play on the second pairing, left hand side. That would force Andrej Sekera to move to the right side, which is his off-side, but it’s doable. Yandle would likely slide in behind Oscar Klefbom, who is more of an all-around defender and who seems better suited for tougher duty.
In reality, Yandle probably would be in exactly the right spot. To my eye, his defensive inconsistency truly takes away from his dynamic offensive ability. I would not be comfortable with him in more than a number three or four role. He’s a second pairing NHL defender, and there is nothing wrong with that.
What Will He Cost?:
At 29 years old, Keith Yandle still has some years left to give at the NHL level. I’d expect him to get a three or four year deal this summer, and I can see him getting an AAV around $4,000,000 – $4,500,000. That is likely an over-payment, but considering the current UFA market on defense, it’s more likely than any kind of value deal. If Yandle is going to come west (from Boston) then he’ll likely be looking for some serious cash.
Closing Argument:
The Oilers need a few different options on the table this summer to fix the defense. If they miss out on Sami Vatanen or Justin Faulk, then Keith Yandle may just be the next best offensive option. In terms of puck movement and powerplay production, Yandle would be a huge upgrade on what Edmonton currently has in that regard.
Should the Oilers add two defenders this off-season, then Yandle would be a very, very appealing option to me. That said, we need to remember that this is not a complete player and that he alone will not fix this unit. He’d help, but the Oilers need more reinforcements than that.
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