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Näkyvä, 28, is a native of Finland who played three full seasons in the Finnish Liiga before moving over to the SHL in 2014. The left-shooting defender has consistently posted about 0.5 points per game in four full years in Sweden’s top league, most recently 6-21-27 in 51 games with Örebro in 2018-19. This on top of three previous seasons of 29, 23 and 26 points, always in 50-55 GP.



Kristian Näkyvä player page at Elite Prospects

The Oilers are already plenty deep in defenders, with eight players locked up to one-way contracts and a half dozen younger rearguards bubbling under. One guy who fits both categories is Joel Persson, a right shot defender who signed with the Oilers a year ago only to be loaned back to his Swedish team Växjö Lakers this past season. Persson got an extension from the Oilers and is expected to cross the pond to compete for an NHL job come the fall.

Persson finished fifth amongSHL defencemen scoring this past year with 6-25-31 in 50 games, while Näkyvä finioshed tied for seventh with Erik “The Other Erik Gustafsson” Gustafsson with 6-21-27.

According an ancient (2013) EliteProspects scouting report, “Näkyvä is a defenseman with great skating ability and passing skills. Has great vision and a good shot. Excels on the powerplay, but could use more physical strength.”

He’s currently listed at 6’0, 198 pounds and hasn’t been a stranger to the penalty box during his years as a pro. One of those years was spent with the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL after the Nashville Predators brought him across in 2015-16. Näkyvä, then 24, was unable to makj a dent on one of the NHL’s top blueline corps, spending the year in Milwaukee where his boxcars of 69 GP, 1-9-10 don’t exactly jump off the page.