Curtis Lazar is making an early return to the Edmonton Oilers' lineup, much to the delight of fans and the team alike. Originally expected back next month, Lazar has been activated off LTIR and is set to center the fourth line against Anaheim today.
This marks Lazar's first season with the Oilers after signing a one-year deal at the league minimum. The Oilers brought him in for his gritty play and proficiency in the faceoff circle, and he’s delivered. In 38 games, Lazar has racked up 77 hits and boasts a 61.4% faceoff win rate, his best yet.
While his physical presence is undeniable, Lazar's offensive contributions have been modest, tallying just three goals and two assists while averaging under nine minutes per game. His season has been disrupted by injuries, playing only five games since February, with his latest setback occurring on March 3rd against Ottawa. His LTIR stint required him to miss at least 10 games and 24 days, a condition he’s now fulfilled.
With Lazar back, the Oilers face a roster decision. They currently have three forwards-Josh Samanski, Max Jones, and Roby Jarventie-up on an emergency basis.
Jarventie is expected to be a healthy scratch today, which nullifies the emergency recall conditions. This means Edmonton must either send Jarventie back down or convert him to one of their five allowable post-deadline regular recalls.
The Oilers will need to weigh their options carefully as they navigate these roster adjustments.