THE 50-MAN LIST ENTERING FREE AGENCY
By Lowetide
8 years ago
The Edmonton Oilers brought home some NHL players and prospects who may be NHL-ready from the 2015 draft. As we head toward free agency—RFA and UFA—it’s important to know who is on the 50-man list and how much room remains. Things get tight in a hurry!
CURRENT 50-MAN LIST
NHL teams don’t announce or display their lists, but it’s fairly easy to figure out (some Euro contracts, like Brad Ross, are a moving target). Here’s the 50-man list currently as I know it:
- G Cam Talbot (Perfect fit for the Oilers turn north)
- G Ben Scrivens (suspect
he’ll return in a backup role) - G Laurent Brossoit (AHL
starter and plenty of opportunity to move up) - G Eetu Laurikainen (new
hire, AHL backup or ECHL starter) - D Nikita Nikitin (No. 1
candidate for buy out to my eye) - D Mark Fayne (Looks like help is on the way)
- D Andrew Ference (5-6-7D
likely role for coming season) - D Eric Gryba (Another D-zone blue with NHL experience to help Fayne, Ference)
- D Oscar Klefbom (Does he play with Schultz, get heavy O-zone starts?)
- D Griffin Reinhart (Suspect he’s in the NHL to stay this fall)
- D Darnell Nurse (I think he’ll push the veterans this fall)
- D Brad Hunt (He’ll see NHL
time) - D David Musil (Could get some NHL time)
- D Jordan Oesterle (Fast and skilled, could surprise)
- D Dillon Simpson (Probably a full season in Bakersfield)
- D Martin Gernat (They may try to get him off the roster)
- D Ben Betker (May need to
spend some time in the ECHL if it gets crowded) - D Joey Laleggia (Can learn
plenty from Hunt and Oesterle in Bakersfield) - C Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (Don’t forget Nuge, he’s a big part of the future)
- C Anton Lander (Important
player for 15-16) - C Boyd Gordon (veteran could
be trade bait by deadline if things break right) - C Leon Draisaitl (Man
amongst boys in Memorial Cup) - C Bogdan Yakimov (Big C still developing, factor down the line)
- C Jujhar Khaira (Solid
checker, offense may keep him from NHL career) - C Kyle Platzer (New pro has two-way skills)
- L Taylor Hall (Rumor of a new C coming in may help spike numbers)
- L Benoit Pouliot (A rugged
winger with skill) - L Matt Hendricks (Had a
wonderful year, can he do it again?) - L Luke Gazdic (More toughness to help this coming season)
- L Ryan Hamilton (he’ll be
the veteran hand in the minors helping to guide the kids) - L Anton Slepyshev (Can’t wait to see him in TC)
- L Mitch Moroz (Should see way more action in Bakersfield in 2015-16)
- L Kale Kessy (Lost season to injury, another chance in 2015-16)
- R Jordan Eberle (Top RW primed for a big year)
- R Nail Yakupov (He’s still here, people!)
- R Teddy Purcell (Speed only real issue)
- R Rob Klinkhammer (4line RW, crash and bang)
- R Iiro Pakarinen (Has a chance to make the team)
- R Andrew Miller (A strong
option for NHL time in 2015-16) - R Greg Chase (His game should flourish in pro’s)
That’s the list as I see it, now here’s a list of players who will (or may) be added later in the year:
- C Connor McDavid: He’s been drafted and when he signs McDavid will go on the 50. There’s a slide rule but he won’t slide, this is an NHL player. Wanye told me!
- D Justin Schultz (RFA)
- D Brandon Davidson (RFA)
- D Keith Aulie (RFA)
- C Kellen Lain (RFA)
- L Matt Fraser (RFA)
- L Curtis Hamilton (RFA)
- R Tyler Pitlick (RFA)
- G Tyler Bunz (RFA)
- L Josh Winquist (no contract)
- R John McCarron (college draft selection)
Many of these players will probably be cast away, but players in bold are the most likely to return. Keith Aulie might have been a candidate but Gryba’s addition may block him. Matt Fraser could also be back, depending on what Edmonton does in free agency.
HOW MUCH ROOM?
If we guess that McDavid, Schultz, Davidson and Pitlick are added, that puts Edmonton at 44 before free agency. There’s plenty of room on the 50-man list for a top defenseman and more. Peter Chiarelli’s summer is just getting started but clearing the way as he’s done suggests we can expect a few additions via trade and free agency before training camp.
Note: Brad Ross, part of the Marincin package, appears on NHLNumbers.com under the Oilers RFA’s and I suspect they’ll walk him. Ross is already signed for next season in Europe. Source
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