Much has been written about the Edmonton Oilers and their current defensive situation. The club added Adam Larsson via trade in June and will be getting Oscar Klefbom back healthy (presumably) for the upcoming season. That alone should make the Oilers a more competitive hockey club.
Earlier this week, Todd McLellan talked about the subject and really played up the impending return of Klefbom, who was Edmonton’s top defensive player until his injury in December.
Really interesting quote from McLellan here: pic.twitter.com/E8XykWOKvN
— Travis Yost (@travisyost) July 7, 2016
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The Oilers clearly think that their addition and a return to health for Klefbom makes them a better hockey team. In one sense, they are completely right. Klefbom and Larsson make Edmonton’s defensive group a more respectable one than the ragtag unit that finished last season.
Is this group good enough to push Edmonton to the postseason? That’s the million dollar question that fans and media alike are asking themselves right now.
The Current Group:
The Oilers are slated to enter next season with three top-four defenders on the roster. Adam Larsson, Oscar Klefbom and Andrej Sekera have all, to varying degrees, handled roles in the top-four with success before. Sekera has the longest track record, while Larsson spent last season on New Jersey’s top pairing with Andy Greene.
All three of these players are strong defenders with the ability to move the puck up ice. Klefbom and Larsson have (albeit brief) history playing a tough minutes role. They seems like ideal partners for each other on the top pairing.
Sekera, meanwhile, has a nice offensive touch to his game in terms of puck movement and knowing what to do in the offensive zone. His boxcars last season were underwhelming, but Sekera is a very useful defender in the offensive zone.
The team also has Mark Fayne, who played very well in a shutdown role for the team after a brief AHL stint. According to TSN’s Ryan Rishaug, Fayne has been working exceptionally hard this off-season and plans on coming to camp ready to pick up where he left off. Fayne could serve as a useful PK’er and stay-at-home option for the coming season.
Acc. to Peter Fish, agent for Mark Fayne, “He’s coming back in the best shape of his life.” This could be factor in Oiler decisions on RS D
— Ryan Rishaug (@TSNRyanRishaug) July 1, 2016
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Brandon Davidson was the breakout player of 2015-16 for the Oilers, emerging as a solid all-around defender who was comfortably in the team’s top-four by the end of the season. He’s likely best suited for a number five spot this season, but Davidson is a young and developing player who has emerged as a real NHL talent. He’s strong defensively and can move the puck well. Not to mention, he’s on a value contract.
Darnell Nurse also made the jump to the NHL this past season, but with less success than Davidson. Nurse has some great tools, but he’s still developing as a player and might be best suited to start the season in the AHL playing a premiere role. That said, Todd McLellan likes the player so he’ll probably be on the opening night roster.
Bubbling Under:
The Oilers have a few defenders knocking on the door for NHL employment. Jordan Oesterle showed really well in a stretch last year as a mobile puck mover who has become more responsible in his own end. He is, in my mind, very close to being a full-time NHL’er.
Griffin Reinhart is also very close, but his bonuses might keep him out of the NHL picture due to cap issues. He had a bit of a disappointing 2015-16 season, but had a strong finish and got better as the year wore on to my eye.
Lastly, David Musil and Dillon Simpson could see time in Edmonton this season. Musil was arguably Bakersfield’s best defender last season, while Simpson keeps shooting up the depth chart as a smart, all-around player.
Oesterle is likely the best fit for Edmonton’s 2016-17 roster because he fills a hole (mobile puck mover) and he can help on the powerplay. The Oilers, as we know, are looking for a PP QB.
What’s Lacking?:
Peter Chiarelli has said it himself, the Oilers are lacking a powerplay quarterback, a defender who can both move the puck at five-on-five and who can man the point and run a powerplay unit. The Oilers, according to Ryan Rishaug, have their sights firmly set on Tyson Barrie of the Colorado Avalanche, but there are other options.
I touched on James Wisniewski earlier this week, and we know that Cam Fowler and Kevin Shattenkirk are both being dangled by their respective teams.
The Oilers, at this point, seem content with their group outside of that elusive offensive defender who can run a powerplay unit.
Final Thoughts:
The Edmonton Oilers defensive group, as currently constructed, is a much better unit than last year. Even with the lone addition of Larsson, the team should see improvement from the defense. Add in Klefbom’s health and the (presumed) improvement of Nurse (If he in fact starts in the NHL) and you have at least a respectable defensive group.
This group is not complete, however. The Oilers are still short a top-four defender and still short someone who can run a powerplay. If the team can add, for example, Tyson Barrie, they should be adequate for the upcoming season.
Peter Chiarelli has the Oilers one piece away on defense from being a respectable and competitive hockey team. That, quite frankly, is an accomplishment.
So, is this defensive group good enough? Personally, I think it is pretty damn close. If the Oilers can add that missing piece, the answer will without doubt be yes.
As of now, here is how I envision the blue line going into next season:
Oscar Klefbom – Adam Larsson
Andrej Sekera – Tyson Barrie/James Wisniewski/Mark Fayne
Brandon Davidson – Darnell Nurse/Mark Fayne
Jordan Oesterle/Eric Gryba/Andrew Ference
If the Oil can put Fayne with Davidson and slide Barrie into the second pairing…..we’re cooking with fire folks.
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