The Edmonton Oilers preseason gets underway tonight. The club’s final roster is basically known, but the hope for all involved is some pleasant surprises along the way. I’ll be watching Matthew Savoie, Noah Philp, Jayden Grubbe, Raphael Lavoie, Max Wanner, Beau Akey (if he plays) and Olivier Rodrigue. Good chance all of these names are on the outside looking in when the final cuts are made. You can read about all of the hopefuls here.
OILERS CERTAIN (18) AND UNCERTAIN (15)
I could move Corey Perry, Derek Ryan and Josh Brown up to certain, but believe Pederson, Philp, Hamblin, Lavoie, Kemp and Dermott have enough of a shot to allow a little doubt into the conversation. I like this team, would like it more with Artem Zub added to the RH defense. The deadline hovers over this roster even in September.
THE DISTANT BELLS (15)
Among the distant bells, I’m curious about Jayden Grubbe. He was everything the coach asked him to be last season, and was the most impressive prospect forward in Bakersfield. That has value, especially if he sustains it during this camp. Carl Berglund is hurt, but I haven’t seen anything on specific length of time, so there’s no (inj) next to his name. The RW’s listed here could easily get lost in the flood of training camp. Max Wanner remains a Wonder and it’s possible the coach Wanders into the realm of the impossible and keeps him late in this camp. It’s a fun time of year. Lineups posted when they come out.
Come on now Oilers, its exhibition game 1 – how about a lineup?
Looks like the preseason games will be on Oilers+ that is dissapointing they’ve always had it on Oilers.com or their YouTube channel
Ah I just paid the 9$ lol I’m good now
Platooning Perry and Lavoie all season is a smart move. I would like to see Podkolzin and Lavoie as 2/3rds of a hard forechecking line.
Perry arriving in the playoff in top playing shape, and Lavoie arriving with 45 NHL games under his belt. Would be great.
Platooning Emberson, Stetcher, Brown all season is a smart move. Getting 50 games for Emberson to see what we have is going to help before the trade deadline.
Leave Savoie in the minors until February at 1C, 1PP and 2PK, lots of ice time 5v5 and 5v4.
Come playoffs, you get Kane back, Perry ready for one more shot, Podkolzin has a another full NHL season, a 6-4, 220 RW with a great shot, 3 NHL deman, Savoie as a great black ace and cap space to add where needed.
I agree 100% about Lavoie/Perry platooning but one primary issue is how, vis-a-vis cap space.
Without putting Kane on LTIR, the Oilers don’t have room for an extra forward unless they take their opening day cap space from the projected $950K (apx) down to, well, $175K (apx) and that would crater their accrual.
Of course, maybe they waive Ryan but I don’t think Lavoie is a roster replacement for Ryan (that would be Pederson/Philp/Hamblin).
They could waive Laovie and Perry (separately) and then can bring them up and down at will until one plays 10 games or is on the NHL roster for 30 days (in aggregate).
As of now, I don’t see Lavoie on the roster if each of Ryan, Perry, Podz are.
Ken Wiebe
@WiebesWorld
#NHLJets line combos this am:
Connor-Scheifele-Vilardi
Namestnikov-Lambert-Iafallo
(Rotating)-Lowry-Appleton
Chibrikov-Shaw-Barron
Morrissey-DeMelo
Samberg-Pionk
Fleury-Miller
Kuzmin-Lundmark
Hellebuyck
Milic
DiVincentiis
bcurlock
@bcurlock
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15m
Nikita Yevseyev continues to get as many shifts with AK Bars in games as I do. Today was three straight games of zero. I’m likely not in as good of game shape as him, but the gap is narrowing.
That is an excellent and hilarious way to phrase that bad bit of news. +1 for Mr Curlock.
Our old preseason friend Jesse Puljujarvi is at it again. Last night’s game score was Buffalo 7, Puljujarvi 3.
We in Oil Country are familiar with his exploits. Who else recalls the 2018 NHL preseason scoring leaders?
We were not far off from winning two playoff rounds*, and I thought Rattie-McDavid-Puljujarvi was going to be the dynamite line to take us to the next level.
*2017 Round 2: Oilers 3, Refs 2, Ducks 2.
Great list!
I think coach mentioned that Akey will not play as he needs clearance from his surgeon which hasn’t hasn’t happened yet. Chaulk did say while in Penticton that Akey is scheduled to start the season on time in Barrie.
I will be interested to see Grubbe – I was a bit underwhelmed with him and Petrov in Penticton – not that Grubbe will “stand out with flair” but I did expect those two, having a full AHL season behind them, to impact the game more consistently and overtly. Since the trade for Grubbe, the Oilers have added Philp (similar style player as Grubbe but, in my opinion, way ahead and NHL ready) and O’Riley (highest pedigree and potential of all three) as 2-way right shot centers.
