Many pundits are sleeping on the Edmonton Oilers’ defence.

If this group gels under Mike Babcock’s tighter checking system, it could be one of the best blue lines in the NHL. Their new coach is bringing a greater focus on team defence, and that should help bring goals against down. Edmonton gave up the most goals they had since 2018-19, which is crazy considering they were pretty good defensively the year before. It’s hard to imagine the goaltending will be as weak as it was either. With Tristan Jarry healthy and two good backup options (when Frederik Andersen is healthy), that should also help the defence. More forwards should also be coming back to help out, as Babcock has the team playing with fewer gaps.

One area the defence might lack is in physicality and aggression. Mattias Ekholm and Connor Murphy are clearly the hardest to play against. However, I think Jake Walman and Shakir Mukhamadullin can bring more to the fight, and Evan Bouchard and Ryan Shea don’t get pushed around.

Let’s take a closer look at what each player brings to the Oilers’ blueline:

Evan Bouchard

Bouchard is easily one of the top 10 defencemen in the league, maybe top five. He led all defence with 95 points last year. He runs the best power play in the history of the NHL and has his trademark ‘Bouchbomb’ for a shot. His defensive play can improve, and Edmonton’s new emphasis on defence should help. Babcock has given Bouchard a vote of confidence by making the quiet young man an assistant captain. In interviews in the preseason, the defender appears more mature and full of confidence.

Mattias Ekholm

Ekholm has had spectacular numbers since the Oilers acquired him in a trade in 2023. He is plus-115 with 133 points in 147 games with Edmonton.........

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