Just before puckdrop on tonight’s game against the New Jersey Devils, the Edmonton Oilers had other, more pressing matters to announce. The Oilers have acquired defender Ronnie Attard from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for defender Ben Gleason.
The trade is a consequence of the revolving door at right defence thus far this season. It became known that the front office was working the phones looking for an upgrade on defence after Ty Emberson, Troy Stecher, and Travis Dermott all failed to really grab the second pairing role and have been in and out of the lineup.
Gleason was an expendable piece of the Oilers’ depth. He was good and nearly made the team out of training camp twice, but help on the right side was what the team needed more of, which is exactly what Attard provides.
So far, Attard has spent his entire professional career in the Flyers’ organization, playing in 29 games and recording six points in the NHL across three seasons. He has not yet played in the NHL in the 2024–25 season.
Where does Attard fit in the Oilers’ lineup?
As mentioned, there is plenty of room on the right side of the defence for a player to elevate their game and be a fixture alongside Darnell Nurse. Attard provides some of what the team had been lacking.
He is a bigger defender, measured at 6’3″ with strong offensive instincts and a high quality shot from the point. Although his defensive play and physicality could use some work on being more consistent, he has the tools and intelligence to be a solid NHL defender. The aggression he utilizes offensively and in closing gaps are positive signs for his development and training moving forward.
To start, he is likely to join the Bakersfield Condors to continue working on his game. Additionally, he helps the Condors’ roster usage as he clears up a logjam of veterans on the AHL roster. Given the lack of anyone on the NHL roster stepping up and taking on a bigger role in the defensive group, we may see Attard in the NHL sooner rather than later.
