Joel Persson has some definite offensive skills the Edmonton Oilers could use on the blueline.
The Swedish defenceman is one of the brightest of the new faces at training camp this year, and if one exhibition game means anything (it doesn't) to go with his one-way contract, he will be on the team's opening-night roster along with another new face, be that an AHL prospect or even Evan Bouchard, who finished up in junior last year.
Host Craig Ellingson talks to hockey beat writers Rob Tychkowski and Derek Van Diest about the blueline corps, plus they wonder aloud what it would mean to the Oilers if star Connor McDavid missed any time — even a measly half-dozen games, let's say.
It could certainly be disastrous to their season as he factored in on half the NHL team’s offensive output a year ago.
McDavid is expected to sit out the pre-season while his knee, which he injured in the final game of 2018-19, is still on the mend.
