GDB -2.0: Jobs on the line

LINEUP

QUICK HITS

• Joensuu, Draisaitl, Purcell, Pitlick, Pinizzoto, Marincin, Hunt, Aulie and Nurse are all playing back-to-back. Eakins wants to see who has a drop off in their game and who can maintain the same pace.
• Watch for Hall and RNH to cycle the puck at ES, while Yakupov tries to find an open shooting lane. The major difference playing with a left shot on the right wing is that Yakupov has to receive most of his passes on the rush on his backhand, so RNH and Hall will take a bit off the passes. Hall is most dangerous off the rush, so I’m curious to see how Yakupov fits in with those two. If they have good chemistry, it sounds like there is a chance they could start the regular season together.
• Perron injured his ribs last night, but Eakins said this morning he doesn’t think it is anything serious. “David has made our team, so we don’t have to push him.”
• Jeff Petry wants to play Saturday, but the medical staff will decide that morning. Andrew Ference could play tonight according to Eakins, but they elected to give him another few days of rest.
• Luke Gazdic, Ryan Hamilton and Brandon Davidson look like they will start the year on the IR. Davidson has a sports hernia, Gazdic is waiting for clearance for his shoulder, while Hamilton has an oblique injury. Hamilton and Davidson will go to OKC the second they are cleared, while Gazdic likely stays in Edmonton.
• The Oilers re-assigned Laurent Brossoit and David Musil to OKC this morning. Eakins said they want Musil to get out of his comfort zone as a steady, stay-at-home-defender, and become more engaged in the rush. They want him to work on that in OKC. Brossoit will split goaltending duties with Richard Bachman in OKC, as long as he plays well. The Oilers want him to get some quality playing time.
Excluding the three injured players, the Oilers have 19 forwards, 10 D-men and three goalies left in camp. They need to make eight cuts. Eakins said they haven’t decided if they will keep 14 forwards and 7 D-men, or 13 forwards and 8 D-men yet.
The obvious cuts, for me, before next Tuesday’s deadline, are Bachman, Acton, Khaira, Westgarth (PTO release) and Hunt. That leaves four more. I see Nurse going to junior and Yakimov to OKC and I think Klefbom goes down as well, mainly because it is better he plays than sit in pressbox as the #7. If an injury occurs, then I’d recall him and insert him into the lineup ahead of Aulie.
That leaves one cut. Right now I think it is between Pitlick, Joensuu and Lander. Lander has shown the least to this point, but he is a centre and he’s only played two games. All three are waiver eligible, but I doubt anyone would claim Joensuu. Lander and Pitlick would only get picked up due to their age, however, I still think it is a long shot that either one gets claimed when every team will be trimming their rosters. I remember when no one claimed Rob Schremp. I think it would be the same with any of these three.

TONIGHT…


GAME DAY PREDICTION: Expect a fiesty affair, with some players on both teams playing for a roster spot. The Oilers end their preseason home record a perfect 4-0 after a 4-2 victory.
OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: It is the first televised game of the year, so the Nation will be packed with post-game thoughts on who should be cut. The debate over Pitlick, Lander or Joensuu will be a hot topic. 
NOT-SO-OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: Pinizzotto fought on Monday, had two assists last night and he gets a Gordie Howe hat-trick over four days when he scores in the second period. 
Recently by Jason Gregor: 

• GDB -4.0: Make or break
• Cherish your father
• Tkachev: Realistic expectations
• GDB -6.0: Trouba and the Jets
• Monday Musings
• Ramsay talks coaching, defence and the powerplay
• Hall: “I’m far from a finished product.”