I’ve been told (I’m required to start all rumors with that now) that Zack Kassian has quietly made it known to the Oilers that he’d wouldn’t be opposed to playing for another club. In much the same way Jordan Eberle did last summer, you could call it a soft trade request.
I know already there are readers rolling their eyes and saying Eberle didn’t request a trade and they’re not that wrong, they’re just uninformed. He made a quiet one basically saying that perhaps it’s time for a change of scenery. He even admitted so in the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast.
Basically, player walks into GM’s office, they talk about the player’s future and the player says, “maybe it’d be best for both of us if I moved on.”
Is that really a trade request? I’ll let you decide.
Now DON’T FREAK OUT! I’m not going to toss out some “real reporting” and say things are untenable between the Oilers and Kassian.
Kassian is one of my favorite Oilers ever and I’m not trying to run him out of town. He’s implanted a couple of hockey memories into my brain that I’ll never forget. The day he tried to beat the shit out of Taylor Hall
- The playoff game vs. San Jose where he was a wrecking machine. I think it was game 2.
- The “come and get some” behind the net vs. Arizona was awesome too.
- The playoff goal and subsequent celly with the Oilers fan is unforgettable as well.
I’ve never been opposed to Kassian making the money he does because he has the ability to turn a game on its head at the drop of a dime. He’s big, fast, has really nice hands, doesn’t take shite from anyone, takes care of his teammates, and off the ice, he’s a solid human being but I think his contract is getting in the way a bit and his performances in this year’s training camp have left everybody wanting.
Believe it or not, there are teams that crave a player like Zack Kassian, so I don’t believe that he’ll be a tough player to move. I imagine the two things on my mind will be, how will subtracting a player like Kassian from the locker room affect the team and who’s coming back to the Oilers in return.
So take that information as you will. If I were you I wouldn’t take it any more seriously than what you might hear from Ted down in accounting. It’s water cooler banter. Something you might throw out whilst having a beer with your buddies down at The Pint on Jasper (watch out for the cockroaches though).
Most of the time these things fail to materialize anyhow but in Kassian’s case, Bob Stauffer has been spouting off all summer about moving him to pick up a defender…
I’ve been less than impressed with some of the fringe defenders that are battling for a spot on the Oilers roster this year. Jerabek hasn’t done anything and Garrison is a ghost out there. At this point, the Oilers will be better off keeping two of Kevin Gravel, Ethan Bear, or Evan Bouchard on the main roster as they’ve been the best out of that group of ‘Maybes’.
I’m not sure if the Oilers are looking at anybody new. Justin Faulk is off of the table now as his price has skyrocketed. Word has it, the Canes are after Nuge still and that’s not happening. I’ve heard Strome’s name come up and even with Ryan McLeod’s great camp, I don’t think it’d be a responsible trade to make after all the tire pumping the Oilers did explaining why Strome would be Puljujarvi’s center to start the year.
None of that matters though. When Andrej Sekera goes on IR, the Oilers, in my opinion, should keep their powder dry. Just because they will get a bit of extra space on the cap doesn’t mean the best course of action is to spend it right away because once Sekera comes back, that cap relief also disappears and if the Oilers are over the cap when that happens, they’re screwed and forced to make a move.
Now if they’ve got a trade or two in the pocket, they’re sorted. But I wouldn’t hold my breath there.
EDMONTON OILERS OPENING NIGHT ROSTER
I think I’ve seen all that I need to see in order to make a roster prediction for the Oilers’ first game vs. NJ on Oct.6th.
RNH – McDavid – Rattie
Lucic – Draisaitl – Rieder
Khaira – Strome – Puljujarvi
Caggiula – Brodziak – Chiasson
Aberg/Yamamoto
You can mess about with the lines however you feel. These combos are just me broad stroking it. I don’t believe Kassian will be in Germany and his replacement will be Alex Chiasson. You might be wondering where Upshall is and as of today, he’s this year’s Chris Kelly. A veteran who will skate with the club until fit and then a decision will be made. I think eventually he will be on the club though.
Kailer Yamamoto has done everything he’s needed to do in order to earn a spot on this roster but the problem is, there’s no room. So a few things have to happen to get him there,
- A winger has to be moved
Grab this sweet Yamamoto/Nintendo parody shirt! Click the image above! - A PTO needs to be passed on
- An injury
The Oilers have done some daft things with young players in the past and if they throw Yamamoto onto the 4th line, that will be yet another blunder for them. He needs to be playing with skilled players in Edmonton or in the top-6 in Bakersfield.
But if you’re wondering whose spot Yamamoto might steal, consider this, he’s normally a right-winger but last night he lined up on the left side… Could Drake Caggiula be the 13th forward this year, JJ Khaira moved to the 4th line and Yammo slotted in on the 3rd line with Ryan Strome and Jesse Puljujarvi?
Klefbom/Larsson
Nurse/Benning
Russell/Bouchard
Gravel
Not much to say here right? These pairings have been inked in since Andrej Sekera went down this summer.
Kevin Gravel has been much better than Garrison and Jerabek and he’s definitely earned a spot on the opening night roster. He’s been more physically engaging and he’s done a bit more good in the puck moving department to my eye.
Jakub Jerabek could come in later on and make an impact from the bottom-pairing though. He’s just not done enough to tell me, Coach BLH, that he’s got what it takes to make the roster for game 1.
I really don’t know what to think in Evan Bouchard’s case. Physically, he’s good to go. Mentally, he’s got ice in his veins and rarely gets shook out there and the Oilers need his Marino-like passing as well as his MacInnis-like slapshot on the powerplay.
It’s just such an important season for the Oilers. Do we want them icing a 19-year-old on defense?
Talbot
Montoya
Mikko Koskinen hasn’t had a preseason to write home about. The Calgary game was right horrid and even though the goals that got past him vs. WPG last night were grade-A beauties, for the most part, you don’t want to be letting in 5 goals.
That said, Koskinen’s play did improve and that’s the important thing but at this point, I’d probably send him to the minors, as he’s waiver eligible whereas Montoya is not, to keep getting his reps and confidence up while Montoya backs up Talbot.
Cam Talbot looks like he’s back eh? Boy is he good when he’s on his game.
Would your opening night roster look any different? Let us know in the comments below!
