Kevin Shattenkirk among several veterans reportedly eager to join Edmonton Oilers

The Edmonton Oilers are suddenly a popular destination for free agents after their Stanley Cup finals run last season, and one veteran defenseman in particular is hoping to join the team.

NHL insider Elliotte Friedman revealed on his latest episode of the 32 thoughts podcast that Kevin Shattenkirk, who played for the Boston Bruins last season, is hoping to play again in the 2024-25 season. Shattenkirk played reasonably well for the Bruins last year, putting up 26 points with limited ice time, proving that he can still be a positive factor for an NHL team. Now he may be among the first to signal a wave of free agent signings for the Oilers in the coming years. Typically, many players try to avoid the city due to its rural surroundings and far north location, making winters brutal. However, the idea of winning a Stanley Cup alongside the likes of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl appears to be enough to convince many players to change their minds according to Friedman.

Many Oilers fans have expressed excitement about the possibility of Shattenkirk joining the team. However, others have expressed concerns about him. After all, the veteran is at the end of his career and was already relegated to a bottom-pair role with the Boston Bruins last season. He is over 35 years old, which can make him a liability in terms of staying healthy, and he does not really play a prototypical bottom-pair defender style of game, especially when the playoffs role around, which is all that will matter to the Oilers next season.

Shattenkirk has certainly been around the block his fair share of times and he knows what it takes to win. Not only has he appeared in nearly 1000 regular-season games, but he has also been in 91 playoff games, including 25 in the 2019-20 season where he recorded 13 points en route to winning a Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Perhaps that winning experience can help get the Oilers over the hump as soon as next season.

Source: MarkerZone950-game NHL veteran Kevin Shattenkirk reportedly only wants to go to one team in free agency

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