Just Who Is Will Acton? Oilers New Fourth Line Center Perhaps?

This offseason Oilers GM Craig MacTavish wanted to add a little depth at center to the organization, so he signed 26 year old Will Acton from the Toronto Marlies to a two year two way deal. He signed Who? Well let me tell you Just Who Will Acton is. It won’t take long.

The 6’2 190 pound Acton, son of new Oilers assistant coach Keith Acton, is an offensively underwhelming, defensively responsible center. That’s about it, but there may be something to the younger Acton. He appears to be a guy that can play well in his own zone, kill penalties and his size serves as an advantage over other potential Oilers 4^th line centers Anton Lander, Marc Arcobello and Andrew Miller.

Does Acton actually have a chance to make the 2013 version of the Edmonton Oilers? Probably not, but Bob Stauffer from Oilers Now said the other week that he believed Acton was the front runner to earn the fourth line job. Now, it’s a little early to say something like that, but Stauffer is a man in the know as he’s employed by the Oilers and I’m sure good information is sent his way often.

Acton has never played a game in the NHL. He’s never scored prolifically and any level of hockey, in fact his highest scoring season was 31 points back in Junior A with the Stouffville Spirit. Ok those aren’t advantages I know, but I though you should know not to expect any scoring at the NHL or AHL level from this guy.

So why might he have a chance to make the big club? Coach Eakins is familiar with him and knows exactly what he does and doesn’t bring to the table, and MacTavish obviously talked to the new coach before the signing. That could be a big advantage. I also think that the Oilers would like to have Anton Lander spend at least one more year with the OKC Barons where he can play more minutes in a more prominent role. The other reason Acton may have a serious chance here is his size and ability to kill penalties, everything I’ve read about this man is that he is comfortable making decisions with the puck in his own zone. Currently Boyd Gordon is the number one penalty killing center and I could see Acton, if he’s on the team get the second PK center minutes.

I’ve got Acton at around 50/50 to make the Oilers this year. That’s a lot higher than I originally thought, but if he can come in and have a strong performance at camp. And if I’m right about them wanting Lander to get some more seasoning in the AHL. Then ladies and gentlemen, Meet your new 4^th line center.

On another front; don’t forget to tune in to the debut of the Oilers Rig Radio Show tonight at 9:00 MST, we are very excited to bring this to you and have a great show lined up including taking your calls live. Here’s the link http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theoilersrig/2013/09/04/the-oilers-rig-radio-show-live

Thanks for reading, and because Jeremy has been putting videos of each player he rights an article on, here’s one of Will in Acton (eat your heart out Principe)

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=704holr-7DQ&w=560&h=315]