Oilers Waive Potter And Grebeshkov

The Edmonton Oilers waived defenders Corey Potter and Denis Grebeshkov earlier this afternoon. Not much of a surprise on either one of these two players getting the boot.

Grebeshkov was signed in August to a low-risk/high-reward contract. MacT coached Grebeshkov when he lit it up for Edmonton during his first stint with the team, which ended in February of 2010. Grebeshkov never gelled in Nashville, and ended up going to the KHL, where he struggled for a few seasons.

Grebeshkov was okay at best during training camp, and was a huge disappointment when he got into the lineup during this season. He was a liability in his own zone and wasn’t producing nearly enough chances. I doubt he gets claimed, and I also doubt we see him back up with the Oilers this season.

Corey Potter is a bit of a surprise. Not that he is moving on, but that the team is waiving him. Potter was decent for the Oilers the last two seasons, and was slated to fight for the number seven spot on the depth chart this year. That never happen though, because Potter got hurt before training camp and didn’t practice or play in any pre-season games.

He had a brief AHL conditioning stint, where he played in two games recording no points and a -3 rating. Potter returned to the club on Sunday, but was a healthy scratch during the Kings game Sunday, and last night’s debacle against the Leafs.

My bet is Potter gets claimed on waivers by the Red Wings. Tom Renney loves this guy and brought him to Edmonton in the summer of 2011. I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if he brings him to Detroit for some much needed defensive depth. Would be best case for both Corey and the Oilers if he were claimed.

The Oilers now only have six defenders on the roster; Jeff Petry, Ladislav Smid, Andrew Ference, Justin Schultz, Nick Schultz and Anton Belov. So what happens next? Will Phil Larsen, Oscar Klefbom or Martin Marincin get a recall, or will Edmonton make a trade for some blue-line help?

What do you think Oil Country?