Oilers reported to be signing free agent defenseman to PTO very soon
Photo credit: Edmonton Oilers RAW
The Edmonton Oilers are looking to bring in more help to replace the missing pieces, and coach Knoblauch has now confirmed their next move.
With training camp underway, the Oilers are looking to shore up their blue line to head into the regular season. Now is the best time to do that, as adding another defenseman now can give them time to build chemistry with the team. Knoblauch seems to confirm that they will have one more on the way, with reports that they could be adding a defender very soon.
If they're looking to add another defenseman, the only real options left are Justin Schultz, Mark Giordano, Travis Dermott and Tony DeAngelo. If the Oilers add one of them soon they'll have time to build chemistry with a partner before the season starts, which would be the best case scenario for them.
Giordano is the newest player to be linked to the Oilers, with recent reports about interest in him. Giordano is a player who the Oilers could sign for very cheap, and could use to mentor the younger players in the locker room. They could sign him to a PTO to play a role in the third pairing, which would be great for them if he can play sheltered minutes.
The others - Schultz, Dermott, and DeAngelo - play very similar roles. They're more offensively orientated defensemen, who can be capable of playing both sides and could potentially fill in temporarily in the top four.
All would be cheap options for the Oilers to sign to a PTO, and could benefit the team greatly. They could play a role on the second powerplay as well, being the puck mover on the second powerplay.
Dermott is currently considered to be the front runner. The 27 year old defenceman brings a bit more youth which the Oilers could use, and has a history with Coach Knoblauch from junior hockey. The fact that Knoblauch knows about the PTO coming soon may indicate it's a player he knows - like Travis Dermott.
If the Oilers can bring in any of them, it would ultimately be an upgrade over the blue line as it is now. If the Oilers can sign either to a PTO that would be amazing for them, as they could cut the player if they weren't a good fit.
If they aren't impressed by whomever they choose, they can cut them from the roster without losing any salary. It's a risk free, possibly rewarding scenario that the Oilers seem to want to take full advantage of.
| POLL | ||
9 SEPTEMBRE | 224 ANSWERS Oilers reported to be signing free agent defenseman to PTO very soon Who do you want them to sign? | ||
| Tony DeAngelo | 37 | 16.5 % |
| Mark Giordano | 52 | 23.2 % |
| Justin Schultz | 35 | 15.6 % |
| None of them | 100 | 44.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
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