The Oilers – Final Roster Thoughts

The roster is set, the Edmonton Oilers 2014-15 opening night squad is ready to go and will take the ice on Thursday night at home against the Calgary Flames. For the most part, the roster is as expected, but there are still some surprises among the players that will wear the storied orange and blue this year.

Forwards:

Taylor Hall – The franchise. There really isn’t more to say here. Hall is Edmonton’s best forward and player. He has the ability to drive the possession, he has potential through the roof, and his offensive execution gets better year by year. Personally, I think he is a top-ten forward in the NHL today, and I believe people will realize this as Edmonton gets better. The Oilers go as Hall goes.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – By far the best offensive center on the roster, and finally healthy to boot. RNH has looked great in camp, and will have a full summer of training behind him. He won’t be recovering from an injury this year, so I’m expecting a break-out year from the fourth year pivot. Due to Edmonton’s weakness down the middle, he’ll need to be a stud for this team to have a shot.

Jordan Eberle – As steady as they come, Eberle isn’t the player Hall is, but he’s Robin to Batman. He’s got good offensive instincts and can keep up with the star players on the team. He’s a perfect guy to ride shot-gun with the big guns on the top line, and 60-75 points should be a given should Eberle stay healthy. His value has been debated, but he’s a key cog to the Oilers machine.

David Perron – Tied for the team lead in goals last year, Perron is a perfect guy to lead the charge scoring wise on line two. Aside from his offensive potential, Perron provides leadership, a little bit of size and some sandpaper to a team sorely lacking it. He’ll need to be involved again this year for this team to have success.

Nail Yakupov – Yes he struggled last season, but Yakupov has looked much better this camp. Defensively his game is improved, and he’s got the tools to be the best goal-scorer on this club. The Oilers need Yakupov in a major way to lift their secondary scoring and give their power-play that deadly shot. Massive year for the third year forward.

Boyd Gordon – Gordon is the big cog defensively up front for this Oiler team. He’s great in the dot, phenomenal on the penalty kill, and terrific defensively. Without Gordon, this Oilers team would be totally lost in the bottom-six. He’s one of two NHL-level centers on this Oiler team, he’ll be a massive key to any success.

Benoit Pouliot – Solid possession winger with size and skill, plus the speed to play with the big guns up top. Works hard and wins a lot of those puck battles Edmonton usually finds a way to lose. He’ll be a breath of fresh air, and improves the team when playing against those other big teams out west. He’s had a great camp, and will be a big part of the secondary scoring and top-nine.

Teddy Purcell – Had a quiet training camp, but is a guy that provides some size and scoring ability. He’s known as a timely scorer and could easily be an x-factor for this team. He’s posted great numbers with skill before, and could surprise. He’ll help on the power-play and improve the secondary scoring.

Leon Draisaitl – The big center was okay during camp, but didn’t knock anyone’s socks off. Leon provides size, scoring ability, and a knack for solid possession hockey. He’s exactly what Edmonton needs on their second line, but he’s raw, and won’t be that package for another year or two. There will be growing pains, but his NHLE were VERY good last year and suggest a guy that can score at this level.

Mark Arcobello – Rough camp, but the GM likes him. He’s a smart hockey player that is sound defensively, isn’t a black hole offensively, and plays much bigger than he is. If he plays the way he did last year when he filled in for Sam Gagner, he’ll be welcomed help in the line-up. He plays like he has this camp? It could be a short stint.

Jesse Joensuu – Great camp, provided size, sandpaper, and even a little offense. If he can play like that in the regular season, he’ll provide the Oilers with a very solid depth winger that fits the team’s needs. Health is the issue here however.

Matt Hendricks – Tough veteran winger that provides leadership, size, toughness and decent defensive play. He doesn’t bring much offense, but he can play at the NHL-level. He’s not a great defender, but he’s good enough and survived on that tough minutes line last year.

Will Acton – Depth center that is good in the dot and solid on the penalty kill. He’s okay defensively, but doesn’t provide much offensively. He’s okay as a fifth center, but not as anything more.

Luke Gazdic – The enforcer. Tough, physical and will stand up for teammates. Just don’t expect any offense or good possession numbers, that isn’t his game….Although I pray it becomes part of his game.

Defenders and Goalies:

Mark Fayne – Personally, I feel Fayne needs to be the MVP of this team if they are to taste the playoffs. Fayne is a solid defender that has size and great defensive instincts to go with a history of success against top competition out in the eastern conference. He’s not Chris Pronger, but he’s a really solid addition to this club.

Nikita Nikitin – The big Russian is solid defensively and possesses a big shot to go along with his size. He’s handled a top-four role with success before, but is looking to regain that form in Edmonton. If he does, the Oilers will be in the dogfight for a spot all year, but if not, this blue-line will struggle in the top-four. Nikitin needs to have a good year for this team.

Jeff Petry – Easily the most complete defender on this team, Petry has puck-moving skills and, despite what some might tell you, solid defensive skills. Petry is a solid top-four defender and makes Edmonton better when he is out there. He’s a perfect fit for the second pairing behind Fayne on the right side.

Andrew Ference – The captain is a solid leader, physical, and can still play at the NHL-level in a third pairing role. He’s not the sexy player anymore, but he should help more than people think as a depth defender on this team. Veterans that can actually play are always welcomed.

Justin Schultz – A great puck-mover with a killer wrist shot and an ability to run a power-play. Schultz could be the x-factor here, because while he can handle a third-pairing role now, he has the ability to be much more. If Craig Ramsay can help him tap that potential, this team will be set up on the blue-line.

Oscar Klefbom – Top prospect is a solid shut-down defender that has size and some puck-moving ability. He has the ability to be a top-pairing defender down the road, but has had injury issues before. Klefbom, by the coaching staff’s eyes, outperformed Martin Marincin in camp and earned this spot. He looked good at the end of last year, and will get a chance to be a full-time NHL’er this fall. He could be a massive addition.

Darnell Nurse – THE top-prospect is all sorts of nasty. He’s tough and physical, loves to defend his teammates, and is defensively a very strong defender. He excels against top competition and has some offense to his game as well, he’s the complete package back there. The only question, is he ready? We are about to find out.

Brad Hunt – MAB part two. Hunt is not very good defensively, but has a rocket of a shot and is great with the puck. As a depth defender on a team that wants to be a puck possession team, he is fine. Great story too, and I’ll be rooting hard for him.

Ben Scrivens – The starter. If he plays the way he did last year after the trade, Edmonton is in business and should be in every game. This is his chance to prove he can be a starter at this level, it’s a massive chance.

Viktor Fasth – A very solid 1B goalie. Was good in the lockout year of 2013, and was decent after coming over from Anaheim at the deadline last season. He’s healthy this year, and will be hungry in a contract year. Fasth is a bit of a dark horse here, but do not be surprised if he makes it a contest between him and Scrivens.