Good as place as any to post some random thoughts about our defense now and moving forward.
Klefbom: has had at least one good year offensively where he showed off his Klefbomb of a shot. Has improved immensely defensively. Still battles injury and consistency as do all/most defenseman. Is a big part of our defense and the team struggles when he is injured. A top 3 defenseman on most teams. On a sweat heart deal. If not for his injury issues I rate this player all but untradable because of his value to this team. Just turned 27 and is just entering his prime for defense. Signed two more years. We move him we have to bring back someone as good or better. Extremely unlikely anyone passes him on the depth chart prior to his contract expiring.
Nurse: Had an off year where he did not develop much offensively or defensively. Still a top 3 defenseman imo albiet his decision making in all 3 zones did not indicate a player entering his prime. His 2 year contract walks him to UFA status which is stupid beyond belief but not coincidentally expires the same time as Klefbom's. I believe both Klefbom and Nurse are too value able to move prior to the end of the 2021/22 season. Still young still growing even at the end of this contract I would be leary of moving him as experience for him "should" count a lot towards effectiveness.
Larsson: Very similar to Klefbom in age, cap hit, and effectiveness except watered down. More injury prone if possible. Movable only if Bouchard has a monster year at both ends of the ice.
Russell: Love the player, a solid 4/5 defender, but completely expendable due to cap restraints and a deep group of prospects.
Benning: Grossly under rated by many. A solid #5 RD cost controlled RFA. Young as well entering his prime. Also only expendable if Bouchard has a monster season. Moving him or Larsson is a risk that dances around RFA status, cap hit, and development.
Bear: Monster year but skating and size still a bit of an issue. Need more sample size before cementing himself as a bonified top 3 Rd but very likely a top 4 fixture for the foreseeable future.
Jones: Very impressive this year but in a very limited role. If all goes well unlikely to be protected in next year's expansion draft. Even not being as high as most on this player short of him struggling the most likely player drafted by Seattle. Him or Benning. Nothing more than #7 atm but likely to be a acceptable 4/5 when Nurse/Klefbom contracts expire.
Bouchard: Our whole defense hinges around the progress/development of this player. Unless this player is deemed top 4 ready to start the next season the only truely expendable defenseman we have is Russell. Having said that he has been groomed perfectly and has a pedigree far beyond anything the Oilers have had in a generation. By projections "should" be far better than anyone in the system albiet I would expect that to be 3 to 5 years away at best. Trading this asset for anything is foolish due to his high end talent and RFA status.
Laggesson: Another depth player that could surprise but even as is can help softer losing a warrior like Russell. Or Larsson. Or Benning.
Samorukov: Not in the Oilers plans until later next year at best but like Laggesson another piece that makes the left side log jamb all but improbable for all those players to still be in Edmonton past the 2021/22 season. I project Samorukov optimistically to eventually be a 4/5. Still more unlikely than likely to even be an nhler.
Broberg: Higher upside than Samorukov but further behind in his development. I think there is more wishful thinking than serious projection to place this prospect as anything higher than a fringe top 3 defenseman in a long long time.
The reason I posted this is to really point out how hard it would be to move anyone out of this system until the end of the 2021/22 season post expansion draft. Projecting guys like Jones, Samorukov, or Broberg to take the place of Nurse or Klefbom short term doesn't work.