As the beginning of autumn looms, the NHL is awakening from its summer slumber. Slowly, teams are making the final adjustments, the remaining free agent class coming to a head on their fates for the season ahead. Far from alone within the speculation are the Edmonton Oilers, mostly centred around the situation at right defence.
Behind the star talent of Evan Bouchard the Oilers do have two legitimate NHL options in Ty Emberson and Troy Stecher. Though the court of public opinion does not seem to favour either, there are ways to spin positive outlooks for both. Stecher might have eased minds were he not injured through last season’s playoffs. Emberson was stuck on an overmatched San Jose Sharks, but has played a big role for Coach Kris Knoblauch in the past. Phil Kemp and Josh Brown might be able to hold up in a handful of NHL games on an emergency basis as well.
The case remains, aspiring for one win farther than last season will leave a more emphatic answer at the position. Through a myriad of obscuring factors, availability, affordability, the agency of other teams, and the fog of time shroud the future. Let’s skim through some of the expected options remaining as news of PTOs around the league come into fruition.
Available UFAs
The most straightforward solution, there might be some value left unsigned. The market is picked over, and shrinking by the day. While bringing in a player early and getting an in person view at their fit on the Oilers are valuable, it is worth weighing how much better these options would be than a waiver claim near the start of the season.
Right shots:
Schultz, Shattenkirk, and D’Angelo are similar in that they can move the puck, and would appear to provide a known value in an NHL role. Shattenkirk might be the best bet, though Schultz’s history with the Oilers might help or harm their cause. DeAngelo comes with more than enough baggage to hope against, especially for those in search of rehabilitating their reputations, and is likely headed to the KHL.
There are other, less proven or projectable players, though their status without a chair as the music stops speaks to the faintness of those hopes. Gustav Lindstrom bounced around the waiver wire after finally working his way into the Detroit Red Wings lineup. Through it all Lindstrom held his own on rebuilding teams. His game is understated, but he is most definitely a player worth considering given his age and his play.
Marcus Bjork is another player in his mid-20s with some NHL experience. Another defenceman stuck trying to prove his worth on overmatched teams, Bjork should be considered, and does look the part. Brady Keeper is a bit older, and likely in the category that Josh Brown is. Still, any team lacking a player who can bring stability to the AHL lineup should consider Keeper.
Weak side options:
While Giordano has been the NHL’s oldest player in each of the last two seasons, he has still played quite well wherever he has been asked. This includes on his weak side, the right side. Giordano still thinks the game well, can contribute on both sides of the puck, but does has to continue simplifying his game with age. If Giordano can repeat his efforts of last season, he is among the best options for the Oilers.
Dermott has a lot of experience on his weak side as well, but not nearly the history of effectiveness as Giordano. In the past two seasons Giordano has been the better player, but Dermott is younger. This could be the year that changes, and Dermott is at least a versatile player.
Long shots:
- Filip Johansson
- Brady Lyle
- Axel Rindell
- Jordan Gross
- Leon Gawanke
These players are likely not on the radar as upgrades to the Oilers NHL blueline. Still, a gamble on a more defensive option like Johansson or a more offensive option like Gawanke might be appropriate.
Available RFAs
Two notable right shot RFAs remained unsigned. Soderstrom of the Utah Hockey Club might be pushed out, now without a contract behind Sean Durzi, John Marino, and former Bakersfield Condor Michael Kesselring. Meanwhile, Thompson finds himself stuck outside the Ottawa Senators lineup. Both were well regarded prospects at certain points, and might well benefit from a change of scenery.
Still, neither quite fit what the Oilers would call a definitive upgrade in the present. Further still, they will cost something to acquire, though perhaps not as much as they might have in the past. If the Oilers are looking to avenge their offer sheet losses there will be better times to do so.
Potential trade options
Especially if any cap space opens due to injury, perhaps starting with Evander Kane, the Oilers might be able to add some salary. Still, we should be cautious of expecting much flexibility, not only once the injured players return but also going forward. Regardless, bigger names have been speculated on, and cap space has been conjured before.
To an extent, even players that are or might be placed on waivers must be traded for. This does create a pressure point, and it will be interesting to see which players are moved on this basis.
