The Edmonton Oilers obtained some powerful information relating to blue liner Mattias Ekholm. In response to insider Ryan Rishaug, Ekholm might be on the shelf for an prolonged interval with the potential for lacking the rest of the season.
Ekholm suited up for Friday’s sport in opposition to the San Jose Sharks however left after two shifts. Apparently, Ekholm re-aggravated the harm that had stored him on the shelf since April 2.
With the Oilers already down commerce deadline acquisition Jake Walman and putting John Klingberg on LTIR, the Oilers might be searching for inside choices to fill the void left behind by Mattias Ekholm’s loss.
So, right here’s a take a look at the highest three replacements for Mattias Ekholm ought to the top-pairing blue liner stay on the shelf for the remainder of the season.
High 3 Mattias Ekholm replacements for Oilers’ blue liner if season-ending harm is confirmed
#3 Cam Dineen
Following Friday evening’s sport, the Oilers recalled Cam Dineen from the Bakersfield Condors of the AHL. Dineen’s promotion wasn’t supposed to switch Mattias Ekholm essentially, however to take up the roster spot now open since Ekholm received’t doubtless play for the rest of the common season.
Dineen almost certainly returns to the underside pairing with Troy Stecher as all different Oilers’ blueliners transfer up a spot. Whereas Dineen would possibly get a glance on the second pairing, his position might be on the underside pairing.
#2 Brett Kulak
Oilers followers have seen Brett Kulak step as much as the highest pairing previously when accidents have taken over the staff’s blue line.
In the mean time, Kulak is skating on the second pairing. Nonetheless, Kulak might get bumped to the highest pairing with Evan Bouchard, buying and selling locations with Darnell Nurse.
Kulak has confirmed to be a stable defensive defenseman with some offensive upside. So, it wouldn’t be a shock to see coach Kris Knoblauch attempt to spice issues up by inserting Kulak alongside Bouchard.
#1 Darnell Nurse
Darnell Nurse has been skating with Bouchard for the majority of the time Mattias Ekholm has been on the shelf. As such, Nurse looks like probably the most logical option to play alongside Bouchard in Ekholm’s position.
The one draw back is that Nurse is an offense-first defenseman. In distinction, Ekholm is a defense-first defenseman.
However, Nurse also can supplant Ekholm on the second energy play unit, making Nurse the only option to switch Ekholm whereas he’s out of the lineup.
That state of affairs might change as soon as Jake Walman comes again from harm. Walman might get a glance on the highest pairing or slide right down to the second pairing so as to add additional stability to the Oilers’ blue line.
