Five defensemen the Edmonton Oilers need to target before the end of the season
The Edmonton Oilers are actively looking to upgrade their blue line before the playoffs and some in the NHL may interest them.
The Edmonton Oilers may have just won their first game of the season, but the genuine concern around the overall strength of the defence still lingers.
All the conversation the past few weeks has surround the accrued LTIR cap space regarding Evander Kane. With that in mind, if the Oilers want to remain in the Stanley cup conversation, Edmonton Oilers GM Stan Bowman must consider bolstering the blue-line at some point.
Analyst Tyler Yaremchuk from Oilers Nation mentionned a few names that might fit Edmonton's needs and the top option is Henri Jokiharju who is a 25-year-old right-handed defenseman from Buffalo who's shown consistency and the ability to move the puck well. Henri Jokiharju's hockey IQ and ability to manage the puck could complement Edmonton's forward depth, the only downside is that he's not a physical defenseman.
Other options include Jan Rutta, David Savard and William Borgen who all are more physical but less mobile defenders. David Savard brings leadership and defensive responsibility but Montreal may hesitate to trade him due to his presence in the locker room. Jan Rutta and Borgen could be cheaper depth options if the Oilers are looking for gritty and defensive-minded players, but they don't have the same upside as Henri Jokiarju.
There's also speculation that Timothy Liljegren could be on Edmonton's radar following reports of him being placed on the trade block by the Toronto Maple Leafs. Timothy Liljegren's potential as a long-term solution is appealing but the Oilers may opt to wait for more options to become available as the season progresses.
While some analysts said that Edmonton need to make a defensive upgrade sooner rather than later, Tyler Yaremchuk suggests the team need to carefully evaluate the trade market before making any move that can cost them.
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