Yahoo Sports Oilers Have Huge Interest From Free Agent
Though the offseason's almost over, the Oilers are still looking to bolster their opening night lineup.
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On today's episode of the 32 Thoughts Podcast, insider Elliotte Friedman teased a possible upcoming addition to the Oilers defence core.
While he says the team is content to keep the roster as-is and focus on adding during the season, they're still keeping their eyes on the free agent market. Top of the list is adding another defenceman.
While the team has been linked to a couple of former Oilers in Justin Schultz and Tyson Barrie (who will be in Calgary on a PTO), one veteran blueliner is focused on Edmonton: Kevin Shattenkirk.
Friedman says Shattenkirk is extremely interested in coming to Edmonton, saying "he would love to be a part of that Oiler team."
The 35-year-old Shattenkirk, a 14-year veteran, played last season with the Boston Bruins. Shattenkirk has been one of the league's steadiest two-way defenders on the right side during his long career, and put up respectable numbers on the third pair in Boston.
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He's also got plenty of playoff experience, playing in six consecutive postseasons with St. Louis and Washington before winning a Stanley Cup with Tampa Bay in 2020.
While he's no longer the player he was in St. Louis or Tampa Bay, he can still provide some offence from the back end. With his age and skillset, he profiles as a good partner for Brett Kulak on the bottom pair and a valuable veteran mentor for Evan Bouchard and Ty Emberson.
As evidenced by the additions of Corey Perry, Adam Henrique, and Jeff Skinner, the Oilers are becoming a top destination for useful veterans who are looking to win a Stanley Cup. Shattenkirk's overt interest in coming to Edmonton, whether he does or not, can only be seen as a good thing.
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