Oilers Executive Points Finger at Defence Corps for Team's Inconsistent Play
Edmonton Oilers hockey operations leader Stan Bowman has pinpointed the team's defensive inconsistencies as the central problem behind the club's mediocre performance this season, while offering support for starting goaltender Stuart Skinner.
In a recent interview with Oilers Now host Bob Stauffer, Bowman delivered his assessment of the struggling franchise, suggesting the defensive unit's uneven performances have created ripple effects throughout the lineup.
Defensive Struggles Disrupting Team Structure
Bowman specifically highlighted breakout difficulties as a primary concern, noting that when defencemen struggle to move the puck cleanly from their own zone, the entire team structure becomes disjointed.
"I think the defense, they haven't played a consistent game this year," Bowman stated. "And I think that's probably the biggest maybe disappointment so far, because the play of our D is really important in getting the rest of our game going."
The hockey executive elaborated that problematic breakouts lead to disconnected play between forwards and defencemen, preventing the Oilers from establishing their preferred offensive structure. Bowman emphasized the need for defenders to sometimes "under-handle" the puck and make simpler, quicker plays to initiate transition.
Top Pairing and New Addition Under Microscope
Bowman pointed to specific performance issues within the defensive corps, noting that top-pairing defenders Evan Bouchard and Mattias Ekholm began the season slowly while newcomer Jake Walman started strong before experiencing a dip in his play.
"Not all six d-men have played well at the same time," Bowman observed, indicating that the team hasn't found consistent contributions across all three defensive pairings.
The assessment comes as the Oilers continue to search for the form that made them Stanley Cup contenders in recent seasons, with defensive reliability emerging as the apparent missing ingredient.
Vote of Confidence for Starting Goaltender
While the defence received criticism, Bowman offered a contrasting view of goaltender Stuart Skinner, who has frequently faced scrutiny in the Edmonton market.
"I think Skinner in particular has been pretty solid this year," Bowman affirmed. "He's given us a lot of good performances."
The vote of confidence for Skinner represents a significant endorsement of the netminder, who has often shouldered disproportionate blame during team struggles. Bowman indicated that Skinner is "trending in the right direction" despite the team's overall inconsistencies.
The same positive assessment didn't extend to backup Calvin Pickard, with Bowman acknowledging that Pickard "probably hasn't started this year the way he did last year when he was really effective." The organization hopes to see the version of Pickard that "won some huge games for us" return to form.
Bowman's comments, made public on November 17, 2024, provide the clearest indication yet of how Oilers management views the team's early-season challenges, with defensive reliability emerging as the primary concern ahead of goaltending.
