Oilers' defensive depth is a growing concern

The current right-side blueliners include Bouchard, Ty Emberson, Josh Brown, and Troy Stecher. The latter three weren't part of the Oilers run to the Stanley Cup Final last Spring.

On a recent episode of *Oilers Now*, Bob Stauffer admitted he's still unsure about the Oilers' defensive depth, particularly on the right side. While Evan Bouchard is a solid presence, the rest of the right-side D-core feels shaky and expects GM Stan Bowman to adress it.

While Bouchard is the clear standout, the others are seen as a mix of inexperienced and inconsistent options. Brown, was signed to a three-year, $3M contract this Summer, but has struggled throughout his career, leading fans to view him as more of an AHL-caliber player. His underwhelming performances in training camp haven't eased those concerns.

Meanwhile, Ty Emberson, has reportedly locked down a spot and is likely to pair with Darnell Nurse on the second line.

However, with just 30 NHL games under his belt, there's worry that Emberson might isn't ready for such a big role.

With Evander Kane heading to LTIR, rumors are swirling that the Oilers could use the $5.125 million available in cap space to bring in a more reliable right-handed defenseman to shore up the blue line.

For now, the defense remains a question mark heading into the season.

Source: Oilers Insider
Bob Stauffer raises concerns over the Oilers defensive core