Can an entire 20-man roster be sent to the AHL? Has it ever happened before? Because I’m thinking that the Oilers coaching staff might’ve considered using that option after the game last night vs. Vancouver. What a horrid performance that was. I felt like they forgot everything they’d been utilizing successfully the previous two games, don’t you? Where was the slick passing through the middle? What happened to the staunch PK and the dangerous PP?
If you missed the cuts…
Tyler Benson
Cameron Hebig
Caleb Jones
Kirill Maksimov
Cooper Marody
Ryan McLeod
Anthony Peluso
Dmitri Samorukov
Dylan WellsAnd Josh Currie, Joseph Gambardella, Keegan Lowe and Brad Malone on waivers.
— Jason Gregor (@JasonGregor) September 20, 2019
For a lot of players, they gave up on a massive opportunity to separate themselves from the pack. There are three roster spots available I reckon, center, left-wing, and right-defense; and none of the candidates who played in that 6-1 shellacking did anything noteworthy enough to give themselves the leg up.
That’s not to say it was all bad, I did see flashes of play from time to time that brought me to the edge of my sofa. But for the most part, the Oilers, from top to bottom, really ate it. That said, Vancouver basically iced their opening night roster sans a key forward and a few defensemen. So I suppose it wasn’t all on Edmonton, they were playing a much more experienced side and I’d even go as far as to say that the win wasn’t the most important thing for Coach Tippett’s team. The most important thing was to see how some of the bubble guys would perform in this sort of scenario.
The way I’m going to try to do my game grades this year is that I will give each player a score between one and five but no threes so as to eliminate any fence-sitting. The scores would mean something along these lines,
- 1 – Horrid effort, made an impact on the game negatively
- 2 – Could’ve been better, didn’t make much of an impact
- 4 – Above average, decent effort and impacted the game positively
- 5 – Outstanding game, was a major difference-maker
These are your game grades,
Tomas Jurco – 2 – It’s unfortunate that the wheels fell off for the whole team like it did because Jurco had a lovely start to this one. He had a bit of chemistry with Marody and they were causing the Canucks some real issues. I really like the way he handles the puck and his shot is a lot better than he gives himself credit for. I’d like to see him on the PP with a few better linemates in order to take advantage of those strengths.
Ryan McLeod – 2 – Another really solid two-way game for McLeod. I really wonder if he starts the year with the Oilers because one of the things that Coach Tippett has said is that the team needs to cut down on the goals against. I feel like McLeod’s 200ft game would really benefit that cause. My feeling is that he’s earned a bit of an extra look-see but the Oilers coaching staff sees otherwise. *EDIT – This isn’t the year… He was part of the 2nd round of cuts*
Gaetan Haas – 2 – Oh! He came THAT close to scoring at the end of the 2nd period. Apart from that, I noticed him a bit on the defensive side of the puck but not really on the offensive one. He’s needed to show that he can contribute on the scoresheet and he’s yet to do that and now he’s up against Colby Cave for that remaining center spot. He’s in tough as Cave has been above average at camp.
Cooper Marody – 2 – Not as good as the previous match-up against the Canucks but still much better than the intra-squad and rookie games. It was good that he scored, but I’d be willing to bet that if they’d gone to video review, that goal might’ve been called off. He had a really poor third frame as I saw the play die on his stick on three consecutive shifts and then he took a really lazy penalty. As a result, he’s on a plane to Bakersfield.
Alex Chiasson – 2 – A bit better, but really cost his team when he took that interference penalty costing Tomas Jurco a real grade-A scoring chance. I will say this though, he’s a real handful along the boards and in the corners. The way the roster is shaping up and how Tippett has been constructing his lines, I would have to guess that Chiasson is probably got the right-wing spot on the 4th line locked up.
Anthony Peluso – 2 – He played?
Markus Granlund – 2 – He played too?
Tyler Benson – 2 – This is a young man that is going to make the NHL someday and stay there, it’s just not right now. He’s shown bits here and there that he’s got what it takes, however, he hasn’t kept his foot on the pedal and I would have to say he needs a bit more time in Bakersfield yet and as of this morning, the coaches agree with me.
Patrick Russell – 2 – Russell played his signature game but to a lesser effect. He was definitely less noticeable this time around and that could be fatigue setting in. The Dane does look to have sped up over the summer though and that will undoubtedly help him in his bid to stick with the team past training camp this year.
Brad Malone – 2 – One mistake too many in this one. We might’ve seen the last of Bugsy in Edmonton.
Joakim Nygard – 2 – We finally got to see his speed as he barely missed out on a scoring chance after he’d turned on the afterburners. Jacob Markstrom’s outstretched leg got the better of Nygard’s attempt. I still feel like there’s more there with this guy though that he’s not showing. So… We wait.
James Neal – 2 – I nearly blew the roof off my apartment shouting when he hit the crossbar on that wide-open net. After that though, he was pretty meh.
Mikko Koskinen – 1 – Well, what can you say? Another tough outing for Koskinen and his glove hand. The first goal I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt as he had a pile of bodies in front of him, but he should’ve had Beagle’s goal. Last year’s preseason wasn’t amazing for him and I’m hoping it’s just a training camp thing or else the Oilers will be in big trouble this year.
Shane Starrett – 2 – He took over in the final 20 minutes and let in a couple of goals in that time. It just wasn’t the goalies’ night I reckon. He’s been good so far, so I can’t complain really.
Joel Persson – 2 – I’ve been really impressed with the way he passes the puck and he had a couple of great passes last night, but the Canucks’ forecheckers gave him some trouble as I thought they would. That’s an excellent test for him though and he has to learn from that. He’ll be facing that night-in and night-out should he make the team and be Klefbom’s partner for the year.
Oscar Klefbom – 2 – To be honest, I didn’t notice Oscar a whole lot and in this case, that’s a good thing given the overall effort of the team. Klef earned himself an assist on Marody’s goal.
Keegan Lowe – 1 – Oh man… Lowe was not good at all. His flubbed pass(es) caused so much trouble for the Oilers. He was getting beat all night and him getting cut is to nobody’s surprise.
Matt Benning – 2 – Benning wasn’t much better than Lowe in my opinion but I’ve become numb to his early season performances. He’s done this every year he’s been an Oiler. He’ll be bad early on and then pick it up as the season progresses, but can the Oilers afford that? If Bear and Bouchard are good to go, would Edmonton move a guy like Benning to open up that spot?
Caleb Jones – 2 – Something is off about Jones this year. I’m not seeing the same confidence in his game as there was last season. Does Jasek get that goal of his if Jones steps up on him instead of holding the fort? He’s been sent to Bakersfield as of this morning and rightfully so. It’s better he gets the big TOI down there than sit in the pressbox in Edmonton.
Dmitri Samorukov – 2 – Another young buck who’s on his way to Bakersfield. I think the writing was on the wall when he butt-ended himself in the face behind the Oilers net. The passing wasn’t there last night and he was having trouble containing Vancouver’s forwards.
Next game is tonight vs those lovely Flames from Calgary. I’m not 100% certain but I do think we’ll see a more veteran Oilers lineup. Hopefully, they bring some heart to the game and give those fans something to cheer about.
What did you think about the game? Let us know in the comments below!
