OILERS PRIMED, READY FOR CAMP
Tippett expects his share of ‘curveballs’ as the NHL launches into the COVID-19 era
Whistle, check. Skates, check. Face mask, check.
OK, Dave Tippett's ready for training camp.
“They've been knocking on my door ... I think this was my fifth (COVID-19 test). All negative,” said the Edmonton Oilers coach, who lives above the JW Marriott and is itching for the 56-game season that begins Jan. 13.
It's billed as 10 days of camp, but will only be eight real days on the ice.
Life in the COVID era begins Sunday with physicals and fitness testing and two coach-run split-squad sessions for 35 skaters (23 forwards and 12 defencemen) and five goalies Monday at NAIT before they move back to the Downtown Community Arena on Jan. 7-8 and Rogers Place on Jan. 9. Toss in a mandatory day off between Jan. 4-12.
Defenceman Ethan Bear, who signed Dec. 29 and drove here from Kelowna, may be on the ice Monday. Centre Gaetan Haas, flying back from Switzerland where he had been in quarantine, may miss the first two or three days.
“I think Ethan gets cleared that day, but there's so many different protocols for the players. I feel sorry for TD (trainer Forss) trying to keep track of everybody,” said Tippett.
“Our practices are going to change (with available bodies) every day, with the testing, the results coming back. Just talking to coaches in other places, lots of moving parts for all of us.”
This camp is virgin territory for Tippett.
“Our motto coming into camp is Read and React,” he said. “There's going to be lots of curveballs for the coaches.
“Such a short camp, no exhibition and you really want to see your guys against another team (for evaluation), just some scrimmages. Smaller groups (for practice) and lots of reps. Not much time to see where the parts fit.”
Curveballs for the coaches with player decisions with the all-canadian division a heater as far as Tippett is concerned. A home run for the players and the fans.
“This Canadian division is going to be a blast. I told my wife the other day that this could be the most fun we've ever had and I've been around the league a long time,” said Tippett. “Every game like a playoff game and we'll be immersed in it. Playing the same team back-to-back, or maybe three in a row.”
Playing against Calgary's Matthew Tkachuk 10 times?
“That should be fun,” laughed Tippett.
“If you could ever do this (Canadian division) with fans, too ... that would be the only thing to improve it.
Here's a quick camp primer: Who's New: Defencemen Tyson Barrie (Toronto) and Slater Koekkoek (Chicago), centres Kyle Turris (Nashville), Alan Quine (Calgary), Devin Shore (PTO, Columbus), wingers Jesse Puljujarvi (Karpat, Finland), Dominik Kahun (Buffalo).
Who's Gone: Defenceman Oscar Klefbom (shoulder, long-term injury), defenceman Matt Benning (Nashville), winger Andreas Athanasiou (Los Angeles), centre Riley Sheahan (PTO, Buffalo), defenceman Mike Green (retired).
HOW IT LOOKS GOING INTO CAMP FORWARDS
Left Wing: Ryan Nugent-hopkins, Kahun, Tyler Ennis, James Neal.
Battling: Joakim Nygard, Tyler Benson, Devin Shore.
What to Watch For: Kahun played with Evgeni Malkin in Pittsburgh. No reason why he can't play with his buddy Draisaitl. Neal, who had a good playoff, looks like a fourth-liner for now but also on the power play as net front presence. Nygard's speed is enticing but he got no traction last year because of injuries. Time is now for Benson to show he's not an AHL player. Could be on six-man taxi-squad. Shore is interesting because he can play centre or right wing/ left wing and he has 288 NHL games.
Right Wing: Zack Kassian, Kailer Yamamoto, Puljujarvi, Josh Archibald.
Battling: Alex Chiasson, Patrick Russell, Adam Cracknell.
What to Watch For: It's Kassian's job to lose riding shotgun for Mcdavid on top line. Yamamoto was point-a-game player the last two months with Draisaitl. Puljujarvi looks like a winger for Turris. Archibald is a Swiss army knife. He can play up and down, plus he's the best forward on the penalty kill. Chiasson had a strong playoff and should be in the top 12 but he's on the bubble, although he can also play on the left side. Same as Russell, who could go to taxi squad.
Centre: Mcdavid, Draisaitl, Turris, Haas.
Battling: Jujhar Khaira, Alan Quine, Ryan Mcleod, Cooper Marody.
What to Watch For: Turris will get penalty-kill work with Sheahan gone because of how effective he was at worlds when Tippett coached him. Haas was excellent 5-on-5 last year in short minutes and has speed that Khaira doesn't. Khaira is a bigger body and was exemplary on the penalty kill last year. Quine is a taxi-squad possibility. Mcleod and Marody likely need more AHL work.
DEFENCE
Left side: Darnell Nurse, Caleb Jones, Kris Russell.
Battling: Koekkoek, William Lagesson, Theodor Lennstrom
What to Watch For: Russell should get the nod to maybe play with Barrie but he's 33 and his body takes a beating. Koekkoek is 26 and he'll push Russell. Lagesson at worst will be on the taxi squad.
Right Side: Ethan Bear, Adam Larsson, Tyson Barrie.
Battling: Evan Bouchard.
What to Watch For: While there's lots of talk of Russell with Barrie in a third pairing, maybe they need Barrie on the ice with McDavid or Draisaitl 5-on-5 with his offensive tools. Maybe Barrie gets a look with Darnell Nurse and Bear plays with Jones. Larsson as prime PK guy hopefully bounces back after injuries last year. Bouchard is knocking on the door, but Barrie eats up his possible power play role. Easy thing is to start Bouchard on the taxi squad if Koekkoek is seventh D.
GOAL
Starters: Mikko Koskinen,
Mike Smith
Battling: Anton Forsberg, Stuart Skinner
What to watch for: With those 12 games in the first 21 days, Koskinen and Smith, who turns 39 in March, may alternate but Koskinen probably should be playing at least 35 of the 56 games. He's No. 1. His .917 save percentage last year was only a smidge behind the hyped Jacob Markstrom's .918
Forsberg will be on the taxisquad with 48 NHL games.