{ "blocks": [ { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "The two recent Edmonton Oilers acquisitions on the back end should see game action soon." } }, { "type": "image", "data": { "file": { "url": "https://images.saymedia-content.com/.image/MjExMzQ2MTIyMDI1NzM5NDIz/usatsi_16066286_168401874_lowres.jpg" }, "caption": "James Guillory-Imagn Images - New Oilers Defenders Nearing Their Return" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "EDMONTON -- It's not easy getting up to game speed." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9NcRyVYkE8[/embed]" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Just ask Connor Brown of the Edmonton Oilers. Despite missing most of the 2022-23 season due to an injury and spending an entire summer recovering and training, it still took him most of last season to find his legs." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "While the two newest Oilers defenders should take little time to get going, fans shouldn't expect a change overnight." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Before they took on the Washington Capitals last night, Tom Gazzola reported that John Klingberg and Alec Regula were practicing on the ice with assistant coach Mark Stuart." } }, { "id": "cklwxaqc-kizelpp5", "type": "embed", "data": { "service": "twitter", "source": "https://twitter.com/TomGazzola/status/1881758646230790185", "embed": "https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?id=1881758646230790185", "caption": "" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "The Oilers need these players to get into the lineup immediately. I have previously written about the team's defense's third-pairing issues." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Those issues haven't gone away." } }, { "type": "header", "data": { "text": "Trending Edmonton Oilers Stories", "level": 3 } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Oilers Can't Complete Comeback Despite 'Cheesy' Goal" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Leon Draisaitl Holds Back In Post-Game Interview" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Oilers' Power Forward Attends Trump Inauguration" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "'We're Worried About This Getting to Your Heart and Killing You': Sheldon Souray Talks About an Injury From Fighting Jarome Iginla That Almost Cost Him His Hand" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Oilers' Demotions Make Room For New Players" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Josh Brown filled in admirably on the back end for one game and played 17+ minutes for the first time all year. However, his footspeed is a big issue, and Troy Stecher might be a feisty customer despite his lack of the size that the Oilers' brass covets." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Regula stands 6-foot-4, while Klingberg is 6-foot-2. Both of these defenders have a few inches on Stecher's 5-foot-10 frame." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Klingberg and Regula can both move the puck efficiently. Their skating, big frames, and offensive gifts make them ideal candidates to fill out the Oilers blueline." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "They both likely participate in a conditioning stint with the Bakersfield Condors before they make their Oilers' debuts. I wouldn't expect that to happen for two-to-three weeks." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "The Oilers are making it work while these two get up to game speed. But once one of them is ready to step in, expect a couple of corresponding moves to arrange everything just so." } }, { "type": "image", "data": { "file": { "url": "https://images.saymedia-content.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjEyMTE1NTIzMjcyNDUyMDcy/screen-shot-2025-01-14-at-124407-pm.png" }, "caption": "" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more. Add us to your Google News favorites, and never miss a story." } } ] }