Ty Emberson

Agreed about the sample size. I got a little too excited I’ll admit it.

Still I wouldn’t throw him away. There’s potential there.
I'm not throwing him away. The Oilers are threadbare with prospects and don't have the NHL depth to throw away a serviceable right-shot D. They can't afford any more erosion of their roster or even players age 25 and under. The challenge will be price point and prospective difference between the organization and player and his new agent in terms of upside on a player who's age 25 in a month.

Right now he's closer to a #6/7 than to a #4. I still think he starts at 3RD to start the playoffs but no guarantee with veteran journeyman Stetcher in the mix. Big picture Kulak stepping up into the huge 2RD responsibilities is a critical positive of this challenging season.
 
Nurse looks so much better with anyone not named Ceci. He’s actually making Stecher look like a #4.
Nurse has reset his game really well this season. That's a credit on him as he's often stated responsibility to focus on his own game and getting it in order. The ice time deployment and distribution though reinforces a top five of Ekholm, Bouchard, Nurse, Kulak, and Walman. When healthy, Oil coaching was running Klingberg with #4 minutes hoping to fill the gap. Emberson and Stetcher play clear #6 minutes with in game coaching going to others in key situational play.

Ceci's moved on well and slotted in as a 20 minute defensive d-man on another elite contender. Different situational fit.
 
SJ didn't want to trade Walman then, Bowman(according to him in a recent interview) apparently spent all year nagging Grier to trade the defenseman to the Oilers.
This would have been before the season so Walman wouldnt have even played a game for SJ. He was a DET capdump.
 
Stecher's only problem is that he's small and gets pushed off the puck, but he rarely makes me yell at the TV. I think he's earned that #6 spot over Emberson. And definitely over Klingberg, who shouldn't sniff a minute of playoff action despite making almost a full million more than Troy. Funny how much money and prospects we've spent and we still don't have a sure-bet #6 defenseman for the playoffs.
 

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