The Edmonton Oilers have a big problem on defense for the 2024-25 NHL season.
They need a strong right-side defender if they want to compete for the Stanley Cup. Right now, their choices are Josh Brown, Ty Emberson, or Troy Stecher, but these options aren’t great. Bob Stauffer, who talks about the team on the radio, said they need a right-handed shot defenseman with a long-term contract. However, he didn’t say when this would happen. There are still some free agents like Kevin Shattenkirk or Justin Schultz available, but Stauffer’s comments suggest they want someone with more time left on their contract.
This means Edmonton will probably look to trade for a defenseman instead of signing a free agent. The best option might be Rasmus Andersson from Calgary Flames. He has two years and $9.1 million left on his deal and has scored 138 points in 239 games over three years . But trading with Calgary is tricky because these teams don’t get along well; they’ve only made three trades ever! Craig Conroy from Calgary might not want to help his rivals.
Other Trade Options:
Another team to consider is the Washington Capitals. They signed Matt Roy for six years at $34.50 million this summer, so they might be open to moving Trevor van Riemsdyk instead. He’s good at blocking shots and has played ten NHL seasons already. Last year alone he averaged 126 blocked shots per season with teams like Chicago Blackhawks and Carolina Hurricanes before joining Capitals.
Fans might think it’s smart if Edmonton adds van Riemsdyk because he could help until they find someone better for their top four defenders later.
Finding other trade options will be tough since most teams have set their rosters by now for the new season starting soon! But without fixing this issue on defense before playoffs begin next year—it could hurt them badly despite having an amazing offense that can carry them far into games!
What do you think? Will Edmonton fix its defensive woes in time?
