Oilers’ 30-man playoff roster begins to take shape

Tentative lineup for training camp taking shape

With 15 Nhlers testing positive for COVID-19 at team facilities, and another 11 at informal

Phase 2 voluntary workouts elsewhere, there are concerns as the Edmonton Oilers prepare to regroup for training camp.

The group expected to attend the main camp includes some extras, such as role-playing winger Patrick Russell, a Dane who grew up in Copenhagen, but never went home after the March 12 pause, instead remaining in Winnipeg.

Ten other players are currently self-quarantining here, including eight from outside Canada. Europeans and Americans have to be here by Friday, as per NHL/NHLPA directive. Canadian-born players must be in town 48 hours before camp opens on July 10, though that date might be pushed back to July 13.

The extras from Bakersfield attending the main camp will likely include goalie Stuart Skinner, defencemen Evan Bouchard and William Lagesson, and forwards Tyler Benson, Markus Granlund, Ryan Mcleod and Cooper Marody.

Marody played only 31 games this season due to concussion issues but says he’s feeling fine and has been skating in Michigan. He was the No. 1 centre on the farm before he was hurt.

Goalie Olivier Rodrigue, expected to be the starter in Wichita in 2020-21, will also attend the main camp. His selection over farmhand Shane Starrett is probably a tipoff that the Oilers won’t be re-signing the unrestricted free-agent goalie.

Defenceman Philip Broberg, the Oilers 2019 first-rounder, is also coming over from Sweden for camp.

Here’s a tentative 30-skater, four-goalie roster to start camp:

FORWARD LINES

Ryan Nugent-hopkins-leon Draisaitl-kailer Yamamoto

Tyler Ennis-connor Mcdavid-zack Kassian.

Andreas Athanasiou-riley Sheahan-josh Archibald

James Neal-jujhar Khaira-alex Chiasson

Joakim Nygard- Gaetan Haas-patrick Russell

Tyler Benson-cooper Marody-markus Granlund.

Ryan Mcleod

DEFENCE PAIRINGS

Oscar Klefbom-adam Larsson Darnell Nurse-ethan Bear Kris Russell-matt Benning Caleb Jones-mike Green William Lagesson-evan Bouchard

Philip Broberg

GOALIES

Mikko Koskinen Mike Smith Stuart Skinner Olivier Rodrigue