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The Edmonton Oilers are currently focused on winning their next series after taking out the Los Angeles Kings in six games, and are preparing to take on the Vegas Golden Knights. However, they recently dealt with one of their pending free agents and got a deal done. On Friday (May. 2), the Edmonton Oilers announced they had re-signed defender Alec Regula on a two-year, two-way extension worth $775,000.
Regula, who is 24 years old, was claimed off waivers from the Boston Bruins by the Oilers this season, but hasn’t played a game this season due to an injury. He stands 6-foot-4, 212 pounds, and is a right-shot defender from West Bloomfield Township, Michigan. He was drafted in the third round of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft at 67th overall by the Detroit Red Wings after a strong showing in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the London Knights, where he scored seven goals and added 18 assists for 25 points through 67 games.
He returned to the Knights for the next two seasons and finished his OHL career with 45 goals and 79 assists for 124 points through 189 games. He never played a game for the Red Wings and joined the Chicago Blackhawks’ organization, where he made his professional debut in the 2020-21 season. He had no points in three games with the Blackhawks, but had three goals and one assist for four points through 16 games with the Rockford IceHogs in the American Hockey League (AHL). The following season, he scored one goal in 15 games with the Blackhawks and had four goals and 22 assists for 26 points through 41 games with the IceHogs.
Regula was involved in the Taylor Hall trade between the Blackhawks and Bruins, which landed him with the Providence Bruins in the AHL for the 2023-24 season. In 55 games that season, he scored four goals and added 22 assists for 26 points. As he continues to deal with an injury, the Oilers are hoping he can add organizational depth and push for a roster spot in the 2025-26 season.
Does He Have a Future in the NHL With the Oilers?
The short answer is, maybe. The longer answer is that it may come down to several factors that may not be in his hands. If he comes into training camp next season and showcases himself as a potential seventh defender, he could make the opening night roster and get some games in. However, the Oilers have a strong defensive core right now, and he would have to beat out a mainstay on the current roster to have a chance at earning playing time.
The Oilers do need to figure out their situation with pending restricted free agent (RFA) Evan Bouchard, who could be looking at a massive extension as his strong postseason performance has gotten people talking, which could affect Regula directly. If the Oilers end up moving on from Bouchard because they can’t get a deal done, they may have a spot wide open for the taking, unless they go out and try to find a replacement.
Regula does have NHL experience, which benefits him in terms of potentially finding his way back to the NHL, but he has joined an extremely deep Oilers team looking to make a push for a Stanley Cup. Realistically, he probably sticks in the AHL with the Bakersfield Condors while he tries to continue gaining confidence as he returns from injury, but likely gets called up first in the event of any injuries on the Oilers’ blue line. For now, being able to bring him back at an affordable price gives the Condors even more strength on the back end, which is exactly what they need.
As the 2024-25 postseason moves along, be sure to continue following The Hockey Writers as your source for news from around the NHL and the hockey world.
More must-reads:
- Carter Hart, others found not guilty in Hockey Canada sexual assault trial
- Yankees have finally found their third baseman in Ryan McMahon
- The 'NBA Summer League MVPs' quiz
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TODAY'S BEST
Proposed Matheson Trade Makes Little Sense for Canadiens or Maple Leafs
A recent trade pitch from Heavy.com has the Toronto Maple Leafs acquiring veteran defenseman Mike Matheson from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Simon Benoit, restricted free agent Nick Robertson, and a 2028 third-round pick. While the idea might seem intriguing on paper—especially for a Toronto team looking to add offensive punch from the blue line—the numbers don’t add up terribly well. Matheson, entering the final year of his eight-year, $39 million contract, carries a $4.875 million cap hit. In this hypothetical deal, the Leafs would send out Benoit’s $1.35 million salary and the unsigned Robertson, meaning the club would be taking on over $3.5 million in additional cap obligations. As it stands, the Maple Leafs don’t have that kind of space to play with. In fact, the deal would put them roughly $675,000 over the salary cap, forcing GM Brad Treliving to make additional moves just to stay compliant. That’s a steep price for a player they don’t necessarily need. Toronto’s blue line is already deep, especially with recent additions like Chris Tanev and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. The team also has Morgan Rielly and Jake McCabe, with Brandon Carlo acquired at last season’s trade deadline. Treliving has made it clear he likes the “length” and physicality of his defense corps. While Matheson would add some offensive flair—he posted 31 points in 80 games last season—he doesn’t offer enough of a game-changing upgrade to justify the cap crunch when the real need is more scoring up front. If the idea is to gain that scoring from the back end, it can only mean Toronto has run out of realistic options for their top-six forward group. Canadiens Likely Don’t Love This Trade Either The Canadiens, for their part, could benefit from shedding salary on a player they no longer really need and acquiring two young, controllable pieces. However, as one commenter on the post noted, GM Kent Hughes likes Matheson and has already said there is no rush to trade the defenseman. The Canadiens need a second-line center, and the return from Toronto doesn’t help fill that need. From Toronto’s perspective, this move feels like a forced fit. For Montreal, it removes a tradeable asset and doesn’t bring them back what they’re ideally looking for.
All signs point to Yankees moving on from Anthony Volpe
With the trade for Ryan McMahon now complete, it would seem New York Yankees’ general manager Brian Cashman has fulfilled one of his three priorities. He can now cross third base off the list, which leaves the rotation and bullpen as his remaining priorities. However, according to one Yankees writer, Cashman might not be done with the infield. Chris Kirschner of The Athletic reported this after the McMahon trade: “The Yankees may not be done adding to their infield. A team source said the Yankees are interested in adding a right-handed hitter who could play the infield.” Kirschner adds that the Yankees have had interest in Willi Castro and Amed Rosario. But the question now is, how would another player fit in the Yankees’ infield? Needless to say, Paul Goldschmidt and Jazz Chisholm Jr. aren’t going anywhere, and McMahon is just getting there. That leaves the low-hanging fruit. Anthony Volpe has been at the center of controversy all this season. His 13 errors, many of which had come at make-or-break moments, amount to the second-highest total in the game. In addition, his bat has not been able to compensate, hitting .214/.286/.407 with 14 home runs. There was always a lot to like about Volpe. He won a Gold Glove in his rookie year, his power has always been promising and his speed is nothing to scoff at. Unfortunately, his glove has become a liability and his speed has also produced very few results. Volpe has swiped just 10 bags in 17 attempts. His power is the one thing that still has some upside, but it hasn’t been enough to justify a spot in the lineup. Both Castro and Rosario have been far more productive at the plate this season than Volpe. Kirschner doesn’t clarify how serious the Yankees are in their pursuit of another infielder, but that most likely isn’t available information. Having just turned 24, Volpe could still become the type of player that was expected from him as a top prospect. However, his recent performance has weighed heavily on his team’s efforts and it may be buying him a ticket out of the Bronx — or at least a spot on the bench.
Athletics' Nick Kurtz makes MLB history vs. Astros
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76ers unexpectedly waive veteran guard despite career season
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