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4 Oilers players set to step up in 2023-24

By Paul Taylor

Apr 29, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Edmonton Oilers head coach Jay Woodcroft and the bench celebrate the victory against the Los Angeles Kings in game six of the first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 29, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Edmonton Oilers head coach Jay Woodcroft and the bench celebrate the victory against the Los Angeles Kings in game six of the first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Edmonton Oilers Mattias Ekholm
EDMONTON, AB – APRIL 25: Mattias Ekholm #14 of the Edmonton Oilers skates against the Los Angeles Kings during the third period in Game Five of the First Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on April 25, 2023, in Edmonton, Canada. (Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images) /

Mattias Ekholm

Admittedly, including Mattias Ekholm has to come with a bit of a qualifier. After all, he’s already essentially stepped up for the Oilers.

More specifically, after Ekholm arrived in a trade from the Predators. He proved to have an immediate positive impact on the blue-line, which had previously received plenty of justified criticism.

The Swedish native had a significant influence on Evan Bouchard in particular. He improved the youngster’s confidence, which in turn led to better performances.

Interestingly, Ekholm also saw the best offensive production of his 12 years in the NHL, with the Oilers. Consider that his four goals, 10 assists, 14 overall points and 11.1 shooting percentage in 21 games would have all translated to career-highs over the course of a 82-game season. (He also had a single-season best of a +28 plus/minus, with this total purely compiled in Edmonton after his trade.)

With all this said (written), it’s now about the 33-year-old producing this kind of consistency over an entire campaign in Edmonton. He’s going to be even more important than before, for an Oilers team with genuine Stanley Cup hopes.

In this respect, all Ekholm has to do is to carry on doing what he’s done throughout his time in the NHL. In others words, continue to be hard-working, durable and consistent.

As already alluded to, the 2009 fourth round draft pick must also continue to mentor the younger players on the team, specifically the blue line. This will be of vital importance, given the Oilers are implementing a tweaked defensive strategy, while also experimenting with different pairings.

About the only concern — if you can call it that — is Ekholm has been unavailable during the preseason, due to a hip flexor injury. However, all indications are he will be back for the home opener versus the Canucks at the latest.

Overall, the Oilers’ biggest obstacle to success this season, is getting the defence to play to a higher level and compliment the NHL’s best offence. This is what makes Ekholm so important, and we fully expect him to step up and meet the challenge head-on.

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