Edmonton Oilers

[doulos]

Pre All Star

Hall-RNH-Eberle
Perron-Arcobello-Purcell

Post All Star

Perron-Arcobello-Eberle
Pouliot-Gordon-Purcell

With Hall, RNH, and Draisaitl all out with injuries.

[Axeman33]

Pre All star

Hall - RNH - Eberle
Perron - Draisaitl - Purcell

Post All star

Hall - RNH - Eberle
Perron - Draisaitl - Yakupov

[doulos]

Axeman is much more optimistic than I am. Kudos to him.

[Axeman33]

Axeman is much more optimistic than I am. Kudos to him.

LOL! What can I tell ya, I'm a glass half full kinda guy.

- - - Updated - - -

Axeman is much more optimistic than I am. Kudos to him.

LOL! What can I tell ya, I'm a glass half full kinda guy.

[doulos]

I've already got my tickets, and two days off work, to go to the home opener in Edmonton. Training camp and the first game of the season have been the highest point of the season for me for a decade now, so I figure I'll take advantage of it and enjoy the game. I'm taking a friend of mine who has never been to an NHL game as well, so it should be a lot of fun!

[doulos]

Regan Bartel @Reganrant · 1h
I spoke to Oilers d-man Justin Schultz about contract talks with team. "It is pretty close. We should have something done pretty soon here".

Regan Bartel @Reganrant · 1h
Would Schultz go to camp without a deal? "I don't want too. It isn't something anyone wants to do. I don't c me going to camp without (1/2)

Regan Bartel @Reganrant · 1h
"a deal. I will be at training camp ready to roll." Schultz is skating with other pro's in #Kelowna this afternoon.

Things looking up in this regards. Nice!

[Axeman33]

Regan Bartel @Reganrant · 1h
I spoke to Oilers d-man Justin Schultz about contract talks with team. "It is pretty close. We should have something done pretty soon here".

Regan Bartel @Reganrant · 1h
Would Schultz go to camp without a deal? "I don't want too. It isn't something anyone wants to do. I don't c me going to camp without (1/2)

Regan Bartel @Reganrant · 1h
"a deal. I will be at training camp ready to roll." Schultz is skating with other pro's in #Kelowna this afternoon.

Things looking up in this regards. Nice!

It's about time! Let's make a deal!

[HockeyHobo]

Pre All star

Hall - RNH - Eberle
Perron - Draisaitl - Purcell

Post All star

Hall - RNH - Eberle
Perron - Draisaitl - Yakupov

You don't see Pouliot in the top 6 then??

[Axeman33]

You don't see Pouliot in the top 6 then??

Not really. He will probably end up there, but I don't think he deserves to be there. The only person he's going to knock off is either Purcell or Yakupov and I am skeptical that happens but who knows.

[HockeyHobo]

Not really. He will probably end up there, but I don't think he deserves to be there. The only person he's going to knock off is either Purcell or Yakupov and I am skeptical that happens but who knows.

Would Yakupov not be better served getting sheltered minutes on the third line with pp time?

By your lines it looks as thought they are going to rush Draisaitl into the line up as well, do you think he is ready? Have they not learned anything from throwing all of their young players straight into the line up??

[Axeman33]

Would Yakupov not be better served getting sheltered minutes on the third line with pp time?

By your lines it looks as thought they are going to rush Draisaitl into the line up as well, do you think he is ready? Have they not learned anything from throwing all of their young players straight into the line up??

As far as Yakupov goes, I think he's been sheltered enough. Let him free!!!

And yes, I think they will end up rushing Draisaitl unfortunately. I would have much rather seen them go out and sign a decent option to play 2C but alas, that didn't happen. They may start Draisaitl out on the 3rd line and allow Arcobello to run with the 2C for a bit but I don't know how long he stays there. They played it smart last year with Nurse but I am thinking desperate times call for desperate measures when it comes to the center position. They don't have a lot down on the farm either.

[HockeyHobo]

Maybe Arcobello surprises and allows them to keep Draistil on the 3rd line but I think you are right, it's a needs must situation that they have created.

[doulos]

Would Yakupov not be better served getting sheltered minutes on the third line with pp time?

By your lines it looks as thought they are going to rush Draisaitl into the line up as well, do you think he is ready? Have they not learned anything from throwing all of their young players straight into the line up??

Which ones were rushed into the lineup?

[doulos]

As far as Yakupov goes, I think he's been sheltered enough. Let him free!!!

And yes, I think they will end up rushing Draisaitl unfortunately. I would have much rather seen them go out and sign a decent option to play 2C but alas, that didn't happen. They may start Draisaitl out on the 3rd line and allow Arcobello to run with the 2C for a bit but I don't know how long he stays there. They played it smart last year with Nurse but I am thinking desperate times call for desperate measures when it comes to the center position. They don't have a lot down on the farm either.

Driasaitl in and Nurse out is my opinion, but we'll see. I'd say 80%+ chance Draisiatl plays this year. Nurse has not impressed me yet - but he'll get there eventually. They are being smart with him from what I can see.

[Axeman33]

Interesting MacT interview today written up by Drance:

http://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/568468

"Ah the week after Labor Day.

The sun is still shining and it still feels like summer outside, but a sense of renewed drive has already replaced the hedonist lethargy of summer. It may not be the 'new year' per the Gregorian calender, but in secular society – whether it's school, professional sports or media – the start of September marks the real start of the 'new year.'

And with a new year comes a fresh sense of possibility and the giddy rush of optimism. For NHL players – many of whom will begin preparing for training camp at informal skates across North America this week – and for NHL general managers, it's a heady time and one that, according to Edmonton Oilers general manager Craig MacTavish, serves to depress trade talks around the league.

"There is no deal there right now, because like us, everybody else is very optimistic," MacTavish told Derek van Diest of the Edmonton Sun this weekend. "We’re all undefeated in July and August, but things change once the fur flies in October. We’re hopeful with the group that we have we’re going to be competitive."

Being competitive isn't something this current group of Oilers players have ever managed. Though Edmonton's cadre of young stars and former first overall picks will be another year older, wiser and more dangerous this upcoming season, and the club added some useful veteran grit in free agency, the Oilers still have a glaring hole in the middle of their lineup.

This summer, the Oilers dealt second-line center Sam Gagner to the Tampa Bay Lightning for skilled winger Teddy Purcell. Then they didn't really do anything to offset Gagner's loss. Going into training camp, the Oilers employ just one center, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who seems like a credible bet to fill in effectively in a non-checking role.

The Oilers aren't in a rush to make a deal though, and are content (for now) to let young players like third-overall pick Leon Draisaitl, center Anton Lander and productive AHL farmhand Mark Arcobello battle it out at training camp.

"We’re going to go into camp, barring anything unforeseen, with the group that we have right now,” MacTavish said. "We’ve made some improvements in some of our personnel, mostly on the wing. But we’ve got Leon Draisaitl, which is a big question mark for an 18-year-old’s ability to come in. We’ve got Anton Lander, who has shown an ability to score and be a really good player at the American League level. And we’ve got Mark Arcobello.

"When we sent him back, he had two points per game at the American League level or very close to that. He’s got potential to fill one of those roles."

Continued the second-year Oilers general manager: "When you look at our depth chart, I understand and certainly agree with that position having the most question marks.

"But I think that the onus is going to be on this current group of players to show an ability to be competitive for a playoff position. The onus is going to be on Arcobello, Anton Lander and Leon Draisaitl to show that they’re ready to play."

So the Oilers are giving an 18-year-old every opportunity to earn an NHL roster spot in his draft plus-one season? Unlike the seasons, some things never change."