Oilers notebook: Low-risk Hallander adds depth, compete to forward corps |
ANAHEIM — So long, Stastney; hello, Hallander.
Rather than lose defenceman Spencer Stastney on waivers, Edmonton Oilers general manager Stan Bowman recycled him into a six-foot-two Swedish forward, nabbing Filip Hallander in a one-for-one with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
“We've been interested in his game for a while,” said Bowman. “He played a really offensive style when he was in Sweden. It's good to see that he's got that ability to make plays. But in addition, we like the fact that he's a worker and he competes. He plays at a high pace. I think he's going to fit in well with the way that Mike wants our players to play.”
We asked around about the player, and if you keep in mind the cost of acquisition — an eighth defenceman — an 11th or 12th forward coming back is likely a fair return.
Hallander will join the team in San Jose Thursday. He is said to be a better-than-decent penalty killer, with average boots and above-average skill. One scout said the more he watched him, the more he liked the player — but there isn’t anything that knocks you over on first viewing.
A Swedish scout called Hallander “a little bit of a heavy skater. But powerful, with decent hands. Quiet kid and very serious.”
Hallander missed most of last season when he was diagnosed in November of 2025 with a blood clot in his leg after being struck by a puck. He rehabbed for 10 months before being cleared to play, and made his........