Throughout the last few seasons, Edmonton’s weakest point was the defense. There really isn’t much of a debate on that point, the group was arguably the worst in the NHL in both 2013-14 and 2014-15. This past summer the Oilers added a veteran piece but stayed pat outside of that. Personally, I didn’t think it was enough and again thought we would be talking about how the defense is a major weak point on this roster.
Through 24 games, I’ve stepped back from that stance. Is Edmonton’s current defensive situation ideal? No, not even close actually. It still isn’t good enough to propel this team into the playoffs, but it’s clearly better than years past and FINALLY has a direction to it. The current defensive group may be young, but it’s also filled with potential and showing some real progress.
The Core Young Group:
Darnell Nurse has come as advertised to Edmonton, seriously. He’s a quick defender who is strong in his positioning at a young age, that’s pretty impressive. Add a physical element, some offensive flare and a lot of speed and you get a really dynamic young defender. I’m not sure when it will happen, but I believe that Darnell Nurse will be a top-pairing defender in the NHL. You can see that in flashes every night.
Oscar Klefbom is settling in now too, and you can see him building on last year’s breakout season. He’s calm and moves the puck so well, plus he’s strong in his positioning too. Does he have the same ceiling as Nurse? I don’t think so, but Klefbom is a shoe-in to be a top-four NHL defender, in fact I already think he is there.
The most impressive part thus far? Both of these guys have taken on major roles and held their ground. Klefbom and Mark Fayne have formed quite a solid pairing that is taking on tough opposition and getting by, while Nurse and Andrej Sekera have formed a solid pairing that has gotten a slight push but is still handling large minutes.
Let’s also not forget about the young Brandon Davidson. I don’t see him as a top-four option moving forward, but he’s clearly emerged as a player at the NHL level and is easily one of the six best defenders on this team. Davidson is the kind of player who could provide steady third pairing play on a fair contract for years to come in Edmonton.
Two top-four defenders and a number five guy all being homegrown would be a massive victory for Edmonton. All three of these players are playing big roles currently and will only improve as time goes on, hell folks, we’ve seen them improve already in 24 games this year.
The Long Term Veteran:
Did Andrej Sekera struggle in his first ten games as an Oiler? Absolutely, he was not good at the start of the season for this club. That said, over the last 13 games, Sekera has emerged as the player we thought he was. Steady in the top-four and exceptional at moving the puck, exactly what Edmonton needs in the lineup.
Sekera isn’t a number one defender in the NHL, but he’s a bonafide top-four option and in the prime of his career, plenty of miles left too on this player. His contract will keep him in Edmonton for the best years of his career and he promises to be an impactful player. I was excited back on July 1st but I’m even more excited after see him adjust in Edmonton. I like this player a lot.
The Outlook:
The Edmonton Oilers have something brewing on defense, I truly believe that. Darnell Nurse and Oscar Klefbom both have extremely high ceilings and have already taken on large roles. They are also excelling in those roles in early days, a tremendous sign. Andrej Sekera is in it for the long haul too, giving the Oilers three options for their top-four for the next five years.
Brandon Davidson’s presence on the third pairing gives Edmonton a fourth defender to build with moving forward. Four out of seven defenders, just over half of a competent group, is currently in place. That doesn’t seem like much, but when you figure that all four guys have at least five years of good hockey in front of them, it’s easy to get excited.
This group will allow Todd McLellan a luxury that others before him did not have, continuity on the blueline. If Justin Schultz can emerge as a real option moving forward, all the better.
Edmonton needs to find another top-four option, potentially via trade or free agency this off-season (Dustin Byfuglien or Travis Hamonic would be ideal) while also procuring another bottom-pairing player (David Musil, Griffin Reinhart and Eric Gryba are options internally).
Yes, the Oilers still need a lot on the blueline, top-four guys aren’t easy to come by, but you can finally see a core group on the back-end being built and, more importantly, growing together. There will be more painful nights in 2015-16, but this defensive group has the potential to be a strength for the Edmonton Oilers moving forward.
It’s about time.
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