BLOG: Playfair's breakout mentality helping Oilers defence grow

EDMONTON, AB -Oilers Associate Coach Jim Playfair may have only played 21 career games as a defenceman in the National Hockey League but the blueline boss is an expert in the field.
The Oilers 20th-overall selection in the 1982 NHL Draft didn't have the longest playing career but gained his defensive acumen by patrolling bluelines from 1981-92, then instructing how to patrol them since 1993.
With Oilers Head Coach Dave Tippett away for the day, and given Playfair's focus on the defensive side of the game, it came as no surprise that when the associate coach stood before the media following practice on Friday, questions about the club's rearguards took precedence.
Playfair - who improved the Oilers goals-against per game from 3.30 in the 2018-19 season to 3.04 in '19-20 and the penalty kill from 74.8 percent to 84.5 - began with an update on Oscar Klefbom. The blueliner has been sidelined with a shoulder injury, last appearing in game action on Feb. 16 when the Oilers defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3 in overtime.
The Swedish defender was on the recent three-game Central Division trip and participated in Friday's optional skate as he continues eyeing a return to the team bench.

The Oilers remain in the thick of a tight playoff race, currently placing second in the Pacific Division with 80 points - two back of the Vegas Golden Knights, who visit Edmonton on Monday.
The postseason is a different beast than the regular schedule and Playfair believes the Orange & Blue will need collective efforts from the group to clinch their ticket and make a run. Edmonton's depth on the blueline offers a variety of complexions, which could be beneficial going forward.
"I think this: it's going to take eight or nine to get where we want to go," Playfair said.
"I think we have the luxury of some guys that shoot left that can play on the right side. We got Greeny (Mike Green) coming back. If we're chasing a game, we can put Greeny up with Klef. If we're defending a game, we can put Lars (Adam Larsson) up there. We got veteran experience with Rusty (Kris Russell) and with Benny (Matt Benning). And we got young kids coming along, trying to figure out how to play this time of year.
"It's a really good combination when you break it all down and look at it. We can move players around. I think having Klef coming in will help stabilize and settle everybody back into positions I think we all feel they're more comfortable in and probably better suited to play."