The Edmonton Oilers took a big bite out of their training camp roster on Friday morning, trimming 15 players as they move closer to Tuesday’s season opener.
The cuts came after Thursday’s game against the Vancouver Canucks, and the latest round of moves included a mix of reassignments, junior returns and waiver placements. Seven players were sent to the Bakersfield Condors: Tomas Cibulka, Connor Clattenburg, Quinn Hutson, Viljami Marjala, William Nicholl, Aku Raty and Connor Ungar.
Clattenburg and Hutson had been among the names with at least a little buzz around them during camp, with some hope one of them might do enough to stick with the NHL club. That didn’t happen, though neither player should be ruled out for a call-up later in the year.
Four more players were sent back to their junior teams: Rudolfs Berzkalns, Caden Harvey, David Lewandowski and Andrew Robinson. Those moves fit the expected path for prospects still working their way up, though Lewandowski is one to watch. The 19-year-old has plenty of skill and is set up for a big season with the WHL’s Saskatoon Blades.
The final three players cut were placed on waivers, giving the other 31 NHL teams a chance to claim them. The source notes there were no real surprises in that group, and that Brown and Stillman are expected to remain veteran pieces with the Condors if they clear. They could also see some NHL action if injuries create openings.
After the latest round of moves, Edmonton’s camp roster is down to 33 players - 18 forwards, 11 defencemen and four goalies. The Oilers still need to make 10 more cuts before opening night.
In Other News...
Messiers Oilers Blast Just Raised A Bigger Leadership Question
Mark Messiers latest remarks landed with the kind of force only an Oilers legend can deliver, especially when the discussion turns to how the organization has handled its coaching search. His criticism was aimed squarely at Edmontons decision to hire Mike Babcock, a move that continues to stir debate because of the way it was made and the people who were apparently involved along the way.
What makes the reaction sting a little more is the leadership angle tucked inside it. Messier did not just take issue with the hire itself, he also raised questions about the role the Oilers leadership group played in the process, arguing that players should not have that kind of influence. For a team that has spent years trying to define its internal hierarchy, it is the sort of challenge that invites a much bigger conversation about who is really steering the room. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jackets Face A Kirill Marchenko Decision They Can't Let Drag Out
The winger market is already getting attention around the league, and Kirill Marchenko is suddenly part of that conversation as Columbus weighs what comes next. The pending restricted free agent is drawing interest from three Canadian clubs, including the Oilers, according to Sportsnet insider Nick Kypreos, which is the kind of development that tends to ripple quickly once teams start checking on availability.
Marchenko is entering the final year of his extension, and the Blue Jackets do have the flexibility to move him if they can line up the right return. For Edmonton, it is another reminder that the search for scoring help can lead to names with real bite, even if the asking price and the timing of any deal are still very much in flux. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Could Take A Risk That Changes Their Middle Six
Shane Wrights name is back in the rumor mill after a promising first full NHL season gave way to a dip in production, and the former fourth overall pick is suddenly looking like a player who could be available at the right price. For Edmonton, that creates an intriguing kind of opportunity, the sort that comes with some risk but also the chance to reshape a middle-six group that can use more upside and long-term value.
Any move would likely mean sending prospects and draft picks back the other way, which is no small thing for a team trying to stay competitive now while keeping an eye on what comes next. But Wrights pedigree alone makes him the kind of swing worth discussing, especially for a club that could benefit if a change of scenery helps him rediscover the form that once made him such a coveted prospect. [Read more 🡒]