One Cut Remains For Oilers

Being from Boston, I’ve had the benefit of seeing Peter Chiarelli work up close. I’ve said it before, he took a sad sack Bruins organization and took them all the way to the top in 2011 and almost a second time in 2013. This guy knows what he is doing, there is no doubt in my mind.

That all said, I had my doubts that Chiarelli would clean up the mess that was the Edmonton Oilers in quick order. He did a lot of good in hiring Todd McLellan, drafting Connor McDavid, revamping his scouting staff and adding some solid NHL players to the mix, but there was still work to be done.

I’ve said it all along, Nikita Nikitin is not a player that belongs in the NHL. It doesn’t take a professional scout to see that the $4.5 million dollar man is too slow, too ineffective and doesn’t have the needed sense of urgency, it’s painfully obvious.

On Saturday, Chiarelli did something we haven’t seen in years from the Oilers, he waived Nikitin and assigned him to the AHL on Sunday. Finally, some accountability in Edmonton.

After a terrible 2014-15 season and after getting beat out by Anders Nilsson in training camp, Ben Scrivens hit the waiver wire on Sunday. If he clears today, he’ll be assigned to the Condors as well. Again, accountability from the Edmonton Oilers.

Without question, the Oilers are a better team with these moves from over the weekend. Nikitin was taking up a roster spot and was not one of Edmonton’s top six defenders in training camp. He was exposed for his lack of speed by NHL forwards and he imploded in his final test last Thursday.

Nikitin was the weakest link on the blue-line last season, and was passed by Eric Gryba, Griffin Reinhart and Brandon Davidson this fall.

I feel for Ben Scrivens, but he was the third best goalie in camp this year, I truly believe that. That being said, if he does in fact clear waivers, I suspect we see him again at some point this season. Injuries always happen and Nilsson is no sure thing to shine in net.

One Final Cut:

Jordan Eberle will go on the IR, meaning Edmonton will have to make one final cut before heading to St. Louis for Thursday night’s season opener. Where does Edmonton go from here? They still have eight defenders on the team and 14 forwards. Do they keep the extra defenseman and go with just 13 up front?

If I was in charge, I’d waive Andrew Ference, but that will not happen. Ference has a NMC and cannot be placed on waivers unless he agrees, which he rightfully won’t do. The Oilers could trade him, but with two years left on his hefty deal that seems unlikely.

I think the team really like Brandon Davidson, so he’ll stick around. Same goes for Eric Gryba, who hasn’t exactly impressed me in camp to this point.

That leaves the forwards, with only three real options. Anton Slepyshev could get cut, but with Eberle out that doesn’t make much sense. Slepy has had a terrific camp and has seemingly earned a shot on a skilled line to start the season.

Luke Gazdic and Rob Klinkhammer are the options, in my mind. Gazdic is the enforcer, a type of player that Peter Chiarelli employed quite a bit in Boston. Todd McLellan, in the last two years, used Mike Brown and John Scott regularly, so he’s not against having a tough guy on the team either.

Klinkhammer is a very good depth forward who can play in a number of situations, but he doesn’t score nearly enough to be considered a for sure NHL’er. I think Klinkhammer has had a solid camp, but I know a number of fans disagree with me on that front.

If I was making the call, Luke Gazdic would be the final cut for the Oilers, but I get the sense that it will be Klinkhammer hitting the waiver wire Monday at noon eastern time.