The Edmonton Oilers need to improve defensively, as it all can’t fall on the goaltending
Daily Faceoff: David Pagnotta on the The Sheet with Jeff Marek about the Edmonton Oilers struggles, and that goaltending may not be the main issue, and what they might be looking to do. Team defense has been a big issue. Improving the defensive side of things may take precedence over offense.
** NHLRumors.com transcription
Pagnotta: “I’ve been saying this for all season, because I was told in the offseason, that the concern for this team going into this year was defense. And not exclusive to the D core, just overall team defense. It’s been lagging, and it’s been lacking. And it’s a big reason, in my opinion, why they have struggled in their zone and why it looks like the goaltending at times looks awful.
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When they’ve been healthier. They they really got things going. They played a more structured game. When they had Jarry come in, everybody was clicking on all cylinders. And then eventually that shifted, because it didn’t seem to be sustainable. And clearly it’s not.
I think Stan Bowman, I know there’s a lot of talk of top-six guy and top-six guy, I think they’re more focused on bringing in a body on that back end that has (Mattias) Ekholm capabilities from yesteryear.
Since he had that surgery, still very reliable defenseman, but he’s not the same type of player he was that made him so beneficial and so worthy on that, high worth. Actual words escaping me, but valuable is effectively it. They need somebody as a shutdown type of defenseman that they, that I wouldn’t be surprised if they, if they look to add ahead of the deadline.
And then somebody in that mid-six that can play a strong two-way style, that can help. Now, obviously, they don’t have cap space, so moving (Andrew) Mangiapane is going to be one of them. I’m very curious as to how they go about this. Maybe that center is the Nic Roy in Toronto that perhaps are looking for, or another piece elsewhere.
But I think it’s more focused on the defensive style of hockey versus having to add any more offense and fire to that roster, because a switch, and Leon and Connor just handle everything themselves.”
Marek: “And not, I’m surprised that the Mangiapane thing has gone on as long as it has. 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, it’s still there for the Edmonton Oilers. That’s why they continue to be one of the most interesting teams to cover.”
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