Whether or not he remains in the lineup when Jakob Chychrun inevitably returns from injury, newly acquired Coyotes defenseman Jordan Oesterle has undoubtedly added a unique element to the club’s blue line — and it might be what saves his job.
Oesterle, 26, has had trouble establishing himself at the NHL level since breaking into the league during the 2014-15 season. Before skating in a career-high 55 games last season, Oesterle had never played in more than 17 games in a single season.
A big reason for that has been what makes Oesterle stand out from other defensemen: his offensive ability.