Edmonton Oilers GG: Oilers Rookies Swept by Flames Youngsters in Another Uninspiring Effort

As a fan of the Edmonton Oilers, when is the last time you could confidently say that the goaltending was a strength for the team in these rookie games? Do we have to go back to the Dubnyk days? Further?

For a second consecutive game, the players we expected to dominate this 2-game series decided to leave their games at home. I say “expected to dominate” because, save for Olivier Rodrigue’s early impression of Cam Talbot, I never thought that the goalies would be the ones to shine for Edmonton in this pair of matchups.

The Flames even decided to give Edmonton a chance by using the goalie they just drafted this summer as well as making Dillon Dube a scratch. Yet, the Oilers couldn’t muster up much more than a handful of chances vs Calgary’s intense forecheck.

These are my game grades for the Oilers rookies tonight. I’ve decided to switch things up a bit in that the grades are going to be from one to five but there will be no threes. That will eliminate the fence-sitting. Either a player played great, above average, below average, or poorly.

Cameron Hebig – 2 – No production on the scoresheet but I really liked his hustle. Like I said in the previous game’s grades, I know Hebig as more of a skilled player and to see him alter his style is really impressive. I’m looking forward to seeing him in Bakersfield this year.

Beau Starrett – 2 – Starrett was taking the draws on the PP if I recall correctly but playing wing 5×5, so the coaching staff sees him good in different areas of the ice. He didn’t get jumped this game, that’s a plus. However, Glenn Gawdin did catch him with a thunderous bodycheck. I’d like to see him use that big frame of his and do some wallpapering of his own.

Tyler Benson – 2 – Very underwhelming in these rookie games. In game two, he was a tad undisciplined which isn’t really something that is going to help him in his bid to win a spot on the Oilers. Of all the Edmonton players, he was the most creative and skilled. I’ve yet to see his skating improve though and that really needs to happen in my opinion if he’s going to be a top-6 player on the Oilers.

Jakob Stukel – 1 – Stukel was a bit less tenacious in this match. He also had some right brutal giveaways in the Calgary zone. Tough go for the former Calgary Hitman.

Steven Iacobellis – 1 – Hardly noticed him apart from one shot on Flames goalie Dustin Wolf (Who incidentally reminds me of former Flames great Mike Vernon…)

Kirill Maksimov – 2- Wasn’t assertive tonight. Seemed a bit too relaxed. Where’s this shot that’s been on promotion for the last few weeks?

Ostap Safin – 2 – Made a really nice cross-ice pass to for a great scoring chance later in the game. Not as impressive in this BoA as the previous one.

Liam Keeler – 1 – He had one shift where he turned on the afterburners, but apart from that, I didn’t see anything notable from him.

Ryan McLeod – 2 – Where was the speed? McLeod was nearly invisible in this game.

Raphael Lavoie – 2 – Another skilled offensive forward for the Oilers that showed less than what we know he’s capable of. I remember two distinct chances for him, one being a sneaky one-timer that Wolf was lucky to stop and then the attempted wrap-around at the end of the game whose rebound bounced far enough out that the Flames skated up the ice and deposited the puck into the empty net to seal that game for Calgary.

Cooper Marody – 2 – His new single is called “Behind Me”, I’m betting that’s what he must be thinking about with regards to where he’d like to put his performances in these two rookie games. A bit better in game two, but still nowhere near good enough given the caliber of opponent he was facing. He was a perimeter player the whole night and every time he tried to bring the puck in, the Flames would simply angle him off into the boards where he’d turn it over. In one 15 second sequence, he was given the puck three times in the offensive zone and all three times the play died with him.

Nolan Vesey – 2 – A breakaway (kind of) was really his only positive contribution to the game.

Oliver Rodrigue – 4 – Not sure if Rodrigue summoned the ghost of Cam Talbot’s Oilers career before the game or what but I was a bit shocked that he let in the first shot of the game. Like Talbot though, he tightened up his game for the remaining 59 minutes to stop 40/42 shots. He was the Oilers best player on the night and if not for him, the game would’ve been a landslide win for the Flames.

Evan Bouchard – 4- Game him this grade because he got a goal and was clearly the best defender for the Oilers. His poise and passing stood out again, but he had some gaffs on the defensive side of the game. I wonder if he ever got his jock back from that Flame that made him look silly early on? Do you ask for an autograph in the scenario or is that offside? Joking aside, the guy can run a powerplay, there’s no questioning that, but he’s got some work to do on the defending.

Logan Day – 2 – I felt like he was fighting the puck quite a bit but I’ll admit, it was hard to differentiate between him and his d-partner because their numbers were so similar visually (Day was #90 and Bellamy was #80). Between the two, there was nothing spectacular about their performances though. Day had a bit more success moving the puck I’d say.

Vincent Desharnais – 2 – A better display in Calgary than Red Deer. Was much more disciplined and composed.

Dmitri Samorukov – 2- FINALLY smoked a guy with an open-ice check. He also got walked early in the game by Gawdin for the Flames first goal. He’s got some things that need to be ironed out of his game before he makes it to Edmonton. In my estimation, Philip Broberg would be playing for the Oilers before Samorukov, but not until at least 2021/22 for either. Broberg’s a much safer player with better tools, so he might even make it before that.

Jaxon Bellamy – 1 – Tough go for Mr. Bellamy. Got caught a few times being unable to clear the puck out of his own end that lead to extended offensive zone time for the Flames.

Brendan De Jong – 1 – Attempted to go walkabout a couple of times in this tilt but simply doesn’t have the skating or the hands to do it. That said, he did have a better defensive effort on display. Just not good enough.

In the end, these games weren’t about getting the wins. For me, it was an opportunity for the players to show the coaching staff where they are in their development. Some players like Lavoie, Safin, and Maksimov are just in the early stages whereas Bouchard, Benson, and Marody are possibly emerging from their early stages and moving up the ladder.

From my viewings, every Oilers player that played in these two games should be sent back to their junior club or to the AHL early in camp. I didn’t see one candidate perform well enough to get consideration for some time in the NHL and I don’t foresee anybody all of a sudden kicking their effort up a notch during the main camp. There’s nothing wrong with these guys getting returned to junior or the AHL either. More time to marinate never hurt any young hockey player.

Next up! The main Oilers camp gets started! Pre-season games get started next Monday!