Edmonton Oilers

Did Alec Regula Hit a Snag or Did Oilers Know His Injury Status?

Recently acquired Alec Regula still has some hurdles to jump before he’s ready to be part of the Edmonton Oilers roster. Is this an issue?

by
Jim Parsons
December 15, 2024

The Edmonton Oilers’ plans to bolster their defensive depth with Alec Regula might have hit a snag, as the young defenseman remains far from game-ready. Claimed off waivers from the Boston Bruins earlier this week, Regula is still recovering from knee surgery undergone during his time with Boston’s organization. According to Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal, Regula is likely in the rehabilitation stage and could require a conditioning stint with the Bakersfield Condors before seeing NHL action.

Regula, 23, carries no cap hit while on injured reserve due to the terms of his two-way contract and lack of NHL games last season. However, his long-term readiness remains uncertain. If the plan was to slot him into the lineup sooner than later, it looks like later is the plan.

What Will Regula Bring to the Oilers When He’s Ready?

Standing at 6’4” and 212 pounds, the former London Knight—once paired with Oilers blueliner Evan Bouchard—brings size and vision to the ice.

Regula was excited about his eventual role, emphasizing some of his strengths: “I think I can help the team move the puck. Get the puck into the hands of the special players they have so they can make a lot of plays.”

While his passing and offensive instincts are NHL-caliber, concerns about his skating and defensive gap control persist. Analysts suggest these factors could limit his ability to secure consistent NHL minutes.

Alec Regula Edmonton Oilers — Alec Regula waiver pick up for the Edmonton Oilers

For now, Oilers fans will have to wait, as Regula continues his recovery to contribute to Edmonton’s blue line down the road.

It’s assumed the Oilers were well aware of his injury timeline when GM Stan Bowman snagged Regula off the waiver wire. If so, this is more of a long-term project than someone Edmonton figured they could slot in immediately and make a difference. Since he’s not costing the Oilers anything on the cap, the team isn’t in a big rush to figure out his financial situation.

And, when he’s ready, the Oilers can loan him to Bakersfield of the AHL for a conditioning stint, and waivers will not be required.

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