Oilers Defense Depth and Forward Battles | Edmonton Oilers News

The Edmonton Oilers’ defense is shaping up with a clear top five: Bouchard, Ekholm, Walman, Murphy, and Shea — all locks for camp. Bouchard anchors the power play and minutes, Murphy dominates the penalty kill, and Ekholm’s left-side role faces pressure with age and heavy workload. Coach D.J. Smith’s Kings-style pairing strategy suggests flexibility on the PK, likely pairing Shea with Murphy while rotating Ekholm with younger options like Emberson or Mukhamadullin. The final two defense spots are up for grabs among Emberson, Mukhamadullin, Stastney, and Regula — with the rookies needing to shine in preseason. Up front, with Dach likely signing, 15 forwards compete for 13 spots, with McDavid, Draisaitl, and Hyman guaranteed — but veterans like Janmark, Jones, and Joseph are in the mix for crucial roles. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/8794e93e12150b2d