A Real Top Pair for the Oilers

Just wait a minute? What did that title say? A real top pairing for the Oilers defense, you must be kidding right.

Well no, I’m not kidding.

This off season the Oilers added Andrej Sekera to the d-core, really to be the anchor of said core. Many of you, myself included, thought great but who else is coming. Who will be the real number one defenseman? Sekera is just a complimentary guy right, right!?!

Todd McLellan Has All The Answers

Since the beginning of training camp we’ve seen Sekera paired up with second year Oiler Mark Fayne, it was something I hadn’t considered really. Fayne had what could be thought of as an off year last season, and many people had him falling down the depth chart not starting the season on MacL’s top d pairing.

Then I got to thinking. (ouch)

Dave remember when you were very happy about Fayne joining the Oilers, remember when you thought he’d be the anchor of this team defensively.

Well yes I do, and then I wondered, why was I so excited for Fayne? Sekera is and has always been a better defender than Fayne has. And then I remembered, FAYNE PLAYED ON THE TOP PAIRING IN NEW JERSEY WITH ANDY GREENE.

That was a very successful NHL top pairing, the two of them were constantly playing against the Eastern conferences best players. Fayne played more minutes against Sidney Crosby than any other defenseman in the NHL when he was with the Devils.

I think Sekera could be Fayne’s new Andy Greene. While its still early the two looked very good together in the split squad game vs Calgary the other night, and I’m willing to bet we’ll be watching them in the line-up on Friday night in Winnipeg vs the Jets and for the remainder of the pre-season. Crazy what happens when you have the personnel to do this and the coaches to actually make proper decisions.

What This Does for The Oilers

Well it give the Oilers a legitimate top pair. (Also, I do understand that it’s just the beginning of pre-season and I’m probably way overly optimistic, but humor me will ya). Probably the most promising thing that this pairing emerging does for the Oil is push others down the depth chart.

Klefbom, who was just signed to a 7 year extension, has only played 77 NHL games. To have him playing 25 minutes a night may lead to him being over exposed. Bad enough it looks like he’s going to play with Justin Schultz.

Darnell Nurse can start the year in Bakersfield and it will be good. As awesome as he is, and as good as he is developing, there is still a lot of chaos to his game. Same can be said for Griffin Reinhart, he’s looked real steady early on in camp, but more development never hurt anyone, just as the Detroit Red Wings.

What Might the Pairs Look Like?

Sekera – Fayne

Klefbom – Schultz

Ference – Gryba

Nikitan

It’s not perfect, and you know that we’ll see one if not both of Nurse and Reinhart called up sooner than later. Either way it sure looks like Sekera and Fayne could be a match made in heaven for this years edition of the Edmonton Oilers.

On a slightly unrelated note…..Here’s a video of Justin Schultz becoming a man!! How sweet is that.



When your D partner gets hit. pic.twitter.com/zYsssM4Ur1

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) September 24, 2015

//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

#OilersRigLive4MS

If you didn’t see it announced on our twitter or facebook pages the other day;

Plans are well underway for the 3rd Annual #OilersRigLive4MS, This year we’ll be hosting the event at the fantastic On The Rocks in downtown Edmonton on February 26th. It promises to be the best one yet, mark your calendars and stay tuned to the site and our social media for more information as we get closer to the event.

Thanks for Reading.