A prominent defenceman starts circulating in the Oilers rumour mill

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Finnegan Frost
October 15, 2024 (4:05 PM)

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As growing concerns over the Edmonton Oilers slow start continues to intensify, the club continues to look for solutions.

According to Liam McCormick of Oilers Daily, Kurt Leavins of the Edmonton Journal, the Oilers may be considering a contract offer to former Oiler Justin Schultz, as well as veteran right handed defenceman Kevin Shattenkirk.

»The name Kevin Shattenkirk resurfaced again this past week. I wrote about Shattenkirk two weeks ago, as well as former Oiler Justin Schultz who was offered a PTO in Edmonton but was looking for a contract (and still is). I am cautious of Shattenkirk. He has had a good NHL career but does not skate well anymore, never was a terrific defender and saw primarily sheltered minutes in Boston last year.»
- Kurt Leavins, Edmonton Journal

Justin Schultz is now 34 years old, and began his NHL career with the Oilers back in 2012. He's gone on to enjoy a quietly fantastic 745 game career, winning two Stanley Cups in his time with the Pittsburgh Penguins and playing with some of the NHL's biggest stars. Schultz has always been a quality puck-moving defenceman which fits the Oilers needs, but his brutal -23 rating from last year is potentially scaring teams away from him.

The Oilers are off to one of their worst NHL starts in franchise history. If this trend continues, the panic button will soon be relentlessly smashed. Although the Oilers offensive core has been taking some heat from the media, the defensive core is just as much to blame.

These acquisitions do make sense to a certain extent. Kevin Shattenkirk is a proven veteran NHL blue liner, whereas Schultz is quite familiar with the city of Edmonton and still wants to prove he's a capable defender.

Do you think the Oilers should pull the trigger on these moves? Answer our Oilers insider poll to have your say.