Through two games in the Young Stars Classic, the Oilers prospects had struggled to show much offence.
The team had scored one goal in their opening two games, but on Monday, they had a chance to re-write the script against the Winnipeg Jets prospects. Unfortunately, all the Oilers did was reinforce some of the narratives developed over the weekend. The Oilers played a better get from an attack standpoint but still did not find a way to score, losing the game 2-0. Were there any positive notes from the game? Let’s review the tape.
- As with the other two games, this one was all about the Oilers’ defence as the group was simply overmatched. Again, five camp invites played in every game, with Beau Akey not playing. That left Max Wanner as the only experienced player here, and it showed. The Oilers’ prospects were essentially two teams: one when Wanner was on the ice and one when he was off the ice. While this might have been Wanner’s least effective game (likely due to exhaustion), he still had very good moments. Here is Wanner doing something he does very well, which is defend against the attack and transition the puck.
He also makes these subtle plays that help his team. Here is one on the penalty kill where he ties up two players and maintains the puck in his reach. Eventually, his teammates comes to grab the puck and send it down the ice.
I also thought this was Wanner’s most active game on the attack. He was involved in most of the Oilers’ good scoring chances.
- The only other note on defence from this game was Nate Corbet. Corbet graded out as my third-best defenceman in the tournament for the Oilers. He is a good skater and plays hard on the body. The notable thing for me was in three games, the young man stepped up and defended his teammates three times. He fought a couple of very tough customers in the Canucks and Flames games. Here, he went after the Winnipeg Jet, who knocked Carl Berglund from the game with an open-ice hit. That type of play gets noticed by scouts.
- The forward group was really led today by William Nicholl. He was impactful on most of his shifts today. His motor never quits. He is non-stop in all three zones and is effective against bigger players. Take a look at these two shifts which were typical for him all game. They didn’t lead to offence, which needs to happen next, but each was very effective.
- Dalyn Wakely also had a very nice game. With Wakely, he has very good hockey sense about where to be and when. When I was younger, we would say the puck follows this guy. And it does with him, but it is through his own efforts. Here is just one clip from today of what I mean.
Wakely is a very interesting player. He could play in the AHL this season or return for his overage year in the OHL. I’ll be fascinated to watch him over the next few weeks.
- Matthew Savoie was quieter again last night, unlike the first Friday game, but not as impactful. He looked tired to me as did a lot of the forwards. There was a lot of defending going on and with three games in four days that has to be expected.
- Sam O’Reilly was really in the same boat. After looking uncomfortable in his first game and very comfortable in his second, O’Reilly looked like he adjusted well to the pace of play. However, he seems fatigued at defending a lot this tourney.
- Matvey Petrov had a very concerning tournament for me. While this is a player who is more complimentary as opposed to a play driver, I expected more from him initiating play. He did not do that in the prior two games. Same for him against Winnipeg. Nothing of note today, regrettably. He needs to be better.
- I thought Jayden Grubbe had his best game last night. He is a defence-first center, and he was strong all week. I thought his line with William Nicholl and Ethan De Jong was the best Oilers line. Grubbe had a couple of mid-level scoring chances. Grubbe also fought late in the game in what really looked his frustration at the team’s play coming out.
With the 2-0 loss, the Oilers go 0-3 in the tournament overall. I will have some final thoughts on the Oilers’ prospects in this tournament before the big boys start training camp later this week. See you around the rink.