Right shots:
- Rasmus Andersson
- David Savard
- Henri Jokiharju
- Jacob Bryson
- William Borgen
- Cale Fleury
- Dante Fabbro
- Nils Lundkvist
- Conor Timmins
- Kaedan Korczak
- Johnathan Kovacevic
- Simon Lundmark
The aspirational candidate is Andersson, a two way presence in his prime years who plays with an edge. Andersson can contribute on both special teams, and carries a fairly reasonable cap hit. He is rumoured to be on the move soon as the Calgary Flames look to the future, and his two years remaining are worth planning around if possible. This is purely a question of value, namely if the Oilers even have enough to entice the Flames, let alone outbid the rest of the league.
One of the most obvious names on this list, David Savard is exactly the hulking defensive presence, hardened with experience that the Oilers lack on the right side. With Cody Ceci and Vincent Desharnais gone, the Oilers most lack a right handed option on the top penalty killing unit. Still, the Montreal Canadiens might be reaching a point in their rebuild where an ideal partner for Lane Hutson, as in Savard, is more beneficial than whatever draft assets he might bring in return.
Will Borgen is likely a player the Seattle Kraken want to keep long term, but Oilers fans remain intrigued. Fleury, behind him on the depth chart, is likely the more available. Fabbro has been a consistent feature of Oilers rumours for some time, not too dissimilar from what Cody Ceci brought last season. Lundkvist is more of a puck moving option, though has found himself outside the Dallas Stars circle of trust more often than not.
An interesting pressure point will be with the Buffalo Sabres who might have to choose between right shot defencemen. With Connor Clifton brought in, one of Jokiharju or Bryson might be stuck outside the main group. Jokiharju was the more heralded as the prospect, and does have the flashier puck skills of the two, yet losing Bryson might be the coup that Sabres fans rue most. The same might be said for the Toronto Maple Leafs, where the oft-injured but always effective Conor Timmins appears caught in no man’s land. Kovacevic was just acquired by the New Jersey Devils, but is stuck at least fourth on the depth chart at full health.
Korczak is a really intriguing option, a younger player no longer waiver exempt stuck outside of the main group for the Vegas Golden Knights. If the Knights are placing him on waivers, there should be lots of teams looking to acquire his services, perhaps sparking some bidding. The Knights might hope he passes through unclaimed, as he has not had much chance to prove himself. Lundmark has also been stuck in the AHL, and like Korczak is more of a defensive option. His results have not been as impressive, but the profile is similar if the Oilers want to be on a change of scenery sparking a younger player.
Left shots:
To varying extents these defencemen have played their weak sides, but the Oilers could look to add a left shot regardless. Pettersson is a positionally sound defender with a quiet effectiveness. Fowler is more of a puck mover, and is no longer the player he was when the Anaheim Ducks were last relevant. With two years left on his deal and a $6.5M cap hit, the concept of acquiring him is convoluted, let alone how much he can still contribute. The Ducks are riding close to the cap floor, so moving Fowler’s salary might not make sense. A lifelong Duck, Fowler might be worth more to a team looking to build an identity around its young core.
Martinez might be closer to the Giordano age bracket, but is at least a pending UFA. Still, having just signed with the Chicago Blackhawks, Martinez is no guarantee to move either.
Another member of the Hockey Club might shake loose cone the waiver crunch, and Kolyachonok is a player that should be on the Oilers radar. Size and skating are strengths, though combined with his defensive sensibilities Kolyachonok has looked quite effective in brief stints in the NHL. Kolyachonok is a great penalty killer and can control gaps, and is both worthy of being denied a shot in an NHL top six.
What should the Oilers do?
Clearly there some options still available to the Oilers, and many more to speculate on in the coming months. For now, especially considering the potential that Darnell Nurse is injured to start the year, adding Giordano to a PTO and keeping options open for the waiver crunch are necessities, and big game hunting might only be an option later in the season.
Gustav Lindstrom should be considered in addition to Giordano, and he should at least compete with Stecher and Emberson for minutes. Timmins, Korczak, and Kolyachonok are possible discount waiver victims that would probably improve the defence. It might be too much, or a single potential plan worth having, but these are the stones that the Oilers should be turning over.
Photo by Brett Holmes/Icon Sportswire
