MAKING THE GRADE

7 years ago

Edmonton Oilers entered training camp with a few openings and a bunch of interesting options at each position: Draft picks, minor leaguers and some college men. Handicapping the field, I guessed we might see Jordan Oesterle and Jujhar Khaira break camp with the big club. Who won the jobs? Let’s have a look.

R Tyler Pitlick, who scored a nice goal in the first game of the season. Pitlick has been toiling in the AHL (on and off) since 2011 fall, playing 196 minor league games and just 28 in the NHL. Pitlick has averaged only 44.8 games per pro season, and lost a lot of key development time. He has always looked like a player when healthy, as is the case this fall. Right now, he sits in the Matt Hendricks roster spot, meaning he could get sent out when the veteran returns. As with all of these pro players this season, Pitlick may be auditioning for a spot in the Las Vegas organization—depending on how things go in Edmonton. Not technically an NHL rookie, he is still trying to establish himself.

F Anton Slepyshev, who is going to earn the nickname Mr. September with these strong training camp showings. Like Pitlick, he is here due to injury (Iiro Pakarinen) but got a nice push in game one, starting on the 2line. He hasn’t delivered a lot offensively in North America, limiting his options in terms of roster spot on an NHL team. This is a big season for him, if he can establish himself as a strong NHL option it may give Edmonton a solid value deal moving forward.

R Jesse Puljujarvi, who scored a goal in his first NHL game. JP (I am calling him that, hope it catches on because it will save a helluva lot of typing time) is a big winger with speed and the ability to win pucks—making him a Chiarelli player no matter how many goals he scores. I think he should pop 15, but it helps that he scored in Game 1. Puljujarvi played 12:52 in his first game, 4:33 of that on the power play—and I do think he could end up being a RH trigger man on this team as the season rolls along.

RD Matt Benning. Although he has not played yet—and could get sent down before making his debut—Benning was impressive during training camp and should see NHL action this season. I was surprised that the Oilers sent Jordan Oesterle down so early during the preseason, and one of the reasons for the quick demotion may have been Benning’s performance. NHL teams use 10 or 11 defenders during the long season, chances are both men will see action this year.

F Drake Caggiula, a famous college player who had a strong training camp. Sometimes performances in preseason are not matched once the regular year begins, and the injury might impact Caggiula’s performance once he gets back. That said, he certainly earned an audition and he adds speed and skill to what can be a lumbering bottom 6F.

The Condors have some players we should see this season—Jujhar Khaira, Jordan Oesterle, Laurent Brossoit—but the opportunities that were made available this training camp ended up going to the five men listed above. That probably informs the future, and indicates the organization likes the Russian winger more than we might have thought based on his disappointing minor league season.

CURRENT CONDORS ROSTER

2—D Mark Fraser
3—D Dillon Simpson
5—D Ben Betker
6—D David Musil
7—C Jujhar Khaira
8—D Griffin Reinhart
11—W Joey Benik
12—L Ryan Hamilton
14—C Kyle Platzer
15—D Jordan Oesterle
17—D Joey Laleggia
18—C Josh Currie
19—L Mitch Moroz
22—R Joel Rechlicz
23—L Braden Christoffer
25—R Greg Chase
28—D Mikael Tam
29—L Scott Allen
31—G Laurent Brossoit
34—G Nick Ellis
36—R Patrick Russell
39—R Jaedon Descheneau
40—L Jere Sallinen
41—R Taylor Beck
Source

MAKING THE GRADE

CURRENT CONDORS ROSTER

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