HELP FOR THE BLUELINE: NEW COACH IN LINE?

Bob Stauffer is as subtle as a slap in the mouth at the best of times, so, based on all the hints he dropped on Oilers Lunch on TEAM 1260 today, I’m guessing the Edmonton Oilers are considering adding an organizational coach to help develop a blue line bursting with prospects.

It’s either that, or Stauffer is strongly suggesting that they should — given the swelling ranks of youngsters on the back end, the addition of a defensive coach makes sense to me. Stauffer was tap dancing around the possibility today.

Who might that be? How about Jason Strudwick? Might the Oilers put in a call to the Dallas Stars for permission to talk to Charlie Huddy, who is not all that far removed from his tenure here with Craig MacTavish?

Just looking at the list of defensive prospects at the camp being held right now at Millennium Place — Martin Gernat, Dillon Simpson, Martin Marincin, Colten Teubert and David Musil — let alone roster players and others close to NHL employment, a new addition could pay dividends.

The Oilers already have Mike Sillinger, Fred Chabot and Bill Moores at the heart of the player development program they’ve put in place, why not somebody to baby sit the blueliners? Strudwick? Huddy? Jason Smith? Stay tuned . . .