This off-season has been full of moves but one team that been making a lot of moves is the Edmonton Oilers. They have been getting new people in the front office, acquiring players like Cam Talbot from the New York Rangers, and drafting what people say is the next Crosby in Connor McDavid. Now they are beefing up the defense, the team and free agent defenseman Andrej Sekera have agreed on a six year contract worth 33 million dollars with a cap hit of 5.5 million per season.
Last season playing for the Carolina Hurricanes and Los Angeles Kings, Sekera scored 3 goals, producing 20 assists, with a plus minus of minus 3, in 73 games played. Sekera started out the season in Carolina, but alas, the team was not a playoff team, so Sekera was shipped off to a playoff contender in Los Angeles Kings he did good for the Kings but not enough to help them make the playoffs.
Even though Sekera had an off year last year there is still a lot to like about him. He is a great defenseman, he knows how to body check, and he can give you some offensive fire power. He is more of an offensive defenseman then defensive, but he will be helping Edmonton a lot.
Edmonton is getting a great top line defenseman in Sekera. The team has a lot of good young talented defensemen on the roster, they needed someone who has experience, and who knows how to get the job done defensively, so that he can teach the younger players how to perform. With him on board, maybe Edmonton might be able to make some noise this upcoming season.
Sekera will be going to a team that is trying to build something special in Edmonton, he gets locked up long term and of course he also gets a good amount of money. Of course with that money there is going to be a lot of people relying on him in Edmonton. But give him first or second defensive pairing time, good ice time, and then this will turn out to be a great deal for both sides.