Exploring Edmonton Oilers' pursuit of the Stanley Cup, highlighting their main strengths and key challenges. They are still motivated after their Game-7 loss.

EDMONTON, AB – The Edmonton Oilers announced Friday they have agreed to terms with free agent defenceman John Klingberg on a one-year contract. The 32-year-old blueliner has seen action in 633 NHL games over 11 seasons with the Dallas Stars, Anaheim Ducks, Minnesota Wild and Toronto Maple Leafs, recording 81 goals and 331 assists for 412 points.

The Oilers have added defenseman John Klingberg after recovering from hip surgery and missing the first half of the season

Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard are the goalies of right now for the Oilers. Both netminders have deals that expire at the end of next season. Given this uncertainty, locking up a 24-year-old netminder to a multi-year extension is the organization's best succession plan. No other goalie is closer to being a starting netminder than Rodrigue.

All hope was seemingly lost after the Colorado Avalanche built an early 3-0 lead in the first period. Four unanswered Oilers goals, however, lifted Edmonton to their fourth straight victory and has put them in a very good spot in the standings.

But who’s manning his wings on any given shift can change wildly. Zach Hyman might be next to him, or all the way down on the third line trying to ignite things in order for Edmonton’s top-six into nine cylinders of offence. Yup, the reigning 54-goal scorer from a season ago spending significant time on the third line.

In 1979-80, the Oilers outscored the league average by 20 goals but surrendered 41 more goals than average. When the team won Stanley in 1984, Edmonton outscored the average by a stunning 130 goals, while also giving up two fewer goals than average.

Draisaitl's elite production has led the Oilers to a top-five position in the NHL standings and he is firmly in the mix to take home his second Hart Trophy. Per FanDuel Sportsbook, Draisaitl has the third-best odds to win the award at +320. Only Nathan MacKinnon at +280 and his Oilers teammate Connor McDavid at +300 have shorter odds.

John Klingberg signed a one-year contract with the Edmonton Oilers on Friday. Financial terms were not disclosed. The 32-year-old defenseman had five assists in 14 games for the Toronto Maple Leafs last season before having season-ending hip surgery in December 2023.

The idea that Conroy would send Andersson to Edmonton at the deadline has some problems. The two organizations have a bitter rivalry going back decades, with Calgary’s sole Stanley Cup built (by Cliff Fletcher and Bob Johnson) for the single purpose of beating the Oilers.

The Edmonton Oilers signed veteran defenceman John Klingberg this afternoon, and before enters the lineup, the Oilers are expected to make multiple roster moves.