Oilers target 2 defensemen for PTO despite crowded blue line

The Edmonton Oilers may  have eight defensemen with NHL experience signed, rumour has it that it won’t stop them from trying to acquire more. 

According to David Staples of the Edmonton Journal, general manager Ken Holland is considering brining on board one more defender on his crowded blue line ahead of the 2021-22 season. Fans may feel relieved that Holland plans to do so on a professional tryout contract. And Staples revealed which players he has targeted: 

“Even though the Oilers have eight defencemen with NHL experience signed, chances are they will bring in one player on a training camp PTO contract with right-shot D Michael Stone (Calgary) or Jason Demers (Arizona) most likely candidates …”

The latter won’t get Oilers’ fans excited. His 2021 season was simply put a disaster. He slipped down the Coyotes’ depth chart to the third pairing and ended up averaging his lowest ice time in nearly a decade. To make things worse, he eventually found himself scratched several time as Arizona fell well out of playoff contention.

As for Stone, he knows what PTOs mean as he signed one with the Calgary Flames last season. He’s never been a difference maker to out it frankly, but has performed reasonably well in a tough role in which he sometimes ends up watching from the stands… 

Not sure these options will get fans in Edmonton excited, however, they can comfort themselves with the thought that the Oilers have already a blue line in place to get the season started, and these options would only strengthen their depth chart. 

Got a favourite ouf of these two candidates?