Lavoie needs to start strong, starting today and tomorrow and earn games with legit established NHL players (presuming he’s on “an AHL line” to start today). As of right now, they look to carry 13F, including Kane, and Lavoie is on the outside looking in. He’s not a “Ryan replacement”, that’s Philp, Hamblin, Pederson). He should be battling for Corey Perry’s spot but that seems unlikely. Does he have a chance?
I wonder who will get the “better reps”, Wanner or Kemp?
What do we know about Jasper Weatherby? Might he be a factor? He’s a C/LW with size and he’s actually played NHL games.
I doubt it, I’d compare him in style to Luke Gazdic. Differences are handedness, and position. He is good at face-offs, but being LH, may not have appeal.
Philp, who is close in age and a big player himself brings a lot more to the table.
From what I’ve heard he is “one of the best guys ever” and has some potential as a 4C in the NHL (although he is starting to get past prospect age).
He would factor but he’s a left shot so its tough to see him beat out the Philp and Pederson and Hamblin (another left shot).
What’s your take on Noah Philip why can’t or can he make the team out of camp? What does he do well? Is he a jack of all trades is he physical in a smart way? Do you know how Noah made the jump from University to AHL. Who would be a comparabie to Noah and you can go back as far as you like? This is a player that I’m really hoping finds a way onto our N.H.L roster for the next few years.
I can provide my take:
1- He has not played high level hockey in 12 months, so the game might simply be too fast for him at this time. However, I wouldn’t discount him, he is a competitor.
2- He has great positioning and is a very responsible 2-way play. He is a very good forechecker and brings the kind of physicality we all hoped to see from McLeod.
3 – At the U of A, he was simply dominant, superior size, speed, shot and stick handling. The play always moved north on his shifts. In the AHL, he was good in everything but generating offense. That all changed in the second half and he was became a very good player.
I think, if things break right, he could become a Nic Dowd type of NHL player.
I’ve been quite express on my thoughts on Philp and my thoughts on his game.
As far as making the team, if he can get back to where he was to finish the 2022/23 season, that player is ready for an NHL opportunity – I can’t say “NHL ready” because one can’t prove that until they play in the NHL.
Philp is a highly responsible 2-way right shot center who is a load on the forecheck and has a very sneaky good shot. He started the season in Bako as a 4th line winger and healthy scratch and, by the end of the season, he may have been the most trusted center. He was used on PK1, he took important faceoffs and he played 1C for stretches.
He is generally always on the right side of the puck, as I mentioned great in battle and, while his puck skills aren’t high end, his shot is a great attribute. He’s big and a good skater. He’s not a huge banger but he’s a huge battler.
He’s the perfect replacement for Derek Ryan if he can get back to where he was at the end of 2022/23 – he finished that season with 32 points in the last 42 games.
Looking back at the summer, it’s obvious they knew Kane would be gone for most/all of the season and went and got players to replace him.
They can use his cap now to find the elusive RHD.
I also think expecting Kane back at 100% this year is unrealistic. If he can come and play a 4th line role in the playoffs that would be great, anything more than that would be a bonus.
If they add a player it seems it will be through IR and accrual, not LTIR. Their bets on defence are the players listed here, although Emberson might be above Stetcher on the rotation.
in the latest 32 Thoughts Friedman says he doesn’t think Edmonton expects the injury to last the entire season, and that they are unlikely to add a big piece through LTIR.
Kane still has next year left on his contract. I suspect he’ll want to get fully healthy from all his injuries. The earliest we see Kane is the playoffs which would be a huge push for team balance. I do think Emberson gets first crack at 2-RD if that’s not a fit with Nurse they’ll try a Committee of players before obtaining a #2 in a trade. Bowman has all year to sniff out a D.
No problem, Kane just had two abductors on both hips repaired, two torn lower abdominal muscles repaired, and two hernias fixed. I wonder if it’s humanly possible to have all that done in one surgery. But it’s Evander Kane so you never know.
Should be noted that EDM-WPG begins at 4 p.m. Enterprise time.
Friedman says no timeline on Kane but he’s not expected back until January/February.
That is pretty much perfect.
There is not a realistic chance that Kane misses the entire 82 game regular season and comes back for the playoffs (allowing the team to used the accrued cap space for an acquisition, place Kane on LTIR and use the additional cap space and then get Kane back for the playoffs) – its never happened.
Kane and Stone never missed full seasons prior to coming back for the playoffs and, when Kucherov did, it was a 56-game season he missed, not 82.
When Kane was straight fire for the Oilers down the stretch in 2022 and the playoffs, I believe he joined the team in the new year. Well, how about we have a repeat. Enough time to get him up to speed but not beat up for the playoffs.
A 100% healthy Kane, at the top of his game, is what we need with that $5.1MM – not trying to acquire someone else for asset cost.
Now, maybe that 2022 player is gone forever, but maybe not.
