There are sometimes few members of the Edmonton Oilers more frustrating to watch than that of Mattias Janmark.

On one hand, he’s been a strong defensive player for the team over the last three years, helping the Oilers either break even or slightly push ahead in terms of controlling the on-ice play. On the other hand, there’s been little in the way of offence from him, and over the last two years there’s been long stretches where his game has gone quiet.

Couple that with a coaching staff that puts a little too much trust in him at times, and you’ve got a sticky situation.

These factors all came true this season, as Janmark chipped in a goal and 14 points at five-on-five this year, without really doing a whole lot more. While the defensive game was good, helping suppress opposing scoring chances and actual goals against, the Oilers were outscored 33-22 with him on the ice.

His offensive game was atrocious this season, driving play there at a staggering 15 percent rate below league average, though his defensive game and penalty kill work remained strong at three percent rates above league average, according to Hockey Viz. Janmark’s overall contributions were that of an average fourth-line player, which is about all he is at this point in his career.

And while Janmark flipped the script on his goal share in the playoffs, increasing it from 41.1 percent in the regular season to 62.5 percent in the playoffs, it saw the rest of his underlying numbers suffer, as the Oilers were heavily outplayed. Still, Playoff Mattias Janmark found a way to come through, scoring three goals including the game winner in Game 5 against the Los Angeles Kings.

With more competition arriving in Edmonton for depth spots this summer, there’s a realistic chance that Janmark starts to play fewer games as the team looks to get younger.

Zach Laing is Oilersnation’s associate editor, senior columnist, and The Nation Network’s news director. He also makes up one-half of the DFO DFS Report. He can be followed on Twitter, currently known as X, at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach.laing@bettercollective.com.