Oilers Morning Practice Reveals a Defensemen is About to be Benched

Edmonton Oilers rookie defenseman Vincent Desharnais had a tough Game 1 against the Vegas Golden Knights, committing three costly turnovers that resulted in goals for the opposition.

As a result, it seems as though his spot in Game 2 may be in jeopardy.

The Oilers are reportedly considering making a change, with Markus Niemelainen potentially taking Desharnais' place. Niemelainen has a similar build to Desharnais, standing at 6'6" and weighing in at 190 pounds.

While it is still early in the series, with Vegas holding a 1-0 lead, the Oilers may be looking to shake things up and find a better fit for the Vegas matchup.


Niemelainen was seen practicing with the main group today, indicating that a change may indeed be in the works. Meanwhile, forward Mattias Janmark was absent from practice, further fueling speculation of lineup changes for Game 2.