EDMONTON, AB - The Oilers have already gone through a major shuffle to their blueline ahead of Game 2 of their young 2019-20 NHL season on Saturday against the Los Angeles Kings - and it's young defenders Ethan Bear and Joel Persson winning out.
A long-term injury to Adam Larsson began a cascade of moves for the Oilers on Thursday and Friday to fill the void and share the load in ice time and leadership left by the Swede, who'll miss six-to-eight weeks with a broken right fibula.
"Everybody has to take it. It'll be a group effort tonight," Oilers Head Coach Dave Tippett said. "That's the way we're looking at it. When you lose a guy like Larsson, it's a big hole. But not one guy is going to fill that, and we're going to need the group to fill it.
"Manage the time, manage the situation, but I think the group will play well."
Persson lined up with Oscar Klefbom early in Main Camp and Pre-Season before a shoulder injury set back the Kristiansand, Sweden product. The rearguard was activated off Injured Reserve this afternoon and reunited with his countryman at this morning's skate, setting the stage for him to make his NHL debut against the Kings.
Bear, after impressing in Camp and being part of the shuffle despite being assigned to the Bakersfield Condors but never leaving Edmonton, was latched on to a pairing with Darnell Nurse in a spot that was formerly occupied by the ailing Larsson.
Every move, and every decision, made with the sole goal of helping maintain early momentum against a Kings side entering their first game of the season under a new bench boss and former Oilers Head Coach Todd McLellan.
"The first game was obviously a good start for us," Leon Draisaitl said. "I thought we had some really good moments, did a lot of good things, but a lot of things we need to clean up and get better at. It was the first game and those are always a little different.
"I like what we're doing right now, I like the way we've been playing and the way we've been practicing, so hopefully we keep that up."
PERSSON'S PATIENCE
One of the main hinges from the Oilers defensive shuffle was Persson, whose health according to Tippett on Friday would help determine the lineup that was eventually revealed at this morning's pre-game skate.
"I don't know how many have asked me yesterday if I'm ready or if I'm going to play, how I was feeling and all those questions," Persson said. "There's going to be a lot of people back home who'll be up until the middle of the night to watch the game."
