Oilers Stuff and Things – The Injury Edition

Well hello there, It’s been a while.

Stuff

I haven’t written in a while, mainly because I haven’t had the energy to really talk about the Oilers. About 10 days ago I was getting ready to write about the Oilers, that hey, look at this team peeking at a playoff position, was it going to be possible. Then Snap, sorry for the pun, the injuries came.

McDavid down, Schultz down, Korpikoski down, Klinkhammer down, Hendricks down. They can’t catch a break, hey another pun.

This injury riddled team hasn’t been able to score, and without scoring they’re not able to win games. Its amazing how that works really. Anyhow there is hope that some of these players may be coming back soon.

Mum is the word coming from the Oilers. One would like to think that Korpikoski is recovering from his concussion, with those things though you never know. Klinkhammer, who’s out with a lower body injury may be getting better as well, although not much word on weather or not he’s been skating. Hendricks is back on the IR, Schultz was projected to be out 2-4 weeks but likely won’t start practicing until the team returns home Sunday.

So what happens when they get healthy?

Todd McLellan mentioned today that he hopes to get a few players back for Saturday night, but he didn’t say who. Benoit Pouliot was sick with the flu, so he should be one of the few. Hopefully one or more of Korpikoski, Klink or Hendricks is ready to go.

When the above mentioned players start returning to the line up you can be sure that we’ll see some changes to the 23 man roster.

At forward; Slepyshev and Miller will be sent back down to Bakersfield and Gazdic will find himself back in the pressbox more often then not. Draisaitl who was called up out of necessity due to injury isn’t going anywhere. That means the odd man out would have to clear waivers to be sent down, the only guy who may clear would be Gaz but McLellan likes to have the tough guy option.

On Defense; When Jultz is ready to return that means Davidson/Reinhart and Ference will be seeing the press box, but there won’t be room to carry all three. Reinhart is the only one who doesn’t need waivers to go down, short term that may be the only option but it isn’t optimal.

What am I getting at?

Trades

Peter Chiarelli is going to have to make a trade. IMO it’s not going to exactly in the bold range, but something has to give. It was mentioned the other day that the Oilers are heavily scouting the AHL right now, like I said nothing bold, but if you’re moving out your depth why not replace with prospects and depth.

Brandon Davidson won’t clear waivers if he’s the odd man out. Andrew Ference would probably accept a trade just about anywhere right now because you know he’d rather be playing then watching from the pressbox above the ice in Rexall. There has been reportedly been some interest in Nikita Nikitan too. The thing with getting rid Ference or Nikitan is the teams that can take them on are going to have to take on there bloated contracts, and the Oilers aren’t exactly able to take much back unless it’s in the form of a useful addition.

The Arizona Coyotes, Colorado Avalanche, Ottawa Senators and Chicago Blackhawks are all teams that may be in the market for a veteran defenseman and have the cap space to take on a bigger contract.

Either way there is a lot of work for Chiarelli when the infirmary starts to clear out.

Things

WE’RE ON iTUNES NOW. You can subscribe to our podcast here or just search “The Oilers Rig” on itunes. We’ll also be available on Google Play as soon as they launch their support for podcasts which is right around the corner.

We’ll also start selling tickets to the #OilersRigLive4MS pretty quick as we’re just finalizing the details and sorting out our secure online ticket sales. This year the tickets will be $10 and get you in the door and a free beverage at On The Rocks, as always 100% of money raised including ticket sales will be going to the MS Society of Edmonton.

They’ll make a great stocking stuffer for you and your friends. Stay Tuned for more details.

Also, one of our biggest fundraisers at the event is our silent auction. If you can and would like to donate an item or money to purchase auction items please please please contact me at [email protected] for more information.