FEATURE: Walker hopes to inject speed, PK relief with Oilers

EDMONTON, AB - Growing up in the Land Down Under - where the water is blue, not frozen, and the sand sits on shores, not salted on roads - is Nathan Walker.
The Oilers claimed Walker on Friday from the Washington Capitals in an effort to increase team speed and get some help on the penalty kill, which ranks 31st in the League. Walker said Oilers President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Peter Chiarelli spoke with him about how they will potentially deploy the forward.

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"They said they like my speed and think I can be an effective player on the penalty kill, which I like to think I can," he said via phone.
By his own admission, Walker's game revolves around skating, grinding along the boards and disturbing opposing defencemen. Listed as 5-foot-9 and 186-pounds, Walker has played seven career NHL games. They've all been in the 2017-18 season with the Caps and the forward has one goal so far in his NHL career.
"I like to think I'm speedy and I can get in on the forecheck and disrupt the D," the forward said. "Hopefully I can just bring the energy and the game that I bring in a positive way to Edmonton."
Oilers Head Coach Todd McLellan said he hadn't had much of an opportunity to watch Walker play but was provided intel on the skater.
"The management and the scouting staff talk about the pace that he plays with: his speed, his ability to penalty kill and just on the upward curve of his career and his entrée into the National Hockey League," McLellan said Friday.
"Perhaps there's something there that we can develop."

Mark Letestu and the rest of the Oilers, meanwhile, weren't aware he was claimed when asked about what Walker could bring to the squad.
"I know nothing about him other than he's Australian," Letestu said. "Hopefully he comes in and provides a spark."
Although he hasn't seen much of the Oilers having spent the bulk of his time in the American Hockey League and with the Capitals, Walker hopes the Oilers can begin heading in the right direction with him on the club.
"They're definitely a dynamic team and I think they're ready to win," he said. "Hopefully, we can get the ball rolling and start stacking up those points."