The Edmonton Oilers may not be done making moves this offseason.
GM Stan Bowman has already swung two major deals early in the summer, sending Darnell Nurse to the San Jose Sharks and bringing in Devon Levi from the Buffalo Sabres. Those transactions are already set to reshape Edmonton’s roster, but they’ve also created a new problem on the back end.
After adding Shakir Mukhamadullin and Ryan Shea and re-signing defenceman Spencer Statsney, the Oilers suddenly have a crowded blue line. At the moment, Edmonton has eight NHL defencemen earning $1.3 million or more.
That group includes Evan Bouchard, Mattias Ekholm, Shakir Mukhamadullin, Ryan Shea, Jake Walman, Connor Murphy, Ty Emberson, and Spencer Stastney.
There are also AHL options in the mix, with Josh Brown, Atro Leppanen, and Alec Regula all capable of pushing for jobs in training camp.
The reality is pretty straightforward: Edmonton probably won’t carry more than seven defencemen for the season, which means one more move looks likely. If Bowman wants to clear the logjam and bring back something in return, a trade seems like the cleanest path.
The top of the depth chart appears secure. Bouchard, Ekholm, Walman, and Murphy all look locked into opening night spots, and Shea likely belongs in that same group after Edmonton committed $20 million over five years to him on the first day of free agency.
That leaves Mukhamadullin, Emberson, and Stastney battling for the final spots at the bottom of the defensive rotation.
Mukhamadullin is a fresh addition, and his two-year extension plus his ability to play both sides gives head coach Mike Babcock plenty of flexibility. That makes him a useful piece in the mix.
If Bowman does make a deal, though, it would most likely involve Emberson or Stastney, both of whom recently signed extensions with Edmonton. Between the two, Emberson seems likelier to stick around.
He earned plenty of trust from the organization last season and was a solid third-pairing option through the playoffs. Stastney, meanwhile, spent a good chunk of the year in the press box as the season wore on.
Emberson also has the edge because he shoots right, and right-handed defencemen tend to carry more value across the league. Edmonton is likely to see more value in that profile than in Stastney’s left-handed game.
There’s also a small analytical edge for Emberson, according to HockeyStats.com.
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