BLOG: Auvitu adds depth

Recent Oilers signing Yohann Auvitu adds depth to the organization's back end, and with Andrej Sekera still rehabbing an injury early into the 2017-18, the 27-year-old could provide the team the support they need to start the season.
"When you have the depth that we start to have now, guys are pushing other guys and it's healthy for the organization," Oilers Assistant General Manager Keith Gretzky said Wednesday on Oilers Now. "The other thing is the depth is there. You're going to have guys that exceed expectations and guys that go the other way."
Gretzky mentioned a similar scenario arose last season with rookies Drake Caggiula and Matt Benning.
"You look at last year with Benning and Caggiula," said Gretzky. "They were probably penciled down to go to American League."
As for Auvitu, there are plenty of attributes the Oilers brass like about his game.
"He's unbelievable at handling the puck," Gretzky said. "He skates with the puck, moves it around. He's not overly physical but for a defenceman, he handles and moves the puck. In today's game, you have to be able to do that. He's a guy you add that makes a team better and we feel we've done that."
Auvitu has two goals, two assists and four points in 25 career NHL games - all with the New Jersey Devils.