Edmonton Oilers training camp on-ice sessions kicked into gear Thursday.
My Cult of Hockey colleague David Staples has already covered the Zach Hyman story, out for a while yet. Read it here.
About this time every September, I remind myself to not read too much into early camp results. AHL-ers can look like NHL-ers until the rust gets knocked off and the tempo (and competition) ramp up. I would respectfully offer the same advice to readers. I have just seen this movie before, over a few decades. I have made pronouncements that seemed safe on Day One but looked out-to-lunch two weeks later.
Just sayin’…
Notable items from Thursday’s workouts:
-Stuart Skinner confirmed his weight loss over the summer, although it was just fifteen pounds not twenty-five. Blame an apparent typo for that error. Skinner admits he does feel a bit lighter on the ice. But his equipment is unchanged. The goalie is hoping carrying a little less weight will ease back on the wear and tear on his body as his career goes on. Backup goaltender Calvin Pickard was sporting a new set of pads. I also noted that both main goalies were on the ice in the same group. No tip-off whatsoever from the Oilers that they plan on anything but starting the season with Skinner and Pickard again.
-Neither of the two Oilers most-touted rookies had top line roles in either of the two groups that hit the ice. But they were not buried, either. Matthew Savoie got the ‘better’ of the two assignments, alongside Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Adam Henrique on Line 2 of his group. I like the thought of Savoie and Nugent-Hopkins together. Ike Howard was with Trent Frederic and Mattias Janmark on the ‘other second line.’ Two solid NHL-ers true, but perhaps not a plumb offensive assignment just yet.
-Related, it sure seems like Trent Frederic will at least get a look down the middle. He has made it known that he would like a shot at center. Perhaps he is the pivot on a checking third line. But…if the Oilers are serious about keeping The Nuge at center, well then maybe Trent Frederic just nudges over. If they stay together at all.
-Frederic could be one of the guys replacing Zach Hyman as the net-front on the first unit power play. With Evander Kane and Corey Perry gone, they will be looking for new candidates for the first ten or twelve games. I think the guy with the best track record in that respect is Adam Henrique. He is good in tight. And he is a proven producer.
-A lot of people predicted Vasily Podkolzin would be on one of Leon Draisaitl’s wings. But how many called Kasperi Kapanen on the other. Similarly, Andrew Mangiapane is somewhat logical beside McDavid, although perhaps David Tomasek is a bit of a surprise on the other flank. Based on Day One, though, Tomasek can sure shoot.
-The Defence pairings offered zero surprises, just confirmation from the verbal on Wednesday: Evan Bouchard with Mattias Ekholm, Darnell Nurse with Jake Walman, Brett Kulak with Ty Emberson. Troy Stecher was behind Bouchard in Group I. Alec Regula was behind Stecher, at 3 RD. A strong six with depth.
-Winger Max Jones turned some heads with his size and speed. His main issue over his pro career has been consistency, and has remained a “tweener”. Can he stay this visible as camp ramps up?
-Minor injuries. In addition to Hyman, William Nicholl, and Connar Ungar were skating on their own after getting nicked up in the rookie games. Expect both guys back.
-There are no PTO’s in camp, at least not yet. There are still some interesting names out there. But perhaps the better players will soon be on the waiver wire.
-Oh…and no contract news on Thursday. Not for Connor McDavid or anyone else, for that matter.
The first pre-season action will be a split-squad game against Calgary Sunday.
This article is not AI generated.
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