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The Team As MacT Built It

August 30, 2014, 12:36 PM ET [662 Comments]
Matt Henderson
Edmonton Oilers Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Craig MacTavish is finished adding to the pool of players vying for roster spots this fall. The team, as he envisioned it, is complete for now, although with serious question marks at the Center position. At the Schultz press conference MacT acknowledged the potential weakness of the team's pivots but suggested teams were in a holding pattern.

When asked about the possibility of a trade the Oilers GM flatly said there just wasn't one to be made now and there likely wouldn't be one until the season starts. The trade market at this time of year is always the same. Aside from those players who lack a contract or are in a battle of wills with their clubs (Thornton and Marleau?) the odds of seeing deals in the late summer/early fall are pretty low.

Just as the club's silver haired executive stated, the Oilers are going to be at the mercy of Leon Draisaitl, Mark Arcobello, and Anton Lander down the middle. The team has been bullish on Draisaitl since well before they actually drafted him, comparing him stylistically to Anze Kopitar. They will be giving him every chance to make the team and I think there's better than an 80% chance he'll be an Oiler in October.

Assuming there are no surprises in training camp this is the Oilers roster:

FORWARDS

Hall - RNH - Eberle
This line is the crown jewel of the Oilers Franchise. Taylor Hall is the likely best LW in the NHL and his Centerman is finally fully healthy and had a summer to train. Eberle keeps Eberling.

Pouliot - Arcobello - Perron
Arcobello has the best resume to take the 2C spot out of the gate. He has experience doing it for the team, AHL dominance, and he's older than the other candidates. His smaller size (which wasn't really an issue last year) is offset by newcomer Pouliot and the feisty Perron.

Yakupov - Draisaitl - Purcell
Yak could likely earn the 2LW spot but this is a skill line that will be put in good situations so the Russian sniper could benefit greatly in this spot. Draisaitl has skill coming out the wazoo but he's still just 18. Purcell used to play with Stamkos and St Louis, he's no plug. This is the fabled 3rd scoring line.

Hendricks - Gordon - Lander
Sacrificial lambs. Not your "regular" 4th line. The Gordon line will see heavy own zone starts. Hendricks knows his job is to paste his marks into the boards and he does this well. Their possession numbers will stink because of their usage. Lander will get an NHL push plus he's the team's extra C.

Gazdic - Joensuu
Gazdic will likely still be on the mend after shoulder surgery but that 4RW spot looks like it will be the entry way into the NHL lineup. Joensuu is the forgotten Oiler but he's still under contract. He'll impress in Training Camp again but come game time be less than stellar.

DEFENSEMEN

Nikitin - Schultz
Schultz isn't about to move to the 3rd pairing just because the bloggers don't like his numbers. The team believes in him. Nikitin looks like the best bet to earn the job as his partner. He's had success in the past.

Ference - Fayne
The Captain will get the benefit of the doubt in October and the Oilers didn't sign Fayne to his deal so he could play on the 3rd pairing. This pair gets the veteran's advantage from the coaching staff.

Marincin - Petry
Last year's best duo gets kicked down the order but it's actually a good thing. Petry can take more risks and Marincin continues to soak up experience. The big Slovak also showed development offensively last year and weaker opposition might mean we see that side of him more often.

Aulie
Big defender whose most important job is keeping Darnell Nurse and Oscar Klefbom out of the NHL. If he can't do that then he can start googling "places to stay in Oklahoma".

GOALTENDERS

Scrivens
Started his Oiler season like a man possessed but slowed down a bit as the season wore on. This is the first time in his NHL career where he has been given a legitimate chance to win the starting job out of camp. Is it in him?

Fasth
He isn't the backup because the team thinks his upside is better than that. He will also be given a shot to win the Starter's job but Scrivens has the inside track. Maybe 1B.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Training Camp is a couple weeks away and it can change everything, but this is the team based on the way MacTavish has telegraphed his moves. It features the oft talked about but yet to be seen 3 scoring lines and there's size all the way through the depth chart.

It's easy to see why MacT is optimistic about this group, just as it is easy to see why so many are uneasy about the C position. One injury to RNH can send this team into a tailspin.

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