Niemelainen a Breath of Fresh Air on Oilers’ Back-End

Markus Niemelainen has been the toughness the Edmonton Oilers have been missing for quite some time. The Finnish defender has only played 15 NHL games, but he has been a subtle game-changer thus far.

Niemelainen was drafted in the 3rd round, 63rd overall, back in 2016 and made his debut earlier this season. Standing at 6’6″, he’s a big guy who has added some needed grittiness to the team.

First called up from December 1st to the 14th, and he has been with the club since February 11th due to injuries to veterans Duncan Keith and Kris Russell.

Niemelainen has the ability to throw open ice hits and punish opposing players attempting to enter the Oilers’ zone. An underrated skill that the Oilers have been missing a defenseman.

His physical play is a nice change to the lineup, but sometimes, he can go over the edge. He was fined for a high cross-check to Kristian Vesalainen of the Winnipeg Jets on February 19th.

Finding that fine line between solid physical play and going over that edge is the next step in developing Niemelainen’s game. The defender looks more confident and comfortable every game under familiar coaching in Jay Woodcroft and Dave Manson.

Of course, he’s made his mistakes as well. Most recently, letting the much smaller Brayden Point get inside position to score a goal made the game 3-1 for the Tampa Bay Lightning. Either than minor mistakes here and there like that, Niemelainen has proven he can play in the NHL.

He’s young and will make mistakes, but he’s a stay-at-home guy who is surprisingly a smooth and quick skater. A type of player that Ken Holland would and may still will be looking to acquire at this year’s trade deadline.

In Saturday’s 4-3 win over the Florida Panthers, Niemelainen recorded his first NHL point with an assist on Derek Ryan‘s 2-2 tying goal.

What should happen when the Oilers’ blue line is healthy?

Even when both Keith and Russell return from injury, it would be nice to see the youngster keep his spot in the Oilers’ lineup. He brings a grittiness the team has been missing and a quality that should not go overlooked.

Edmonton has been too soft and easy to play against for long enough. Markus makes opposing players think twice when crossing the blue line or crashing the Oilers’ crease when he’s on the ice.