The Edmonton Oilers have announced that defenceman Andrej Sekera is sidelined for indefinitely with a torn Achilles tendon.
#Oilers d-man Andrej Sekera underwent successful surgery today to repair a torn Achilles tendon. Sekera was injured during an off-season training session & will be sidelined indefinitely. pic.twitter.com/Wum0OS6ZFb
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) August 14, 2018
Andrej Sekera Out Indefinitely
Sekera was said to have injured himself during off-season training in Europe. He underwent surgery and will be out for the foreseeable future.
Sekera registered just eight assists for eight points in 36 games last season. He also added six penalty minutes. His possession numbers were 49.4 percent Corsi and a relative Corsi of 1.2.
The 32-year-old has played for the Buffalo Sabres, Carolina Hurricanes, Los Angeles Kings and Edmonton Oilers. He has put up 45 goals and 187 assists for 232 career points in 683 career games. He was originally drafted in the third round, 71st overall of the 2004 NHL draft by the Buffalo Sabres.
The setback comes after he missed most of last season recovering from a knee injury he suffered during the 2016-17 playoffs. He tore his ACL during that postseason and the Oilers struggled without him in the lineup. Sekera was a key part of Edmonton’s playoff run two seasons ago. He supplied a goal and two assists for three points in 11 postseason games during the 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs.
What This Means For The Future
The injury opens up a huge hole in the Oilers’ blueline and general manager Peter Chiarelli will have make a move to shore up the group. Edmonton has just under $5 million in cap space according to Cap Friendly. Chiarelli is likely to see what’s out there for defencive help. Sekera may also be put on long term injured reserve and earn extra cap space.
Sekera was a solid puck-moving defender his first two seasons with the Oilers. He registered 30 points in 2015-16 and 35 points in 2016-17.
The injury may also force an extended look at recent draftee Evan Bouchard, who was drafted 10th overall in the 2018 NHL draft. Bouchard may get tossed into the lineup early as the Oilers scramble for a solution.
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