The Oilers have undoubtedly improved defensively after a slow start to the 2024-25 season, contributing significantly to 13 wins in the past 17 games. However, the debate continues about the need to reinforce the rearguard in Edmonton.
On the positive side heading into Saturday's action, the Oilers have allowed the fifth-fewest shots at goal in the NHL, and rank 11th-best for average goals allowed per game. However, they also rank a lowly 23rd in penalty kill efficiency and tied-20th in best team save percentage.
Talent-wise, the Oilers are set defensively, but this is compromised by a collective lack of consistency team-wide. The point being, it doesn't matter how good your potential is, if you are unable to avoid playing erratically.
With this in mind, it stands to the reason that the Oilers are still looking to bring in a quality defenceman -- preferably of the top-four pairing variety --- to have the team better prepared come playoff time. As a result, they have been linked to a variety of blue line targets, including the likes of David Savard, Marcus Pettersson and Ivan Provorov.
A two-time Stanley Cup champion
Along these lines, we now have another reported target for the Oilers, in the form of Anaheim Ducks blue liner Brian Dumounlin. His name was mentioned on Friday in an article by The Fourth Period, which was connected to an appearance the previous day by NHL Insider David Pagnotta on SiriusXM NHL Network Radio.
Ironically enough, the Oilers got an up-close look at Dumounlin on Friday night, with the Ducks in town for a game between the two sides. The visitors ultimately lost 3-2, but individually speaking he had a -1 rating and was second among all Anaheim skaters with 23:18 of ice time.
The 33-year-old certainly has the type of experience to help the Oilers, including leadership and winning two Stanley Cups as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins. He's big, strong, mobile and durable, with him more than capable of logging big minutes as and when required.
Critics might point to Dumounlin's limited offensive production with just 163 points in 664 career games, including his career high of 25 points in 2022-23. In fairness though, it shouldn't really matter in a team as offensively gifted as the Oilers.
Dumounlin is all about shutting opponents down
In any event, at the end of the day the 2009 second round draft pick would be coming in because of his defence and work-ethic, evidenced by career totals of 956 blocks and 871 hits. In addition, he does have a +97 rating at the time of writing, which alludes to how productive the team is when he's on the ice.
Contract-wise, Dumounlin would effectively just be a rental, with him set to become an unrestricted free agent following this season. Financially speaking, the Oilers would have to pay him the balance of his $3.15 million cap hit for the remainder of the 2024-25 campaign.
One thing which should be noted, whether it be in respect of Dumounlin specifically or any blue line target in general, is that the Oilers are not in a rush per se. At least not according to Pagnotta, who said the team wants to maximise their potential cap space ahead of the Mar. 7 trade deadline.
As per PuckPedia, as things stand the Oiler have just over $1.412 million of cap space, with a projected amount of nearly $3.497 million at the trade deadline. However, there is another potential reason why the team is holding off as long as possible.
As we've previously written, the Oilers are also contemplating what to do with Evander Kane, i.e. when he will be ready to come off long-term injured reserve and play again. The team can theoretically use his $5.125 million of cap space and not have to account for any of it, if Kane does not return to action until the playoffs.
Overall, there is still plenty for the Oilers to consider in respect of their potential defenceman targets/options. As for Dumounlin specifically, our thinking is that him being a left-hand shot might ultimately put him out of the running to end up in Edmonton, but you never know for certain.