Oilers Training Camp Preview: How Is the End of the Squad Playing Out?

EDMONTON – If you look through the Edmonton Oilers player by player roster, you’ll notice that they stack exceptionally well. The problem they face in training camp is actually putting all NHL-caliber players in that roster, unlike years ago when the bottom chunk of Edmonton’s roster was occupied by American league players masquerading as NHL players.

Veteran Mattias Janmark emerges as a reliable fourth-line winger, Jesse Puljujarvi is likely to play to a third-line role where he can play with less pressure, and if Ryan McLeod isn’t playing in the middle of the third line, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins can do so – a pretty decent fallback position for head coach Jay Woodcroft.

And we haven’t even talked about left wing Dylan Holloway. Or defender Philip Broberg, who will have a solid veteran in D7 Ryan Murray to knock him out should rookie Broberg need a night off.

In goal, Jack Campbell can expect 50-55 starts while the time has come for backup Stuart Skinner, who has four seasons under his belt as a pro as he accepts promotion to Edmonton’s No. 2.

As for the salary cap, with Oscar Klefbom and Mike Smith going on LTIR, Edmonton will be maxing out their payroll for the season opener. However, that inhibits flexibility at the close, a dynamic where injuries leave GM Ken Holland with little choice.

At the beginning of the training camp, the decisions are usually made at the end of the squad, which is a sign of a strong, mature squad. Here’s a look at where the battles lie.

Space for current salary caps: -$7,556,336
Chief Executive: Ken Holland
head coach: Jay Woodcroft
Assistant Coach: Dave Manson, Glen Gulutzan, Mark Stuart, Dustin Schwartz Unsigned Players: Ryan McLeod

AN IMPORTANT QUESTION: Are we there yet?

Edmonton finally defeated the dragon that still haunts the Toronto Maple Leafs, winning two rounds last season after being defeated in the opening round for two straight seasons. But after years of building, rebuilding, and more building, have the Oilers finally reached a place where a berth in the Final Four is more of a stepping stone than a blanket?

Connor McDavid is 25, Leon Draisaitl 26, and Darnell Nurse is 27. The rest of the core are also in their late 20s or early 30s, and Jack Campbell is coming in to give Edmonton a level of goalkeeping that should be good enough to win with. If they can’t turn three rounds in 22 into four rounds in 23, it will be counted as a step backwards for the Oilers, a team that set the bar high for themselves and then improved their roster over the summer.

Teams talk about learning from mistakes, and the Oilers have undoubtedly had their fair share of lessons. The time has come to take these lessons and use them.

It’s Stanley Cup or bust for this team.

A TRAINING CAMP BATTLE TO WATCH

In a weapon-heavy forward, the left flank is the most crowded, with Evander Kane and then a number of options for Woodcroft to sort through at training camp.

Dylan Holloway, who turns 21 on Friday, was viewed by Holland as a player who needs to play his way into the top 12 forwards. He’s too young to be in an NHL press box when he could play top minutes in all situations at AHL Bakersfield, Holland said.

Well, with his performance of two goals and five points at the rookie tournament in Penticton, Dylan Holloway has officially entered the chat.

Here’s how the Oilers stack up on the left wing: Kane plays with McDavid, with Zach Hyman on the right; Ryan Nugent-Hopkins can play with Leon Draisaitl provided the team wants to keep young Ryan McLeod at 3C; Warren Foegele is the de facto left wing of the third line, and Mattias Janmark, signing free agent, is the 4LW.

But if Holloway works his way into this lineup, where does he play?

Move Nugent-Hopkins to 3C and make McLeod 4C? Do you push Janmark out of the lineup or to the right? Or maybe Foegele is moving?

When Holloway lands at Bakersfield, the forward units match well. However, if he makes his claim, someone is unemployed.

ESTIMATED POSITIONING FROM STOCK

Kane McDavid Hyman
Nugent-Hopkins Draisaitl Yamamoto
Foegele McLeod Puljujarvi
Holloway Ryan Janmark

Sister Ceci
Kulak Bouchard
Broberg Barrie

Campbell
Skinner