The Edmonton Oilers' expensive and highly-ranked defensive unit, which struggled dramatically to start the season, is finally showing signs of significant improvement according to recent analysis.
Defensive Turnaround in Second Segment
During the second ten-game chunk of the season, covering Games 11 through 20, every single regular Oilers defenseman except Alec Regula demonstrated marked improvement in both puck movement and defensive coverage compared to the first ten games. The unit, which previously skated like they were on concrete and moved the puck as if it were kryptonite, is now trending upward.
The most substantial collective improvement came in their own zone, where the defensemen dramatically reduced the ugly mistakes that lead to Grade A shots and goals against. These errors include turnovers, lost battles, missed assignments, allowing slot passes and shots, and poor line changes.
Individual Player Progress
Statistical analysis of major individual contributions and mistakes on all Grade A shots at even strength reveals notable improvements across the blue line. Evan Bouchard reduced his major mistakes from 2.45 per 15 minutes in the first 10 games to 1.97 per 15 in the most recent segment.
Other defensemen showed even more dramatic improvement. Darnell Nurse cut his errors from 2.51 per 15 to 1.79 per 15, while Jake Walman showed modest improvement from 2.43 to 2.31 per 15. Ty Emberson strengthened from an already respectable 1.6 to an impressive 1.02, and Brett Kulak made the most dramatic leap from 1.67 to an outstanding 0.66 mistakes per 15. Mattias Ekholm also improved from 1.99 to a decent 1.53.
Room for Continued Growth
While the defensive group showed substantial progress in the last 10 games, they haven't yet reached the level they demonstrated under Paul Coffey's guidance. The unit is trending in the right direction, but concerns remain about Walman's continued struggles playing his off-side, and both Nurse and Bouchard still need to solidify their defensive play further.
The analysis, based on 15 years of video review tracking Grade A shots for and against the Oilers, provides a detailed measurement of player performance beyond the eye test and standard NHL metrics. This methodology offers a fair and accurate basis for evaluating individual contributions to the creation and prevention of scoring chances.
