Oilers Training Camp Thoughts

We’re now about five days and two pre-season games into training camp. The Oilers have already made one cut, and certain players have started to show some promise and have caught the eye of the media and coaching staff.

The Cut:

The Oilers returned training camp invite Chris Baltisberger to the Swiss league on Monday after just one pre-season game. Baltisberger was always a long shot to make the team, as we discussed here, so this move should come as no surprise. This was a player with decent size but no real scoring ability. I’d imagine the Oilers keep an eye on him during the Swiss league season, as they clearly like this prospect.

The Games:

The Oilers split their split-squad meetings with the Flames on Sunday, winning 3-1 at Rexall and losing 1-0 up in Calgary. There were some players that really stood out, both in good ways and bad ways.

In Edmonton, Leon Draisaitl really shined for the Oilers. He was one of the three-stars of the game, had an assist, and was making beautiful passes all night long, setting up some scoring chances. Leon was also solid in the dot and was not overwhelmed with his first big-league experience.

Marco Roy had a goal and looked dangerous most of the night as well, which is a great sign. He’ll likely go back to juniors this year, but he’s started to establish himself again as a prospect of note again. Taylor Hall didn’t find the back of the net, but he was making things happen all night and looked ready to roll, while Benoit Pouliot looked pretty good as well, making solid plays all night long.

Keith Aulie looked really slow and unimpressive in his Oiler debut. Yes, he is big, but overall he didn’t look like a player that should be on a roster at the NHL level. He needs to be better or he’ll be in danger of being exposed to waivers.

In Calgary, Nail Yakupov looked engaged and ready to roll, which is a great sign for the Oilers. Viktor Fasth stopped 19 shots on the night and looked really well in 40 minutes worth of work, where he face 20 total shots. Jordan Oesterle caught some eyes, while I really thought Mark Fayne looked solid as well, which is a great sign. Brad Hunt played pretty well and could be helping his cause.

Overall I liked what I saw from the Oilers split-squad units, and thought the team at home really clicked on all-cylinders. It’s early in the pre-season, but it’s a solid sign.

The Eye Catchers:

Vlad Tkachev really impressed at rookie camp, and looked pretty darn good again on Sunday. He’ll get another shot in the lineup on Wednesday against the Jets, and very well could be signed to a contract as early as Thursday morning. Tkachev has come in and shown determination and a lot of skill even with his tiny frame, and that’s a pretty awesome combo for Edmonton. The Oil lack skill in the system, and he provides it.

He still needs work, and as a result will likely be sent to the QMJHL right after signing his deal, but this was a great find for MacT and his scouting staff. Two thumbs up here, this is what winning teams do.

Greg Chase has caught some eyes too. He played with Hall and RNH on Sunday, and while he didn’t score he showed some good things, including screening the net and getting some chances. He needs another year in the WHL, but he’s already signed his entry-level deal and has shown improvements since last year. He’s a real prospect, and I suspect will get a few more chances as camp rolls on.

Brad Hunt can move the puck and has a big-boy shot. He’s basically Marc-Andre Bergeron 2.0, and we all remember how much MacT loved MAB. Hunt looked good on Sunday, and with Aulie struggling there might actually be light at the NHL-level as the number seven guy. His saving grace? Edmonton won’t want Klefbom or Nurse wasting away in the press-box. Hunt can.

Next Up:

The Oilers, after two more days of practice, will take the ice again on Wednesday night on the road against the Jets. This will likely be the last game we see some of the junior eligible players play in, so it’ll be an interesting contest. After that, Edmonton is off until Sunday when they play the Blackhawks out in Saskatoon, kicking off a busy stretch of pre-season games.

(Photo credit to Edmonton Sun, all rights reserved)