The Edmonton Oilers need to improve defensively because it can’t all fall on the goaltending
Daily confrontation: David Pagnotta on The Sheet with Jeff Marek on the Edmonton Oilers’ struggles, and how goaltending might not be the main issue, and what they might want to do. Team defense was a big problem. Improving the defensive side of things can take priority over the offense.
** NHLRumors.com transcription
Pagnotta: “I’ve been saying this all season because I was told in the offseason that the concern for this team this year was the defense. And not exclusive to the D core, just the overall team defense. That’s lagging and lacking. And it’s a big reason, in my opinion, why they’ve struggled in their zone and why it seems like the goaltending looks terrible at times.”
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When they are healthier. They really got things going. They played a more structured game. When Jarry came in, everyone was clicking on all cylinders. And eventually that changed, because it didn’t seem sustainable. And it clearly isn’t.
I think Stan Bowman, I know there’s a lot of talk about the top-six guy and the top-six guy, I think they’re more focused on bringing in a body at the back that has (Mattias) Ekholm ability from yesteryear.
Since he had that surgery, he is still a very reliable defender, but he is not the same type of player that made him so useful and so worthy, high value. The actual words escape me, but they are in fact valuable. They need someone as a shutdown-type defenseman that they, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they, want to add before the deadline.
And then someone in the mid-six who can play a strong two-way style can help. Now obviously they don’t have cap space, so moving (Andrew) Mangiapane will be one of them. I’m very curious to see how they approach this. Maybe that center is the Nic Roy in Toronto that might be looking, or some other piece elsewhere.
But I think it is more focused on the defensive style of hockey than on adding even more attack and fire to that roster, because with a switch, Leon and Connor will take care of everything themselves.”
Marek: “And no, I’m surprised the Mangiapane affair lasted so long. I’ll be honest with you.”
Pagnotta: “Me too.”
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Marek: “I thought, I thought this would have been dealt with weeks, weeks ago, and for whatever reason, it’s still there for the Edmonton Oilers. That’s why they remain one of the most interesting teams to beat.”
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