HERE’S OILERS’ OPENING NIGHT LINEUP (OR NOT)
Pre-season revealed a lot, but roster is hardly set as season opener draws near
Trying to pick the opening night roster for the St. Louis Blues is child’s play because they were carrying the Stanley Cup around the ice in June and you don’t fix what ain’t broke unless you can’t afford somebody like Patrick Maroon and they walk away.
But the Edmonton Oilers, who missed the playoffs by 17 points?
That’s a fool’s errand with way more questions than answers.
This might be the 23-man roster by line. Or not:
Leon Draisaitl, Connor McDavid and Zack Kassian.
Thomas Jurco, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and James
Neal.
Joakim Nygard, Colby Cave and Alex Chiasson.
Jujhar Khaira, Riley Sheahan and Josh Archibald.
The 13th and 14th forwards? Markus Granlund and Sam Gagner.
Gaetan Haas was very good in Calgary in the last exhibition, but Cave was better through camp and Haas doesn’t need to clear waivers while Cave does (Boston might want him back).
Haas, on a two-way deal, could go to Bakersfield, but for a short time because he has an out to return to his Swiss team and no stomach to make cheap money in the AHL after being a semi-star back home.
Patrick Russell may lose out — even though he only makes US$700,000 and he’s shown his versatility through most of his six exhibitions as a bottom-six penalty killer — because, well, optics are always at play here. The Oilers signed Granlund to do just that and he’s more experienced at it, even though Russell has outplayed him.
Sometimes life isn’t fair.
Russell has caught the eye of other teams, though. He has to clear waivers.
Nygard’s speed gets him the room to adapt to the NHL game, plus he set up both goals in Calgary on Saturday and the Oilers need skill, with so many role players. He’s a top-nine player, for sure. Jurco had five pre-season points. If his back holds up and he gets over the knock of inconsistent play, he’s a keeper.
Gagner is a specialty player who can be on the second power-play unit, plus he’s able to complement skill guys and coach Dave Tippett knows what he can do from their time in Arizona. His $3.25-million salary is problematic, of course, if he’s a 13th or 14th forward, but he’s a veteran voice in the room.
Now, of course, GM Ken Holland could see somebody better on the waiver wire. He’s got enough guys who can check; does he have enough who can score? He could make a trade, but he doesn’t want to give up assets.
“We found out a lot about our team in the last two to three weeks. We know where we stand,” Tippett said.
“I think there’s more than just 12 forwards we’re looking at, and the key is finding rhythm on the lines, people in the right roles as to power play and penalty-killing, all part of the decisions we make. It’s skill level, overall team speed, how well do players hound pucks and play in our structure.”
While the Oilers lost 3-2 to the Flames to finish the pre-season at 3-4-0, Tippett liked what he saw with McDavid, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Neal, Oscar Klefbom and Kris Russell at home.
Some grasped the opportunity and really played well, like Nygard. “He was very good, quick on pucks, tenacity, real strong,” Tippett said.
While Tippett thought he was good all game, Nygard himself was satisfied with only 20 minutes.
“I created some passes, our line scored two goals in the third,” said Nygard. “But the first and second periods weren’t that good. I know I can perform better.”
And Haas? Tippett got an eyeful of the Swiss centre, who had struggled with adapting to the NHL game in exhibitions but was very effective in Calgary.
“This was Haas’s best game by mile, so we’ll evaluate,” he said.
“While we had players not having to play for much, others do and it’s great that they show up and give you what they’ve got.”
Haas, a solid No. 2 centre in Switzerland and a matchup guy on their national team at the worlds, was noticeable in his 16 minutes against pretty much Calgary’s NHL lineup. But, again, he doesn’t have to clear waivers.
Maybe it’s easier to send him down for a few weeks and keep Cave, who’s shown the ability to make some plays but isn’t a shooter and played in six of seven exhibitions.
Buyer beware with pre-season offensive stats. Jurco tied Klefbom and Ethan Bear for the team high, but Ty Rattie was great last fall and Kailer Yamamoto made the club off exhibition prowess, too. But if Jurco goes on waivers, somebody might take him because he had three goals in his four games and 12 shots.
Tippett thought Granlund, bothered by a sore groin in camp, was “OK.”
“He’s got some smarts, the penalty kill was pretty good. Not bad, not bad,” he said.