This in from Tony Brar of the Edmonton Oilers, new defense pairings for the Edmonton Oilers:
Nurse – Bouchard
Ekholm – Emberson
Kulak – Stecher
My take
1. The pairing of Evan Bochard and Mattias Ekholm has been good-to-oustanding since it was first put in place. The excellent pairing was a big reason the Edmonton Oilers almost won the Stanley Cup last season. But it’s good just now to break up this pairing.
It’s not like they’ve been terrible or even poor together all of a sudden. But their Goals For percentage is down a bit from the highs of the previous two seasons and from this October.
And setting aside his great goal against Boston for a second, Ekholm has been trending down. He could use a change for awhile.
2. In Edmonton’s last 22 games through November and December, Ekholm has played OK hockey, but not so solid as he played in October 2024 or the 2024 playoffs or the 2023-24 season. For whatever reason, his offence has really dried up in this past run of games. His contributions to Grade A shots at even strength is down.
In his first 10 games this year, he made 32 major contributions at even strength to Grade A shots, a fantastic amount of offence for a d-man to generate.
But in his last 22 games, he’s made just 35 contributions to Grade A shots, a significant drop. Things simply aren’t clicking for him on the attack, and he’s also leaking a few too many Grade A shots against.
3. At the same time as Ekholm has struggled to find his “A” game in November and December, Nurse is playing the best hockey of his career. He’s skating as well as I’ve seen him skates in years. He’s making solid reads as well, shutting down top attackers, especially in the defensive slot, and he’s making sure to cover off the danger man, the player coming late to the slot looking to score.
On the attack, he’s making great stretch passes and jumping into the play when it makes sense, but not otherwise. He’s looking every bit the No. 1 d-man just now, and just as Ekholm did in the first month of the 2024-25 season.
4. I don’t know what suddenly transformed Nurse’s game. Paul Coffey’s advice? Better health? A decision to put covering the defensive slot first and foremost on his job list? A decision to move the puck fast and sharp, rather than skate with it? I can’t say. Whatever it is, more of the same would be excellent. Nurse is playing like he should have been on Team Canada.
5. As for Ekholm, he’s still playing solid hockey and his overall game is a great bet to rebound to its highest level. He’s an outstanding player. He’s just not as good as he was in October and he’s not as good as Nurse is now. Nurse should be on the top pairing.
At the Cult of Hockey
LEAVINS: Game grades vs Boston
Staples on politics
Poilievre’s knockout speech signals historic 2025 defeat for Liberals, whoever leads them
