How the Oilers can improve their defense core

The Edmonton Oilers have appeared to recover from another slow start, particularly after a three-game winning streak. They’re still only in a wild card spot with a 13-9-2 record, but there’s no doubt that they’ll find themselves in the playoffs.

But it’s also quite clear that they need another defenseman, particularly for their top four. Evan Bouchard and Mattias Ekholm have been excellent as their top pair, and Darnell Nurse has been playing well lately, but they haven’t quite found the right defense partner for him.

Jason Gregor joined Daily Faceoff Live for their All 32 segment to talk about who the Oilers could potentially add this season, and how much it might cost them.

Jason Gregor: I think everybody knows they’re gonna upgrade their second-pair right defense, it’s just a matter of when. I probably don’t see it until closer to the trade deadline, to be honest. And we’ll see, look at the standings right now, there’s lots of teams I think who might get themselves convinced that they can make the playoffs and then some markets, that’ll be it. Now what happens if the Buffalo Sabres fall out, do they look to potentially move a defenseman?

There’s always Rasmus Andersson, although I think the odds of him ever coming to Edmonton are pretty much zero, you’re not going to have the Calgary Flames ownership trade him there and then watching him potentially hoist the Cup in Edmonton. So I just don’t think Andersson’s there, but his name is out there.

I’ve seen Rasmus Ristolainen’s name a bit and I’m kind of torn on him. He checks a lot of boxes, and then I’m concerned about his consistency with his decision-making. But the way Darnell Nurse is playing right now, you just need a solid second-pair guy, because Nurse could be the one who carries the pair He’s always been a good productive player at even strength and, actually even short-handed, but when he plays within himself then he’s a really good player. And they have their top pair, so I really think they need one guy.

Now, I wonder if [the Oilers] even look to add a seventh defenseman in case of injury, because we all know that to go deep in the playoffs, usually you’re going with seven or eight. Troy Stetcher is a highly, highly competitive player, but I don’t know if [the Oilers] for sure want him as their number seven in case of injury in the playoffs.

So I could see them add a top four guy, but then also maybe adding some size because Dermott and Stetcher are both pretty small.

Colby Cohen: What would you be willing to give up for a top 4 guy? Because they don’t come cheap. They’re hard to find. Righties are especially hard to find. Who or what would you be willing to part with?

Jason Gregor: Well, it all depends on how much term he has left. If you can find someone like Ekholm (not saying Ekholm the player, but Ekholm the term), and you can get him for this run and one or two other runs and you know what his cap hit is, you know what? I’d give up a first all day long, I don’t even think twice about doing that.

Now I know they gave up their first already to get Sam O’Reilly [in the 2024 draft], but you can give up another first. I’d even look at a guy like Beau Akey who just got named to the world junior team. Edmonton’s in win-now mode, and if a guy has term, then I’m definitely willing to do more.

If it’s only a rental, then you probably could do a second round pick or something like that. You’ll have to send somebody else to make the money work, but if I’m Edmonton and I think their team’s quite good, and then the team’s quite good, I don’t really think they worry about a guy down the road too often. They’re all in here at the next few trade deadlines, so you’re giving up first rounders and if that means you’re giving up even a Beau Akey, you’ve got to do that.

You can watch the full episode here…