Oilers Missed out on Cut price Free Company Addition in Oliver Kylington – The Hockey Writers – Edmonton Oilers

The Edmonton Oilers did rather well for themselves this offseason as they added some key items in hopes of constructing a deep playoff run. With Jeff Skinner and Viktor Arvidsson becoming a member of the workforce to bolster the ahead depth, the workforce didn’t do a lot to enhance their defensive lineup heading into the 2024-25 marketing campaign. Whereas they added Josh Brown for $1 million yearly over three seasons, they missed out on a discount addition to their blue line after a current announcement. The Colorado Avalanche not too long ago signed Oliver Kylington to a one-year contract value simply $1.05 million, as he seems to make a full-time return to the NHL after having handled some private points over the previous two seasons and solely taking part in 33 video games because the 2022-23 marketing campaign. 

Associated: Oilers’ Connection to Rival Staff Defender Makes Sense

At 27 years outdated, Kylington is a left-shot defender who stands 6-feet, 183 kilos and is from Stockholm, Sweden. Whereas followers have been hoping the Oilers would try to pursue a alternative on the proper aspect for Cody Ceci, they’ve seemingly determined that they’re prepared to run it again this season with virtually the identical defensive group as final season. Including Kylington for $1.05 million as a substitute of Brown at $1 million is one thing they need to have tried to get performed, as Brown has been broadly thought of one of many weaker two-way defenders within the NHL, whereas Kylington has some potential to bounce again. Sadly, it appears as if the Oilers missed out on a discount.

Kylington Doesn’t Transfer the Needle, However He’s a Nice Addition to the Avalanche

The Avalanche might be seeking to make it again to the postseason and go on one other deep playoff run this season. They have been eradicated by the Dallas Stars within the second spherical final season in simply six video games, and so they didn’t appear to have a lot of an opportunity of getting previous them. The Stars have been a a lot deeper workforce each offensively and defensively and the Avalanche have been merely no match for them, and it confirmed. Including Kylington to their blue line makes their depth heading into the brand new season so much higher, however he could not transfer the needle sufficient to place them into championship rivalry and provides them a shot at their second Stanley Cup since 2022.

Trying on the energy of the Western Convention, it’s exhausting to wager towards the Avalanche after the strikes they’ve been in a position to make this summer season, and Kylington provides to their energy. He seemingly matches into their third-pairing taking part in on his off-side alongside Calvin de Haan. In terms of what the Oilers wanted, it was a defender to play on the third-pairing alongside Brett Kulak so as to elevate Philip Broberg to the second-pairing beside Darnell Nurse. If Kylington had curiosity within the Oilers, they need to have supplied him a contract some time in the past and utilized him as their Ceci alternative this season. 

On the finish of the day, the Oilers have missed out on what might have been a discount deal for them this season. I might a lot quite have had Kylington signed as a depth addition than Brown, however I nonetheless really feel assured within the Oilers’ capability to make one other deep playoff run with the workforce they’ve constructed this offseason. It’s honest to imagine they may nonetheless be seeking to make a cap-clearing transfer to be consumers on the commerce deadline, and Ceci could possibly be a commerce candidate after a troublesome 2023-24 marketing campaign. Both approach, the Oilers missed out on a discount free agent signing in Kylington, and it’s one thing they’ll should dwell with if he’s in a position to bounce again and be a stable contributor for the Avalanche this season.