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GDB -3.0: Catch McLellan’s Eye
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Jason Gregor
Oct 4, 2016, 15:03 EDTUpdated:
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We are getting down to crunch time. The Oilers who are battling for jobs have three games to make a final strong impression for Todd McLellan. Some of them will play well and still be sent to the AHL, simply due to numbers, but these games are the final chance to ensure McLellan knows their strengths.
Eric Gryba is battling for a contract. Anton Lander is vying to keep a spot in the NHL. Nail Yakupov wants to keep his spot in the top-nine, while Jesse Puljujarvi,Griffin Reinhart, Tyler Pitlick, Dillon Simpson and Anton Slepyshev are hoping to earn a spot on the 23-man roster.
Those eight have a lot to play for, and they are in a different position than the other veterans on the team. It is the harsh reality of life in the NHL. Not everyone is on equal ground during training camp. One-way contracts give some veterans an extra edge, as teams are always leery of losing someone for nothing.
Puljujarvi, Reinhart, Simpson and Slepyshev don’t require waivers, and that will play a factor in McLellan’s and GM Peter Chiarelli’s final decisions. Simpson needs some seasoning, so I expect he’ll be sent to the AHL soon along with Matt Benning, who won’t play tonight, but has had a very solid camp, who will benefit from some time in Bakersfield.
The other scratches tonight will be Connor McDavid, Milan Lucic, Jordan Eberle, Andrej Sekera, Darnell Nurse, Jordan Oesterle, Drake Caggiula and Benning. Kris Versteeg and Brandon Davidson are both day to day, and it sounds like Davidson won’t be out very long which is great news for the Oilers.

LINEUP

Pouliot-Nugent-Hopkins-Puljujarvi
Maroon-Draisaitl-Yakupov
Hendricks-Letestu-Kassian
Slepyshev-Lander-Pitlick
Klefbom-Larsson
Simpson-Fayne
Reinhart-Gryba
Talbot
Draisaitl took some line rushes with RNH and Pouliot, but he’ll play centre tonight. I suspect we will see Draisaitl play on RNH’s wing in one of the final two preseason games, and I’d lean towards him starting the season there.
The biggest challenge of playing three lines is spreading out the icetime. Will Draisaitl be effective in only 13 minutes? Is it better to play him 18 minutes along side RNH, instead of a rookie like Puljujarvi? I’d argue it is, at least to start the season.
DUCKS
At the time of publication their lineup wasn’t official. John Gibson will start in goal and it doesn’t look like Ryan Getzlaf or Corey Perry will play. Once we get confirmation on their lineup we will update the post.

QUICK HITS

  • The World Cup was the best thing to happen for Caggiula. With RNH, McDavid and Draisaitl away he got more ice time early in camp and he made the most of it. Getting an opportunity is important in the growth of any player, or any of us at work, but what you do with the opportunity is what separates the contenders from pretenders. So far he’s made the most of it, and if he continues he’ll earn himself a spot in the opening night lineup.
  • I wonder how much the Davidson injury influences signing Gryba? We all know the Oilers lack depth on the right side of their defence, but Davidson’s injury was a stark reminder of how shallow their depth actually is. Reinhart and Nurse can’t play the right side. Do you want to move Sekera there and then have Nurse in your second pairing? Not to start the season, which is why signing Gryba makes sense. Depth matters and I’d feel more comfortable with Gryba on the RD on the third pairing than rushing Nurse, Reinhart or Oesterle into playing more minutes than they are ready for.
  • The Oilers have introduced a new wrinkle in their penalty killing and it caused a few mistakes in Winnipeg. They will try to be a bit more aggressive in certain situations. One wrong decision on the PK can expose you pretty quickly and we saw that in Winnipeg. I’m very curious to see who McLellan will use as his second PK unit in the regular season. Hendricks and Letestu will be one, but how much PK time will Kassian get? RNH, Pouliot, McDavid are other options, as is Caggiula.
  • If Yakupov wants to be in the opening night roster next Wedneday he needs to have a strong week. He hasn’t been bad in preseason, but he also hasn’t been as noticeable as Versteeg, Caggiula or Puljujarvi. I’ve always liked his subtle aggressive side. He doesn’t back down on the ice, and he needs to play with some emotion. He plays better when he has a bit of chip on his shoulder. He needs to show that this week.

TONIGHT

GAME DAY PREDICTION: Oilers defeat a watered down Ducks roster, 4-1.
OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: Draisaitl scores in his first preseason game and many will argue he’s better served at centre.
NOT-SO-OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: Slepyshev has a strong game, with three shots and a point. He keeps himself in the conversation to make the 23-man roster.

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