Stan Bowman just acquired a seriously underrated weapon

Mathieu Joseph signed a one-year, $900,000 deal with the Edmonton Oilers this summer, and barely anyone noticed.

Babcock's first offseason behind Edmonton's bench brought plenty of louder additions. Frederik Andersen in net, Kasperi Kapanen back in the fold, Connor Murphy and Ryan Shea added to the blue line.

Joseph's contract barely registered next to all that. Signings like this are usually the hockey equivalent of finding loose change under the couch cushions, nice, but nobody expects much.

He still put up 11 points in 51 games last season, with a shorthanded goal and a game-winner mixed in.

That production came for $900,000 against the cap. Fourth-line money, fourth-line job, at least on paper.

The Oilers actually have real competition at the bottom of their lineup. Trent Frederic managed just seven points in 74 games last season.

Colton Dach was a step ahead of that, picking up 13 points in 61 games while soaking up extended fourth-line minutes.

Janmark-Nylen suddenly has company at the bottom of the roster

Joshua Samanski chipped in four points in 24 games and looks like the default option at fourth-line center.

Mattias Janmark-Nylen posted eight points in 43 games, numbers that look a lot shakier now with another body in the mix.

Kapanen, for comparison, put up 17 points in 41 games and looks ticketed for a bigger job further up the lineup.

Joseph scored a shorthanded goal of his own last season, a small sign his previous coaches trusted him in tight defensive spots.

But his production dried up down the stretch. He didn't register a point over his final ten games of the season.

Fourth-line depth moves rarely get attention in July. This one still deserves more than a shrug, Edmonton didn't just add a body here.

Edmonton closed last season 41-30-11 for 93 points, 14th overall, with a plus-13 goal differential and a 6-2-2 finish to close it out.

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Whether Joseph cracks the opening night lineup or starts in the press box, Edmonton's bottom six picture is far from settled before training camp.

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