If you have been a fan of the National Hockey League (NHL) and paid any attention to the Edmonton Oilers, the team having a legitimately good defensive core may feel like a two-by-four to the side of the head. This is the same team whose defensive group at one point in the not so distant past boasted names such as; Nikita Nikitin, Mark Fayne, and Andrew Ference logging big minutes for the club.
They have come a long way from having to make mind blowing trades by sending Taylor Hall -- a future Hart Trophy winner -- for a second pairing right-handed defenceman. Some pundits make the controversial claim that this current iteration of the Oilers defensive core is the best in the league.
The Edmonton Oilers have the best projected roster in the NHL by The Athletic
— Golden Era Hockey (@NHLGoldenEra) October 3, 2025
Forward Core rank: 2nd
Defensive Core rank: 1st
Goaltending rank: 27th
Despite the veterans that left this offseason, the Oilers remain favourites according to the analytics #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/De9WejVjLQ
It is hard to argue with the notion, believe in them or not, the blueline runs deep. They have plenty of solid options available even outside of the daily rotation, down with their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors.
Oilers projected defensive pairings
Entering the 2025-26, a fully healthy Oilers blueline should look something like this:
First pair: Ekholm - Bouchard
Second pair: Nurse - Walman
Third pair: Kulak - Emberson
Extras: Regula/Stecher
This is undoubtedly one of the deepest backends in the entire league with a mix of defensive acumen and exhilarating offensive abilities.
Top pair
The Oilers top pairing of Mattias Ekholm and the now $10.5 million man, Evan Bouchard is the Oilers top pairing for a reason. Bouchard is entering this season fresh off a four-year contract he signed in June, paying him $10.5 million per year.
Bouchard is one of the best defencemen in the league, even with his defensive lapses. He is a high end play driver who can score goals and generate chances for his team at an elite rate. He does not get the respect he deserves at times but being named one of the league's top 50 players shows he s getting some recognition.
His counterpart, the ying to his yang, Swedish blueliner Ekholm is a rock solid veteran who is able to offset a lot of the perceived defensive deficiencies that comes with being an elite puck mover. He has been a stabilizing force on the Oilers blueline since his acquisition and looks to build on that legacy, inking a new three-year contract extension at an even lower $4 million cap hit.
Second pair
The second pairing of Darnell Nurse and Jake Walman was put together to end the regular season after the Oilers acquired Walman at the 2025 NHL Trade deadline. They were a lights out grouping and look to pick up where they left off last year.
Nurse has taken a lot of flack from the fanbase and fans around the league as many believe he is not worth his price tag at $9.25 million per season for the next four years. However, him playing alongside a competent top four defender like Walman has shown he is able to drive results. As well, his play this preseason generates real optimism for his play this upcoming season.
Walman was recently signed to a seven-year contract extension that carries a $7 million AAV. He will have the perfect opportunity to prove he is worth that raise, one year after being a cap dump by the Steve Yzerman and the Detroit Red Wings. If his play in his brief time as an Oiler last year is any indication, he will do just fine.
Third pair
The bottom pair could feature a few different looks but going with the third pairing to end last year, Brett Kulak and Ty Emberson seems like the most fitting.
Brett Kulak is entering the 2025-26 season in the final year of his four-year $2.75 million AAV contract. The hometown player has been a steady addition since being acquired by the Oilers, possessing good two-way abilities. His versatile style of play makes him a valuable player for the club and allows him to fit on different pairings and in different configurations.
Emberson is a 25 year old right-shot defender who has been able to fit in well as the No. 6 defenceman on the Oilers backend. His physical shutdown style gives him a unique look amongst the club's defensive core. He was acquired last summer in the Cody Ceci cap dump trade and has been a welcomed addition to the blueline, earning a two-year extension for his play last season.
Depth defencemen
The Oilers are set tot start the season with depth defenders Alec Regula and Troy Stecher on the roster. Both bring value as right-handed blueliners. When the Oilers get fully healthy, both players are at risk of hitting the waiver wire.
Regula missed the entirety of the 2024-25 due to an injury, being claimed off waivers by the Oilers in December of 2024. He joined camp this year and was impressive enough to earn himself a spot in the opening night lineup, filling in for the injured Walman. If he can continue his impressive play, he may just be the man the Oilers continue with through the season once fully healthy.
Stecher enters his third year with the Oilers. He was once a highly touted defender for the Vancouver Canucks, signed out of the NCAA but has become a journeyman defender, playing depth or bottom pairing roles with various NHL clubs. This year, he has serious competition for the seventh defenceman role with Regula and is one of a few solid depth defenders for the team as they try to make their third straight Stanley Cup Finals appearance.