Every season, NHL teams invite players to their training camp. Almost every team invites young players while some invite veterans on a tryout basis. Last season, Edmonton did both, inviting tough guy Kevin Westgarth and youngster Vlad Tkachev.
Westgarth was cut while Tkachev was briefly signed to an entry-level deal before the NHL ruled it invalid. While nothing came of it, the Oilers got a chance to view two players for the price of absolutely nothing.
Will they do they same this year? As of this point, the Oilers haven’t invited any veterans, but they still have plenty of time to do so. As a matter of fact, I’d expect the team to invite at least one veteran, Peter Chiarelli did it often in Boston.
That said, the Oilers have already invited some younger players to training camp next month. Our friend Lowetide is, once again, playing chess while we play checkers (It’s a Bill Belichick reference, consider that the ultimate compliment LT! 🙂 ). LT discovered the NHL.com list and saw that Edmonton has invited the following players to their camp.
The Long shots?:
G Jordan Papirny: I broke Papirny’s invite down two weeks ago when it was made public. Papirny looked good during the rookie camp, and I’d imagine he gets some looks in Penticton. He could be a solid option to stock the cupboard with, and I’m sure Oilers brass has seen him well the last few years in the WHL.
The odds he gets an entry level deal out of camp aren’t great, but I think they are the best of the group. Goaltending is a weak position in Edmonton and he’s clearly caught some eyes.
D Loik Leveille: After Papirny, Leveille is the next likely to get a contract. Edmonton’s system is stocked with defenders, but you can simply never have enough that can play the position. He impressed during rookie camp and, like Papirny, will likely get some looks in Penticton.
Added benefit? If Edmonton signs him, he can still be returned to juniors as he is only 18 years old.
D Colton Waltz: I don’t know much about the former Wheat King, but I think he’ll be in tough to get noticed. Why? He’s not a monster size wise and didn’t post great boxcars in the WHL. He’s a more physical player, but what’s his ceiling? Possible minor league help? He’s likely just a test drive who has very slim odds of getting any traction in Edmonton.
D Kevin Davis: Another player I don’t know much about, the 18 year old Silvertips’ defender checks out as another long shot to gain any traction. He’s described as more of a mobile defender, but his boxcars of 25 points in 64 games don’t stick out.
Davis does have more junior eligibility left, so this could likely be a simple test drive for the Oilers. Like with Waltz, probably just another name passing through.
C Tyler Soy: I like Soy quite a bit, he impressed me during rookie camp back in June. He’s only 6′ and 172 pounds, but he’s got some speed and he’s a very skilled player. Soy registered 63 points in 69 games last season for the Victoria Royals, riding shotgun with Greg Chase.
Soy also has junior eligibility left, so he’s a prime candidate to sign a contract and then return to the WHL. That, or he could be a target in the draft next June, although that comes with a risk.
RW Cole Sanford: 95 points in 72 games is a pretty good number for a WHL player. That’s the stat line for the 20 year old winger, who dominated for the Medicine Hat Tigers last season. He’s a skilled winger, a scorer if you will. That said, he’s only 5’8” and 165 pounds, a real concern.
The odds he gets any traction with the Oilers? Pretty slim, but you can’t teach skill, remember that. He could get noticed with a strong rookie camp and an early showing in main camp.
W Rihards Bukarts: Some Latvian flavor! The 19 year old forward is currently with the Brandon Wheat Kings of the WHL, but he’ll attend Oilers rookie camp and the main camp. He’s a chippy player who will aggravate the opponent and get under people’s skin. That player type is valuable and was a favorite of Peter Chiarelli in Boston.
Bukarts has some skill too, he scored 74 points in 62 games last season. Like most others on this list, Bukarts has some junior eligibility remaining, that could be a factor.
C Cole Linaker: Not too sure on this player, but nothing exactly stands out to me. He registered only 39 points in 72 WHL games last season as a 19 year old. That, to me, doesn’t scream NHL potential. He is 6’2”, but how physical does he play?
Likely a long shot who gets a look in Penticton and maybe a quick check in main camp.
Final Thoughts:
None of the above players will see NHL time in 2015-16, and it’s highly unlikely any of them see time in 2016-17. So, why are we talking about them? Well, they’ll all be riding with Connor McDavid and Darnell Nurse next month in Penticton at the Young Stars tournament, and they’ll all be at the main show about a week later.
These players also, if they sign a contract, could replenish what was lost via traded picks this past draft. All of these guys could fill valuable spots too, Papirny in net, Leveille on the blue-line, and Soy in the skilled department up front.
The odds any of these guys sign? Probably less than 50/50, but we should still keep an eye on them come training camp. They’ll be desperate and there are jobs to win within the organization.
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