According to a hockey insider, the Edmonton Oilers are looking at several different options to add to their defense.
According to a hockey insider, the Edmonton Oilers are looking at several different options to add to their defense.
EDMONTON -- There aren't a lot of free agent defensemen available.
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This could be why the Edmonton Oilers haven't handed out another free agent contract to a defenseman since early July. That being said, according to a few different insiders, they are still looking to add to their blue line.
The latest to chime in on this has been Frank Seravalli.
He reported on Twitter yesterday that, "Oilers are perusing the market for right-shot D, including Justin Schultz, Tyson Barrie and Kevin Shattenkirk, among others."
This report came out after Bob Stauffer earlier in the week mentioned that the Oilers could be looking for a "puck-moving right-shot defender."
If the Oilers bring in one of these three defenders on a PTO, there is no harm in that. Adding players on PTO's helps foster deeper competition. This could create an environment where a younger player surprises everyone and earns a spot out of training camp.
The biggest issue with the three players mentioned is their age. Barrie is 33-years-old, Schultz is 34 and Shattenkirk is 35. However, because of their age they could be signed to cheaper contracts. The Oilers desperately need veteran players who are on inexpensive deals.
One Surprising Oilers PTO Candidate
Shattenkirk collected 24 points in 61 NHL games while playing 15:47 a night. He is a great secondary power play option as he produced 11 points with the man advantage last season. He also has great fancy stats. He was first amongst all Boston Bruins defenders with a dangerous fenwick for percentage (DFF%) of 54.1% across all levels of competition.
Schultz played the most of these three last year, dressing for 70 games. He produced 26 points (10 on the power play) while averaging 16:28 of ice time per game. He was second among all Seattle Kraken defenders (who played over 30 games) with an overall DFF% of 52.
Barrie on the other hand, only played 41 games. In those games he gathered 15 points while playing 18:19 a night. Six of those 15 points were generated on the power play. Of the three defenders, he has the worst DFF%. With a DFF% of 43.9, Barrie ranked last on the Nashville Predators blue line.
The Oilers aren't looking to add someone on a PTO who is dynamite against elite competition. That makes the potential of adding Shattenkirk or Schultz very intriguing.
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Both have gotten good results against middle and low competition and both would be cost-effective additions. They would also be effective second unit power play contributors. This would allow the coaches to give more even strength minutes to Mattias Ekholm and Darnell Nurse, who currently occupy the point positions on the team's second power play unit.
It's going to be interesting to see how many of these players agree to a PTO with the Oilers.
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