Yamamoto likely has place in the press box
Edmonton Oilers forward Kailer Yamamoto wasn’t on a regular line at practice Friday morning, so it looks like he’ll be a spectator for the second straight game Saturday against the Washington Capitals.
The right-winger has played seven games in his rookie season and after the 5-4 win over the Dallas Stars Thursday, it’s unlikely Oilers coach Todd McLellan will change his lineup against the Capitals.
If Yamamoto plays 10 games, he burns a year of his entry level contract. But Yamamoto, 19, hasn’t been told to get a place or if he’s going back to the Spokane Chiefs of the Western Hockey League. It’s still very much up in the air. Yamamoto, who has suited up for seven games, has to play in the top nine, preferably top six, to stick around. He also has to show he can handle himself against much bigger players than he saw in the WHL.
The jury’s out on whether he’d really benefit going back to Spokane because, even at 154 pounds, he’d be playing with a lot of 16-and17 year-olds. And when is he going to find time to be in the gym working on his strength in a hectic WHL schedule with a lot of bus travel? Plus, he would dominate there and might not work on the things he has to.
Unfortunately, Yamamoto can’t go to the American Hockey League even though that would be perfect for him.
It’s NHL or junior and the Oilers don’t want him sitting for too long.
McLellan wouldn’t say for sure Yamamoto was out, but he liked what he saw against Dallas.
“Dallas might be the biggest team in the league and they use their size well, so we made a lineup decision based on that,” said McLellan. “But Yamo should remain confident. He should have a strong belief he belongs here. That’s one of the conversations I’ll have with him later (Friday).”
Matt Benning, who got the winning goal against Dallas, had a strong 151/2 minutes and was plus-2.
“Matt has his confidence back and he looks like the player he should be, like he was at the beginning of the season,” said McLellan.
Benning, sick for two games and a healthy scratch for a third this season, had four shots and two hits on the night.
Ryan Strome fired a nice backhand pass to Connor McDavid just after his tripping penalty on ex- Oiler Tyler Pitlick ended in the first period to help with the game’s first goal Thursday.
“I don’t know if Leon (Draisaitl) or Patty (Maroon) are going to be off that line any time soon. I don’t know if it matters what I do, but when you see a guy like that (McDavid) coming up the middle, you just give him the puck. Great players do great things,” said Strome. “I’ll keep telling myself it was a great play by me and I was a big part of that goal, but it was a great finish. World-class speed and finish. That’s what he does.”
“Ryan made a good play coming out of the penalty box to set up Connor,” said McLellan. “He’s been good defensively, but he has to get better offensively. That’s why we brought him here. He’s got some vision, very good hands. Put that all together, there has to be some production from that line (with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Milan Lucic). He participated with Nuge getting two goals (Thursday night.)”
This ’n’ that: Defenceman Andrej Sekera, who’s supposed to be out six to nine months after April surgery to repair torn knee ligaments, has skated in full gear by himself. But return before Dec. 1 is unlikely ... Winger Tyler Benson, who never took part in any contact at Oilers camp because of spring sports hernia surgery rehab, is back with the Vancouver Giants of the WHL and might play this weekend. He hasn’t suited up for a game in 10 months.