The Edmonton Oilers are grappling with the impact of their decision not to match a two-year, $9.16 million offer sheet for defenseman Philip Broberg from the St. Louis Blues.
In light of this, they’ve been connected to Tyson Barrie for a professional tryout and are now reportedly showing interest in Kevin Shattenkirk and Justin Schultz, according to Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff.
These three defensemen share key attributes: they’re right-handed and adept at puck movement. Since Broberg, a left-handed shot, has limited NHL experience, it seems the Oilers’ interest in right-handed defensemen isn’t solely about replacing him but was a priority even before his departure.
With Evan Bouchard as the primary right-side defenseman, the other internal candidates—Josh Brown, Ty Emberson, and Troy Stecher—are not seen as viable top-four options, making the search for a veteran right-handed defenseman a logical step for Edmonton.
Shattenkirk recently concluded a one-year contract with the Boston Bruins, where he averaged just 15:47 of ice time per game but still contributed significantly, particularly on the power play.
He recorded six goals and 24 points in 61 games, a solid output considering his reduced role compared to his previous three seasons with the Anaheim Ducks.
Schultz has posted similar numbers to Shattenkirk over the past four seasons, playing for the Washington Capitals and Seattle Kraken. In 263 games, he scored 21 goals and 110 points, while Shattenkirk registered 20 goals and 101 points in 273 games.
Schultz’s career shooting percentage of 6.2% slightly edges out Shattenkirk’s 5.5%, and had Schultz maintained last season’s shooting success in Edmonton, he would have ranked second among the team’s defensemen.
The Oilers have several options to consider, and any of these defensemen would be solid additions for the reigning Western Conference champions. With enough cap space available, Edmonton is well-positioned to sign one of them and still have room for further roster improvements before the next trade deadline.
