Happy Friday everyone! The Edmonton Oilers have made a few roster moves over the past few days. Benson was inked to a one year deal, Slater Koekkoek was brought back on a two year deal worth $925,000 a year. A goalie trade is looking less and less likely meaning the main roster appears to be set.
Today I want to discuss the Oilers bottom six and the players that will be in the conversation to start the season on the third or fourth lines. Right now Edmonton has a stronger mix of players for these spots than they have in a long time which should help to provide the balance that has been starved from this organization for far too long.
Here are the players that will be most likely be competing for these positions.
LEFT WINGERS
Tyler Benson: The 23 year old winger has been in the Oilers system since he was drafted back in 2016 in the 2nd round. A tougher player to play against but still a smart player capable of making a good pass and being positionally sound, Benson has the tools to be an effective PK player and bottom six forward. The one thing that has held him back has been his footspeed but it is something he has worked on and after another ppg season in the AHL there is little left for the player to do in that league.
Prediction: Starts the season as the 13th/14th forward
Devin Shore: The 27 year old winger offered the Oilers marginal success last season, scoring 5 goals in 38 games and playing a physical game. The fancy stats don't like Shore much and while he might be a physical presence, even the eye test should notice that the puck doesn't spend much time in the oppositions end when he is on the ice. This is a player Tippett likes however and I can see him sticking with the club due to that.
Prediction: Starts the season as the 4th line left winger
Warren Foegele: Foegele is the best third line winger the Oilers have had in a long time. Not only is he an excellent PK and positional player but he has shown the ability to be a productive player in the top six for the Canes. He should be expected to stay on the third line but if he goes on a hot streak or injuries occur the Oilers have a legitimate option to throw over the boards with Draisaitl or McDavid.
Prediction: Starts the season as the 3rd line left winger
Dylan Holloway: Drafted in 2020, Holloway was described as NHL ready from the day he was drafted. Holloway can play centre or wing and plays with an edge and produced a new career high in goals in college in 12 fewer games with the University of Wisconsin this season and went from 9 assists to 24. Holloway likely would have joined the Oilers in the spring last season if not for a hand injury and while he is likely good enough to play in the Oilers bottom six I expect him to start the season in a top line role with the Condors first.
Prediction: Starts the season in the AHL
Brendan Perlini: Perlini was a good gamble by Ken Holland. Perlini is a player who has shown in the past that he can produce some offense and he likes to shoot the puck which is something that has lacked in the Oilers bottom six. The issue is with the likes of Foegele, Shore, Holloway and even the likes of McLeod or Turris as options on the wing I don't see Perlini beating enough of those players out. In addition Perlini has never been much of a PK player which is something Tippett expects out of his bottom six.
Prediction: Starts the season in the AHL
CENTRES
Kyle Turris: Truly I am rooting for Turris this season. Turris was expected to be the third line centre that could bring some offense the Oilers had been searching for years for. Unfortunately it was immediately clear that he simply did not have the legs to compete at the NHL level anymore. Turris has spent all summer in Edmonton training and a comeback would be a feel good story but his cap hit makes him vulnerable and unless he completely surpasses the competition he will be buried in the minors to save a few bucks in cap relief.
Prediction: Starts the season in the AHL
Derek Ryan: The opposite of Turris. Ryan isn't going to be blowing the doors off offensively for the Oilers but he is a defensively sound centre who is at least able to make the smart play out of the zone and not simply spend his entire shift blocking shots in his own end. The hope would be for Ryan McLeod to step up and jump into a third line role where he can provide some offense but I expect Ryan to start in that spot first.
Prediction: Starts the season as the 3rd line centre
Ryan McLeod: The young centre proved last season that he could skate in the NHL and not be a liability defensively. The next step for the speedy centre is to find his scoring touch. He put up 14 goals and 28 points in 28 AHL games last season so he certainly can score goals but he needs to find a way to bring that in the NHL. It may be difficult in a fourth line role but if he is getting his chances I can see him getting pushed up in the lineup.
Prediction: Starts the season as the 4th line centre
Cooper Marody: The Oilers signed Marody so they at least expect him to compete for a spot this season but like others on this list the competition is steep and Marody is going to need to have the best training camp of his life to get noticed. Marody can play centre or on the wing which will help him. Like Benson, Marody put up some solid numbers in the AHL last season with 21 goals in 39 games. Unfortunately like Benson, foot speed has been an issue which is why we have not seen him called up much. I love seeing young players get a legitimate shot and I am rooting for the player.
Prediction: Starts the season as the 13th/14th forward
RIGHT WINGERS
Zack Kassian: When Kassian is playing his best he is a force on the ice. He is physical, he makes life miserable for his opponents but he actually has the speed and hands to produce as well. Injuries hurt Kassian last season and he never really looked comfortable on the ice. I have a feeling Tippett is going to start Kassian in the top six at the beginning of the year and use him as a complimentary player with McDavid or Draisaitl.
Prediction: Starts the season as the 2nd line right winger
Kailer Yamamoto: If Kassian can be a useful option in the top six it gives the Oilers the opportunity to have Yamamoto take on some lesser competition in a third line role. Yamamoto is a fierce forechecker and has a quick release which he needs to find a way to use more. The biggest negative with Yamamoto is that he defaults too much to Draisaitl or McDavid when he plays with him. In a third line role without relying on either player Yamamoto could grow as a player.
Prediction: Starts the season as the 3rd line right winger Josh Archibald: Kills penalties, is always in the mix and a reliable player. Archibald is everything that you want in a 4th line winger and that is fully where I expect him to be once the puck drops on opening night.
Prediction: Starts the season as the 4th line right winger
Overall here is how I think the Oilers bottom six and extra forwards will look come opening night:
Foegele-Ryan-Yamamoto Shore-McLeod-Archibald Benson, Marody