The Edmonton Oilers Do Not Need Another Offensive Defenseman
Over the last half a year or so the Edmonton Oilers have been rumored to be looking at trading for Jakob Chychrun from the Arizona Coyotes. They have also recently been talked about trading for Erik Karlsson for San Jose.
I personally understand why you would look at acquiring both of these players as they are both top level offensive defenseman. The main issue I see is the Edmonton Oilers need to improve their team in the areas in which they are weak. Offensive defenseman is not an area of weakness for the Edmonton Oilers.
The Edmonton Oilers don’t need help putting the puck in the other teams net, they need help keeping it out of their own net. The Edmonton Oilers are currently 5th in goals scored which shows you they don’t need help offensively.
On the flip side of that they are 8th in goals allowed. Their overall goal differential is only +2. That includes the 8-2 win against the Coyotes on Wednesday. This is an area where the Oilers need to improve on. They need to stop the other teams from scoring and be harder to play against in their end.
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It Isn’t Just The Edmonton Oilers Defense
The goals against isn’t strictly on the defenseman. Jack Campbell has really struggled so far this year between the pipes. Averaging 4.12 goals against is really not going to help your team in the goal differential column.
Those numbers is why Stuart Skinner has become the Edmonton Oilers go to goalie for the last while. Skinner is averaging a goals against of 2.86. That is almost two whole goals less a game. The problem with Skinner is this is his first full season in the NHL. Can he maintain those numbers long term?
The more he starts games the less time he gets to work with the goalie coaches and improve his game. He is still a young goalie and while his game is good right now, he is still developing. If he can still improve with more practice time that is only going to benefit the Edmonton Oilers long term.
A Shutdown Player Is What The Oilers Need
I think that is time that we stop talking about trading for Erik Karlsson or Jakob Chychrun and start looking at a shutdown dman. The Edmonton Oilers need a player that you can trust out on the ice late in games.
Right now there isn’t really a tough defenseman on the Edmonton Oilers that an opposing player would be afraid of playing against. Nurse can be tough and gritty, but that is not his main style of play.
I think it is time for Ken Holland to address this issue. He needs to look at some bottom dwelling teams and find a player that fits this role. Unfortunately the season is still pretty young and lots of teams still think they have a chance to make the playoffs, so they may not want to trade a good player yet.
One player I think the Edmonton Oilers should take a look at is Joel Edmundson from the Montreal Canadiens. The Canadiens aren’t going to be a playoff team, so they will likely be sellers here shortly.
Edmonton Oilers fans saw firsthand the other night what Edmundson can do as he took a run at Hyman. As much as that was a bit of a cheap play, that is they type of play no one on the Edmonton Oilers would do. In the playoffs there is lots of little cheap plays like that.
Like I mentioned before, if the Edmonton Oilers were to acquire either Chychrun or Karlsson I wouldn’t be that upset. It is just in my opinion the Oilers have bigger need to fill than that. With the limit cap space they have they need to be smart on what/who they bring in.