Oilers at Canucks, Game Seven 2022-23 Preseason

Many years ago, the Oilers drafted three young blue who were headed to (or drafted from) college hockey. They were about equal offensively, and there was a time when it was uncertain which player (if any) would win an NHL job. Things change in a hurry.

THE ATHLETIC!

• New Lowetide: Is Oilers’ Connor McDavid facing Hart Trophy voter fatigue?
• New DNB: Ryan Murray, Dmitri Samorukov try to make up for lost time in fight to crack Oilers
• DNB: Dylan Holloway’s emergence for Oilers puts Jesse Puljujarvi’s future into focus
• Lowetide: Is this the year an Edmonton Oilers player wins the Calder Trophy?
• Jonathan Willis: Jakob Chychrun would look good on the Oilers, but is there a deal to be had?
• Lowetide: Oilers cuts headed to AHL Bakersfield. What will it look like?
• DNB: 10 observations from the first week of games
• DNB: Oilers’ Connor McDavid may have 50 goals in his reach, but a bigger goal remains
• Lowetide: How Jay Woodcroft’s Oilers training camp differs from previous coaches
• Lowetide: Are Edmonton Oilers’ recent trades supported by analytics?
• DNB: How Edmonton Oilers’ salary cap and training camp impacts roster decisions
• DNB: Darnell Nurse’s big-money contract with Oilers isn’t going to change who he is or how he plays
• DNB: 10 questions to address in training camp
• Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers’ right wing options on skill lines may be shifting
• Lowetide: The truth about Jesse Puljujarvi and the Edmonton Oilers
• DNB: Jack Campbell is determined to win in Edmonton: ‘I’m ready for this’
• Lowetide: Making the early call on Edmonton Oilers’ 2018 draft haul
• Lowetide: 9 Bold Predictions for the 2022-23 Edmonton Oilers
• Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers reasonable expectations for every player in 2022-23
• Lowetide: Who will the Oilers trade for cap purposes?
• Lowetide: Oilers top-20 prospects, summer 2022

NOTES FROM SUMMER 2008

• RHD Jeff Petry: This is Dan’s son. He does not have first round pedigree but if they re-drafted that season one suspects Petry would go in the first 30 picks. Has a wide range of skills and keeps picking up awards and honors as he rolls through his amateur career. A little shy of Chorney as a skater.
• LHD Taylor Chorney: He moves the puck very well and has plus speed. That’s a wonderful combination for a defender and makes up for a lack of size. I think we’ll see Chorney play in the NHL a little in 08-09.
• LHD Cody Wild: Oilers signed Wild on the strength of his NCAA season for Providence (32gp, 4-18-22) and he arrived in time to play a little in Springfield (13gp, 1-2-3). One of three recently drafted college defenders (Chorney, Petry, Wild) who have a nice combination of skills that are similar to each other. There doesn’t seem to be a whole lot of separation.

Narrator: There was, in fact, a great degree of separation. Petry hit pro hockey late in the 2009-10 season. He showed he was offensively capable and had some issues in outscoring at even strength. He would clean that up in a hurry, and spend just 51 regular-season games in the minors. Taylor Chorney, fast as lightning, had difficulty adjusting to the structure of pro hockey, spending 196 games in the AHL with Edmonton’s minor league affiliate (Oklahoma City Barons) and landed shy of 200 NHL games (166). In all, he would spend 400 games in the AHL. Cody Wild didn’t play in the NHL, and divided his minor league time between AHL (201) and ECHL (123). Separation indeed.

What does that mean for the young Oilers blue currently pushing for roster spots? All of Philip Broberg, Dmitri Samorukov and Markus Niemelainen were well regarded on draft day, so there is no Cody Wild outlier crashing the party (yet). We don’t know what we don’t know about these men, and all have enough talent to play in 200 NHL games or more if things break right.

History tells us the waiver issue holds enormous importance in these moments and I expect it’s possible Samorukov wins the day and a roster spot. Edmonton would be betting on an injury to a defenseman and that’s a solid bet beginning shortly after the puck drops. Oilers would have to trade one of Warren Foegele or Jesse Puljujarvi to get it done. Trust me. If the team doesn’t make a trade, expect this roster or similar.

Samorukov and Mattias Janmark are waived, weakening defense future and two-way/PF forward now in the process. It is an unattractive option but the tight fit of this roster makes it necessary. Here’s what I would do.

You can place Benson on IR, keep Samorukov on the roster and the cap room ($12,667) is razor thin. The price? Warren Foegele traded. The Oilers have depth on the wing, Holloway is a flat out rookie and we’re not absolutely certain about McLeod’s offense, but it’s a reasonable bet on both men. The defense is protected with Murray as the veteran extra and the trade deadline should have a piece on defense (Niemalainen, Samorukov) to deal.

TOP 20 PROSPECTS

I think the top-20 this winter will look much different. Philip Broberg, Dylan Holloway and Stuart Skinner are all poised to graduate, resulting in massive change at the top. Here’s my summer top 20. Who is your No. 1?

LOWETIDE AND JAMIESON

A busy day, 10-2 on TSN1260. Scheduled to appear are Chris Johnston (at noon), Tom Gazzola, Bruce McCurdy from the Cult of Hockey at the Edmonton Journal, Christian Saulsberry (Elks returner) at 1:40 and we’re still reaching out. Waivers at noon! 10-1260 text, @Lowetide on twitter. Talk soon!