Roster Competition Still on For Oilers' Defensemen

The Edmonton Oilers top-six defense are set - but can a surprise challenger supplant Vincent Desharnais as the #7 defenseman?

With only two more games left in the pre-season the Edmonton Oilers roster is taking shape. Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Evander Kane, Zach Hyman and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins are all a lock for the top six forward group.

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On defense, Darnell Nurse, Evan Bouchard, Cody Ceci, Mattias Ekholm and Brett Kulak are the only locks for the three pairings. That leaves two positions - one in the top six and one as the seventh defender. Philip Broberg has shown well this pre-season and appears to be ready to play the right side with Ekholm.

Vincent Desharnais is looking to build on his 36 game rookie season in 2022-23. He only averaged 13:33 across those games - primarily as the team's seventh defender. He'll likely serve a similar role this year, albeit with the hope for more minutes.

Ben Gleason has snuck into the conversation for the Oilers seventh defender for the 2023-24 season. Over the last two pre-season games he has displayed a calm, efficient game. Against the Kraken he was rewarded with 23:53 in ice time - the most on the team. Conversely, Desharnais played for 16:51.

While Desharnais being right-handed might give him an edge in securing a seventh defender position on the roster. Gleason is left handed, which isn't a detriment - it's just a simple difference between the two players. The battle for the blue line has begun.

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