This in from Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, his assessment that the Edmonton Oilers will be forced to make roster moves in coming days, with players moved out due to the return to the line-up of injured players such as Alec Regula (back last night vs Dallas), Zach Hyman, Kasperi Kapanen and Mattias Janmark.
Said Friedman to Bob Stauffer of Oilers Now: “It dictates that you guys have bodies that you got to move. Whether they’re going through the waivers, or they’re going out the door, their bodies have to go.”
Friedman said he talked about Stecher being moved on Hockey Night in Canada on Saturday because “he seems to be the guy in the number eight spot (on the Oilers d-man depth chart). And I just think he wants to play, right? Like Emberson at least plays more. And, you know, could they possibly get more for him (Emberson)? Absolutely. But he’s also more valuable to them.”
That’s why Stecher makes sense to move out in a trade, Friedman said. “I think with Stetcher, it was more along the lines of, he’s not playing very much and he’d like to get going. And I think the Oilers know that. His spot on the roster is a bit more precarious. And his was the name I heard on the weekend because I heard they were trying to get him somewhere.”
Oilers Roster Nov 5
My take
1. Insider Frank Seravalli raised an alternative scenario, with Emberson ($1.3 million per year) being moved out for salary cap reasons, as he makes about $500,000 more than Stecher ($787,500 per year) and the Oilers can use the cap space.
2. The Oilers have a full 23 man roster going with Regula back. I can see Isaac Howard going to the American Hockey League with Hyman’s return, with the Oilers moving out one of Stecher or Emberson, with Lazar to the AHL with Kapanen’s return, and with Edmonton trying to either move Mattias Janmark ($1.45. million per year this year and next) or also send him to the AHL.
Whatever the case, it’s going to be a busy week of player transactions.
3. With Jack Roslovic’s arrival, I can also see David Tomasek being moved to the AHL. Roslovic has taken Tomasek’s spot on the top power play. Tomasek has played OK two-way hockey at even strength, but I’m not sure he’s right for a fourth line role.
At the Cult of Hockey
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