Edmonton Journal

Aberg needs to impress now: Matheson

Time now for one-way contract-holder to stand out on crowded Oilers’ right wing

- JIM MATHESON Hockey World

Edmonton Oilers coach Todd McLellan always cautions inquiring minds not to read too much into practice groups in training camp, but it was hard to overlook Pontus Aberg who was skating with ostensibly the Bakersfiel­d Condors on Wednesday, not the main NHL group.

Aberg came from Nashville in a trade for Mark Letestu last February with a clean slate, but it got muddied when he missed an off-day practice in Florida 2½ weeks later. He did get eight points in his 16 Oiler games (two goals), but it always seemed an uneasy truce with the coaches after that early misstep and they couldn’t figure out where to play him when they did play him.

Aberg became a playoff darling during Nashville’s run to the Cup final in 2017 with the winner against Anaheim in Game 5 of the Western final and two assists in the clinching sixth game his two goals and five points.

That’s why the Oilers were intrigued to trade for him. But his play here last year was so-so, and while 99 per cent of the signed Oilers NHL forwards got the night off against basically an AHL squad in Monday’s game in Calgary, Aberg was in that travelling lineup with teenager Kailer Yamamoto, while Ty Rattie, Jesse Puljujarvi, Tobias Rieder and Zack Kassian on right-wing stayed home. He did score, but Yamamoto was the star.

Aberg didn’t play in Vancouver while Yamamoto, Rattie, Puljujarvi and Kassian dressed and was with the B group Wednesday morning practising while tryout right-winger Alex Chiasson was with the NHLers, and Rieder skated with German buddy Leon Draisaitl on the No. 2 line.

Now maybe we’re taking this a few steps too far, but ...

There are no guarantees Aberg, even with his skillset, has a spot on the Oilers’ 23-man roster just because he has a contract, a one-way, US$650,000 for one season. His problem really is this: he’s not the role-player type if he’s a 13th or 14th forward. He’s not a penalty-killer like, say, tryout left-winger Scottie Upshall. Or the auditionin­g Chiasson, who’s played 381 NHL games and played well on a fourth line in Washington last season. Aberg, who turns 25 Sunday, has 25 and 31-goal seasons in the minors, so there’s certainly ability there, and also fast feet to go with his AHL hands.

But in 31 NHL games, he has three goals.

The Predators’ first pick (37th overall) in the 2012 draft has topnine NHL potential off his offensive chops in the AHL, but it’s not far-fetched to think Aberg could be on waivers before the season if he doesn’t find some footing with the coaches, and he has 10 days before the Oilers head to Europe. If they decide to carry eight D with first-round draft Evan Bouchard very much in the mix, and only a 13th forward, maybe Aberg is in trouble.

There’s Yamamoto, Upshall and Chiasson in the picture, too.

“Pontus is a very talented player with a tremendous amount of skill,” said McLellan. “The knock on Pontus is bringing it every night and imposing that (skill) every night. That’s what we want to see.”

Aberg isn’t deaf to what McLellan says.

“I’ve always been told about my consistenc­y,” he said.

“Two years ago (Milwaukee, 31 goals), I had a really good year and everything went right. Last year, I struggled from the start in Nashville and it was pretty much the whole year.

“I’ve always been told to play my best and produce, shoot and score more I guess.”

“In Nashville it was tough being in and out of the lineup, playing seemingly every third game in Nashville. I played more and better here even though I was scratched a few games. I have to play the game I had in Milwaukee,” he said.

Does every player have to win the trust of the coaches?

“I think everyone has to earn their spot on the team, especially me, new to here. They haven’t really seen me much so I have to show them I can play at this level, not just the American League. I have to show that in the pre-season,” he said.

“It’s not complete, but I think we know enough about Pontus. Starting a season is always easier than coming in during a year,” said McLellan.

Aberg says he knows the guys better now than he did when jumping to a new team with only five weeks left in last season’s schedule.

“I feel better and I had a longer summer to prepare (for camp) than the season before (Nashville, playoff run),” said Aberg.

“The right side of our lineup is one of the question marks. There is a great opportunit­y for Ty Rattie, Puljujarvi, Aberg and not all of those guys are going to be there. Only so many can play on our team,” said McLellan. “They need to start to figure it out, imposing their will now.”

 ?? JEFF MCINTOSH/THE CANADIAN PRESS ?? Though he is on a one-way contract, there is no guarantee Pontus Aberg will have a spot on the Oilers’ opening-night roster.
JEFF MCINTOSH/THE CANADIAN PRESS Though he is on a one-way contract, there is no guarantee Pontus Aberg will have a spot on the Oilers’ opening-night roster.
 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Canada