Nikita Nikitin took a nasty spill that looked like it belonged in a football game and twisted his ankle. He left the last game in a walking boot and the early diagnosis was that it could be a 2 week injury. If we assume that he does indeed miss the first 2 weeks of the season then we are talking about 5 games where there is a huge opening for 1 of the team's young Defensemen.
We can assume, if Petry's shoulder is ok, that the opening day lineup looks like this on the blueline:
Marincin Schultz ??? Fayne Ference Petry
The defensemen making a play for that ??? spot are Oscar Kelfbom, Keith Aulie, Brad Hunt, and young Darnell Nurse. One of those 4 will get the playing time, another will likely get the 7th spot and a bird's eye view from the press box.
Oscar Klefbom has a few things going for him as the potential winner of the open spot. He has 1st round pedigree and pro experience that includes NHL games played under Eakins. 17 NHL games won't make him a lock, but his smooth skating and calm demeanour throughout TC make him the number 1 choice for an injury call-up which this situation really is. He's a good choice to play but probably not to be the 7th man. The Oilers would much rather him see 20 mins a night in OKC than eating popcorn with Gazdic upstairs.
Keith Aulie was signed to be the 7th Defenseman and be here in the even of injury. It's quite literally supposed to be his job. The biggest problem is that he's been quiet in camp and outplayed by several others. His last 2 games have been better but is it enough to warrant playing in the 1st 2 weeks?
Brad Hunt came really out of nowhere in TC to challenge for the spot in the sense that he wasn't on most people's radar at all. He is an undersized guy with a slap shot that's been recorded at 99mph and has been an AHL All-Star. It's clear he can play the pro game but he hasn't had much in the way of NHL opportunity. He is also a good candidate to win the 7th spot because at 26 years old the Oilers aren't likely concerned about his development as they would be Klefbom.
Darnell Nurse is the most interesting candidate because he has also been getting progressively stronger in TC, except he isn't eligible for the AHL so it's either the NHL or the OHL. It's a terrible rule but one that might save the Oilers from themselves and keep them from burning a year on Nurse's contract. Nurse can play 9 games in the NHL before the clock starts ticking on that contract and these 2 weeks worth of openings bring his chance of playing from Nil to perhaps as high as 50%. Edmonton addressed the weakness on the blueline so that it would be nigh impossible for Nurse to crack the squad. Now he just might be able to play a few games before he will be inevitably returned.
Is it a great benefit for him to play in the NHL this year? I'm not sure about that. I've heard a few guys on the radio (Button and Sutherby) suggest it really wouldn't be that great of a boost for Nurse but then again everybody is different. Maybe after the disappointment he had last season this is the kind of shot in the arm he needs. I don't really know.
My best guess is that it will be Klefbom and Aulie as 6/7 unless somebody has a statement game.
LINEUP
Hall and RNH ah are sitting this one out and the team continues to use this as an evaluation camp instead of hammering the kinks out of the squad's game before the regular season. By now you know I philosophically disagree with these choices. Whatever. I count at least 4 people that should be in OKC already and won't be contributing to the Edmonton Oilers on opening night.
Lander Draisaitl Yakupov Purcell Gordon Eberle Hendricks Khaira Pitlick Acton Yakimov Arcobello
Aulie Marincin Klefbom Schultz Nurse Hunt
Scrivens
OILERS KEYS TO THE GAME
1) Over Your Head? The Canucks are treating this game like it's designed to get their regular lineup ready to play or something and are icing a real lineup. The Oilers have 9 players who probably don't belong in the NHL. So...yeah. Get ready for a bumpy ride!
2) YakDrai. That combination sounds like it should be sold by Vince of ShamWow fame, but they might be the foundation of a prolific scoring line in Edmonton's near future. The difficult task tonight will be facing tougher comp without RNH or Hall to attract the tougher match ups.
3) Scriiiiiiii! I really am cheering for Scrivens to have a good game, even though the coach looks to have hung him out to dry with 4 AHL Defensemen tonight. He had the incumbent spot as the starter but a very strong camp by Fasth has put that in question. He needs a big game.
Also, I hate the Canucks.
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