Lagesson was my surprise player of this game. I don’t think he will make it this year given he’s a leftie but I could see him replacing Russell next year. It’s only one game but he sure looks like he’s leapfrogged Jones on the depth chart.
Lagesson benefits from having an easier niche to carve out. If you look at Jones he's a smooth skating defenceman, who can move the puck, but isn't a proper OFD. How does he distinguish himself from Klefbom and Nurse? Lagesson can give you a proper defensive option.
I'm taking an elementary approach to this, but for a defence you would ideal have 2 proper offensive options, 2 shutdown options, and 2 strong 2-way guys. If you can have someone that covers multiple angles, than that a win; but the Oil don't really have that. Thus if you look at the Oilers' top 6 you see...
Shutdown: Larsson and Russell
2-way: Nurse and Klefbom
Offensive: No proven options. Bouchard and Persson are the two best pure talents in the organisation, with Klefbom, Nurse, Day, Bear, and Jones also in the conversation. But even then, most of the latter group would be better classified as 2-way.
If you looking at it this way...
- The offensive options should sort themselves self out over the next year or two, as the cream of the prospect pool rises to the top.
- Regarding the 2-way guys, Nurse and Klefbom are likely both here for the next 3+ years. This will make it tough for Jones (and even Samorukov )to break through.
- When it comes to the shutdown role however, Russell could be gone as soon as next year, and I'm not sure how long Larsson can be worth his contract**. That opens up a pretty clear path for Lagesson.
** I like Larsson, but I question paying a physical and not fleet-of-foot defenceman into his late 20's and early 30's. Guys like Seabrook, Hamonic, Braun, Orpik, Regher, Hjalmarsson, Boychuk, Hamhuis, have all faded pretty quickly once they got to that age.