If Kane was off until the deadline, and the team hadn’t added anyone until then, wouldn’t they have significant deadline space, even if Kane came back before the season was done? I thought any unused space accrued daily. Ie if Kane was off 2/3 of the season with no replacement, the oilers could add a player with twice Kane’s cap hit at the deadline for the remaining 1/3. Or – a player with a $5M cap hit and Kane since they ran so much of the season under the cap. I’m no expert on this, just curious for some insight.
If Kane is on IR and not LTIR he counts towards the cap. It’s not free space. Meanwhile the team doesn’t accrue if using LTIR.
The Oilers are likely to have apx $950K of cap space when opening the season. That is with Kane on the roster or regular IR (not LTIR) and having 13F (including Kane) and 7D.
If there were no roster changes during the season (which isn’t feasible but for example purposes), accruing daily cap space and taking in to account how much of the season is left, the Oilers would be able to add apx $4.5MM of annual cap hit at the deadline and they would be able to add Kane at any time (as his cap is being accounted for with no LTIR accommodation.
Adding Kane (or another) to LTIR in-season changes the calculation but I believe the above is the current plan. Plans to change of course.
It is extremely unlikely that the Oilers will not have to use LTIR at some point this season.
I would not be that optimistic, since this team has been eerily healthy the last few years. This is a very old roster afterall.
A 100% healthy Kane given amount of surgery is very unlikely this season if at all
I don’t necessarily agree with that.
Surgery is complete and rehab and recovery starts. Once that rehab and recovery is “over”, the player should be 100% – hence the surgery.
He may need to recover from one surgery and go straight in for another. He’s going through multiple surgeries. I know he has recovered quickly in the past from injuries, but this is a whole different animal. Realistically he should venture on the side of caution and not be in too much of a hurry to come back. If he tries coming back to quickly, they should hide his skates.
No, the accounts are he got everything done in one surgery – there hasn’t been a single mention of additional surgeries.
He’ll be ready when he’s ready.
You’ve never had surgery have you
Sure. But that doesn’t mean EDM’s going to use LTIR.
If we pencil in Ryan and Perry as 11 and 12 forwards barring injury, there is one spot left till Kane returns. Since Jarventie is also injured, looks to me like a clear path for Lavoie to make the team and hopefully show what he can do.
Here’s hoping they give him an opportunity with some decent ice time to finally see what they have in this player.
does anyone know if Pod has any experience at center? A fourth line of Lavoie Pod Perry could be an interesting look
I think that there willl be players on waivers better than those players
Being 31st in line for waivers pick ups doesn’t strike me as a promising strategy. If the team really wants somebody destined for waivers from another team I think they probably have to offer something to jump the line.
Some of their prospects might be better.
Game Day!
I expect to see the Savoie/Pederson/Lavoie line and its on Lavoie to earn himself some reps with some established NHL talent – one step at a time but he needs to show well in all his opportunities – no room for a slow start.
I guess I’d be pretty disappointed in our prospects if they can’t knock Ryan and Perry off.
At the very least it should be a chance to mix in the young guys now and then. Ryan and Perry should see plenty of press box… but there’s cap considerations I guess.
Truth be told, the only real prospect that has a chance there is Noah Philp.
Grubbe is 21 and not close to ready. O’Riley is 18 and going back to junior.
Philp has a real shot if and when he gets back to where he was at the end of the 2022/23 season – that player is perfect to replace Derek Ryan.
Presuming it takes a bit of time to get that player, its really Pederson and Hamblin that might take the 4C job on an interim basis.
In my opinion.
Lavoie and Savoie also on the wing.
Yes, fair point – I was thinking more towards Ryan.
I do think that Lavoie SHOULD have every opportunity to grab that 12F spot over Perry (actually, I think Lavoie should be battling Podz for 3LW, with Janmark at 4LW, and the “loser” competing with Perry for 4RW) but, realistically, I don’t think Perry’s spot is at risk in October.
I mean, it should be at risk. Not only could Lavoie potentially be a better fit/player, but its also at a $375K cap savings which adds up to over a million of deadline cap space if they were to stick with that all season.
If Ryan or Perry let’s say ends up on IR after a rigorous training camp how does this effect opening day line-up when it comes to number of players on the roster?
Who knows what might happen? They could be forced to insert some youngsters. Which might not be a bad problem with all the veteran forwards to insulate the youth.
Placing them in a position to succeed.
Regular IR opens up a roster spot (which they don’t need as they won’t even have a 23 player roster, likely) and does zero to help their cap space.
Prospectness!
Bauer Berry again gets the spotlight as the USHL kicks off this weekend. (CHL does likewise next weekend, NCAA the weekend after.)
Berry will be one-and-done with Muskegon, as he will begin his NCAA career at the U of St. Thomas next season.
Puck drops at 11 a.m. Coronation time.
*one-more-and-done
I’ll be looking for bauerberries at the farmer’s market.