Edmonton Oilers claim defenseman off waivers from the Boston Bruins

The Boston Bruins have lost defenceman Alec Regula to the Edmonton Oilers on waivers. By all accounts, Alec Regula's departure brings an end to his brief time with the Bruins organization.

The 24-year-old defender was claimed by the Oilers mere moments into his time on the waiver wire, a hardly shocking development for observers, given his towering size and intriguing skillset, along with upside.

Young, right-shot defensemen represent one of the most valuable commodities around the NHL, and in theory, he should be a fascinating addition to the Oilers blueline, particularly given how thin they're penciled in on the right side.

The 24-year-old right-shot defenseman was solid defensively and chipped in offensively last season with the Providence Bruins of the AHL, recording four goals and 22 assists in 55 games while leading the team and league with a plus-36 rating.

After such a great season in Providence, Regula never did see any game action with the Bruins' NHL roster.

He still brings some NHL experience to Edmonton, having played 22 games with the Chicago Blackhawks, where he scored one goal and collected 16 penalty minutes.

There is really no NHL pedigree here, so the Oilers must have had something in mind when they acquired this young defender, likely his size and a skill set that might be developed into an NHL regular.

That gives Regula a fresh start with an organization looking to shore up its defensive core, while the Bruins also lose a promising prospect they likely hoped to retain for future development.