Follow @SMaloughney Some great discussion on my last blog and I thoroughly enjoyed reading other commentors predictions for points. I look forward to coming back on these at the end of this season to see how close I ended up being. I'm sure the comments will be nothing but supportive.
Today we move on to the defense. The Oilers defense looks different than it did at the end of last season and that isn't a good thing. Andrej Sekera looks to be sidelined for the entire 2018/2019 campaign and a combination of one year signings and PTO's look to fill out the depth chart. Let's just get in to it.
Oscar Klefbom 76GP - 11-28-39
If I had to pick one forward, goaltender, and defender that the success of this season was shouldered upon it would be McDavid, Talbot, and Klefbom. A healthy Klefbom is a #1 defenseman. We finally had a healthy season from him in 2016/2017 and saw what he was able to do with a decent partner. Klefbom is in the peak of his career and hopefully we see him take another step forward.
Darnell Nurse 82GP - 8-21-29
I am a big fan of Darnell Nurse. He hasn't become the #1 Chris Pronger player some expected him to be but he is a physical great skater who has put up most of his points at 5 on 5. With Sekera sidelined we will see Nurse as a permanent fixture in the top 4 and should see his points continue to increase. Get him signed already. Matt Benning 70GP - 7-15-22 I have Benning treading water this season. Again with the lack of help on the right side Benning will likely get minutes in the top 4. He is one of the Oilers better puck movers but is still prone to making large gaffs. I think he would excel more on a third pairing.
Adam Larsson 82GP - 5-12-17
Larsson is a reliable stay at home defender and eats up a huge portion of minutes against tough competition. He will never be a big point producer but he is an integral part of this defense.
Kris Russell 75GP - 2-14-16
Oh Russell.... hopefully he stays on the third pairing and McLellan finally realizes maybe Russell isn't the player you want on the ice in the last 3 minutes of a game when you're down by 1. Jakub Jerabek 32GP 4-8-12
One of the wild cards of this season. I see Jerabek in a similar position that Auvitu was for the Oilers last season; a 7th defenseman who is able to chip in without being a detriment to the lineup.
Evan Bouchard 9GP 2-4-6
Bouchard needs to be sent down after 9 games. Unless he scores 7 goals in his first 9 games and has 14 points I would still (probably) want to send him down. History shows this is the best way to develop players like this; give him a stint in the NHL, send him down with things to work on and re-evaluate him next year. Kevin Gravel 8GP - 0-2-2 Yawn.
Thanks for reading.