EXTENDED: Oilers Sign Slater Koekkoek For Two More Years

The Oilers have re-signed the pride of Mountain, Ontario to a two year contract.

Slater Koekkoek is back for two years, and he’ll average 925K through the 2022-23 season.

Over this past week, the Oilers were reported to be on the lookout for a third pairing defenceman for the left side. Having spent an injury shortened season with the Oilers this past year, Koekkoek’s name seemingly was on the short list. Today, he and the club make it official for another two years.

Limited to just 18 games this past season, Koekkoek suffered a broken collarbone against the Flames just two days after his 27th birthday in late February. Koekkoek was sidelined until he dressed in the last game of the regular season nearly three months later. He appeared in all four playoff games averaging about twelve and a half minutes.

Koekkoek’s most common partner at evens was Tyson Barrie, which would help explain a meagre 42%CF on the season. That number will likely increase if Koekkoek is paired with Cody Ceci, but it’s anyone’s guess to see what Tippett has cooking up as far as pairs go.

Koekkoek is an OK bet for the third pair, though I’m unsure as to why you’d extend this kind of player a second year. The Oilers now have a glut of defencemen at this position. With Kris Russell, Slater Koekkoek and William Lagesson all potential third-pair players with a newly acquired Duncan Keith expected to handle 2LD, I’m guessing that (barring a trade) there will be a defence-by-committee approach to the left side on the second and third positions. With Kris Russell having played right side on the second pair over the last few years, it really wouldn’t surprise me to see a Koekkoek / Russell pairing at some point in the season.

Slater Koekkoek is back for two years. The Oilers are likely now just a Kailer Yamamoto contract away from wrapping up the big business this offseason.