Locked On Oilers - Daily Podcast On The Edmonton Oilers

Nick Zararis breaks down the major $11 million defensive puzzle facing the Edmonton Oilers heading into the upcoming season: who earns the left-side spot on the second pair alongside Connor Murphy? On this episode of Locked On Oilers, we take a deep dive into the underlying metrics, transition profiles, and career trajectories of two unconventional late bloomers: free-agent signee Ryan Shea and veteran blue-liner Jake Walman.

Both defensemen took non-traditional routes through college hockey and extended AHL stints before establishing themselves in the NHL. Shea brings a strong possession and exit profile from his breakout campaign with the Pittsburgh Penguins, where he put up impressive goal-share numbers despite non-elite matchups. Walman offers dynamic high-end transition play, carrying exits, and offensive upside, but questions remain regarding his net-front defense and injury history.

Nick walks through the statistical cases for both players, evaluating how each profile fits next to Connor Murphy's shutdown style and how Edmonton's revamped bottom-six forward group impacts these defensive pairings. Ultimately, contract value and organizational equity give one candidate the early edge to start the season on the second unit

06:17 Evaluating Oilers' risky defense deals

07:43 Discussing Penguins' defensive lineup options

10:58 Comparing Ryan Shea and Jake Wallman

15:53 Penguins' goaltending and team performance

17:46 Ryan Shea's playing style

20:57 Jake Wallman's 2025 performance

25:52 Evaluating late bloomer NHL players

27:32 Analyzing Oilers' Options in Defense

Who Will Win Edmonton’s 2nd Pair Defense Spot? | Ryan Shea vs. Jake Walman

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With reports that Columbus Blue Jackets right winger Kirill Marchenko has requested a trade, Nick Zararis breaks down why the Edmonton Oilers should explore a deal. From his underlying analytics and transition metrics to the literal trade cost, potential contract extension, and line fit alongside Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl, we analyze every angle of a potential block-buster trade!

04:22 Challenges for European NHL Players

09:40 Discussing Kirill Marchenko Trade Rumors

11:30 Blue Jackets' player negotiations

16:54 Marchenko's offensive play and potential

20:08 Oilers' future with McDavid and Draisaitl

21:09 Oilers facing aging superstar challenges

25:36 Evaluating potential top 6 winger

Why the Oilers should trade for Kirill Marchenko | Trade and extension cost

Everydayer Club
If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub

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FanDuel

Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COM to play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season.

 

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

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Will Mike Babcock's coaching style work with the Edmonton Oilers' current goalie room? In this Tuesday edition of Locked On Oilers, host Nick Zararis dives deep into Mike Babcock’s historical usage of goaltenders. 

From riding "bell cow" goalies like Jean-Sébastien Giguère in Anaheim to his heavy reliance on Chris Osgood and Dominik Hasek in Detroit, Babcock's systems demand massive workloads. But with a current Edmonton trio of Tristan Jarry, Frederik Andersen, and Devon Levi, the Oilers face a major challenge. Zararis breaks down why Jarry and Andersen's injury histories make a 50+ start season highly unlikely, and what this means for Babcock's return to the NHL after a 7-year absence.

05:13 Coaching impact on Stanley Cup wins

08:02 Coaching experience and goalie concerns

10:29 Discussing Mike Babcock's goalie usage

14:30 Ducks and Red Wings Championships

19:13 Goaltending's impact on playoff hopes

23:45 Concerns about goalie workload

25:36 Oilers' goalie challenges and strategy

Why Mike Babcock's Goalie History could be Bad News for the Edmonton Oilers

Everydayer Club
If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub

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FanDuel

Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COM to play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season.

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

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On today’s episode of Locked On Oilers, host Nick dives deep into the environmental factors and historical context surrounding Mike Babcock’s return as an NHL head coach—this time behind the bench for the Edmonton Oilers!

We explore Babcock's previous tenure with the Toronto Maple Leafs and break down how his past relationships with current Oilers players will impact the team's upcoming season. From Zach Hyman's evolution into a superstar to managing Frederik Andersen's workload, this episode covers everything you need to know about Edmonton's new era

 

01:24 - Context Matters: The Toronto Maple Leafs Rebuild 

05:14 - Babcock's Arrival in Toronto & The Matthews/Marner Era 

10:26 - Zach Hyman’s Unlikely Path to NHL Stardom 

14:44 - How Babcock Used Hyman in Toronto 

17:39 - Why Hyman Pushed for Babcock to Coach Edmonton 

19:23 - Managing Frederik Andersen & Modern NHL Goalie Workloads 

25:21 - Kasperi Kapanen: From Toronto Prospect to Oilers Utility Player 

28:00 - Outro & Next Episode Preview

Everydayer Club
If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub

Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!

FanDuel

Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COMto play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season.

 

Odoo
Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon. 

Indeed
Now, you can speed up your hiring process with a $75 Sponsored Job Credit. Just go to https://indeed.com/podcastright now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Terms and conditions apply.

 

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

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Do sports and ancient mythology have more in common than we think? On this Wednesday edition of Locked On Oilers, host Nick Zararis explores the deep connections between ancient storytelling, like Homer's The Odyssey, and the enduring legacies of modern athletes.

From the hero's journey of prodigies like Connor McDavid and LeBron James to the folk-hero status of Bo Jackson, we dive into how sports magic is created, remembered, and passed down. Whether it's the cultural impact of the 1980 Miracle on Ice or the archetype of the Canadian hockey player, this episode breaks down why we need sports myths to believe in something bigger than ourselves.

04:59 Young Athletes and Legacy

07:53 Bo Jackson's athletic career

11:08 Discussion on knowledge and magic in life

13:46 Building a sports analysis framework

16:50 Sports team legends and memories

22:25 The legacy of tough hockey tactics

24:35 Underdogs and Canadian hockey legends

27:44 Discussing mythology and sports culture

The Hero's Journey: Connor McDavid, the Odyssey and sports Mythology

Everydayer Club
If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub

Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!

FanDuel

Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COMto play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season.

Odoo
Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon. 

Indeed
Now, you can speed up your hiring process with a $75 Sponsored Job Credit. Just go to https://indeed.com/podcastright now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Terms and conditions apply.

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

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