This in from the Edmonton Oilers practice today, hot shot attacker Jack Roslovic not on the ice, and possibly out with injury.
Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch reported to the media: “He is questionable for Saturday. He’s getting looked at by the doctors today. And I don’t have an update if he’s going to play on Saturday or how long he’ll be out.”
Roslovic has 10 goals and 17 points in his last 16 games.
Other injury notes include winger Kaspari Kapanen hurt and leaving the ice just before the end of practice. Curtis Lazar and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins cleared to play for Saturday’s game against Seattle and Jake Walman also off the ice with injury.
Tony Brar of Oilers TV reported the lines before Kapanen’s injury as:
Savoie – McDavid – Hyman
Podkolzin – Draisaitl – Kapanen
Clattenburg – RNH – Mangiapane
Frederic – Henrique – Lazar
Tomasek
Ekholm – Bouchard
Nurse – Regula
Kulak – Emberson
Skinner
Pickard
My take
1. It’s always hard to know with Ednonton’s vague injury reports how serious is Roslovic’s injury and how long he’ll be out. But this is definitely in the bad news category considering how well Roslovic has played, how much he’s meant to the team’s attack, and how brilliantly he’s combined with top attackers Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. As countless incoming wingers to the Oilers can testify, it’s no easy matter to find instant chemistry with Edmonton’s superstars. Only a handful — Patrick Maroon, Evander Kane and Zach Hyman — have done it over the years, though many have tried.
2. In Roslovic’s absence, Connor Clattenburg has been promoted to the third line to play with RNH and Andrew Mangiapane. It’s a well-earned promotion as he’s out-played veterans David Tomasek and Trent Frederic in his two-game audition with the Oilers.
If Kapanen is out could that mean Clattenburg moves up to the second line? Too much, too fast?
3. Most Oilers are down in terms of their two-way player compared to last year, some down significantly, such as McDavid, Draisaitl, Noah Philp, Evan Bouchard, Mattias Ekholm, Darnell Nurse, and Walman.
But five players who are doing as well or better than last year are RNH, Adam Henrique, Podkolzin, Mattias Janmark, who also missed practice, and Ty Emberson.
That said, while the play of stars like McDavid, Draisaitl, Bouchard and Ekholm is down from last year, they’re still the best player by far for the Oilers at even strength.
Grade A 25 games
At the Cult of Hockey
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