Oilers defenceman Joel Persson to make NHL debut vs. Kings

Edmonton Oilers defenceman Joel Persson (36) will make his NHL debut Saturday against the Los Angeles Kings. (Amber Bracken/CP)

Edmonton Oilers defenceman Joel Persson will make his NHL debut against the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday.

Persson, 25, missed the end of the pre-season and season-opener with a shoulder injury. He will replace Adam Larsson — who is out six-to-eight weeks with a fractured fibula — on the Oilers blue line.

“I’m excited,” Persson told reporters. “As a child you dream of getting the chance to play in the NHL and I get a chance tonight. So I’m really looking forward to that.”

The Oilers signed Persson in the off-season out of the Swedish Hockey League, where the right-shot defender spent the last two seasons with Vaxjo.

Last season in the SHL, he had six goals and 31 points in 50 games.

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