Edmonton Oilers players begin to arrive for training camp

Edmonton Oilers players have started to trickle into the city as training camp nears.

Among them, Leon Draisaitl, Dylan Holloway, Xavier Bourgault and Philip Broberg are just some of the few who have arrived in the 780.

While I think it’s safe to say Leon Draisaitl will make the team, the other trio will all be competing for roster spots. Holloway and Bourgault both will be looking to crack into the bottom-six of the roster, while Broberg is battling for a spot on the Oilers’ third pairing.

I think Holloway has more of an inside track to making the roster this year. He has experience playing against men not only at the NCAA level, but in the American League too where he drew in for 33 games scoring 22 points.

That being said, don’t count out Bourgault just yet. He had a tremendous final season with the Shawinigan Cataractes scoring 36 goals and 75 points in 43 games. Come playoffs, he scored another 12 goals and 22 points in 16 games. This kid can produce offence, no doubt, and many seem high on the 2021 22nd overall pick.

Lastly, Broberg’s spot on the Oilers roster this year is his to lose. He came to North America last year splitting time between the NHL and AHL and looked good in both leagues. With the Oilers, he appeared in 23 games scoring a goal and three points, while in Bakersfield, he scored four goals and 23 points in 31 games.

He developed quickly for the Oilers and knows the Jay Woodcroft/Dave Manson system well already. I’m excited to see what he becomes down the road.