Oilers’ search for perfect No. 2 defenceman still a work in progress

Mark Spector writes that the Edmonton Oilers are actively seeking the ideal defensive partner to play alongside top blueliner Evan Bouchard. Associate coach D.J. Smith is tasked with managing ice time effectively while ensuring Edmonton's star forwards receive fast, clean puck delivery. At 36 years old, veteran Mattias Ekholm can no longer sustain heavy 25-minute workloads every night.

Spector reports that general manager Stan Bowman aims to reduce Ekholm's nightly minutes during his current three-year contract. In response, Smith has experimented by giving Ryan Shea and Jake Walman occasional shifts alongside Bouchard while utilizing Ekholm and Connor Murphy in key late-game defensive scenarios.