We’re going into game three of the 2019/20 NHL preseason and I’d argue that the picture is no less clear now than it was a week ago for the Oilers bubble players. One skater that I’m wondering about is Tyler Benson. He has played every game so far and that tells me that the coaching staff really want to make sure that if they keep him with the Oilers or if they send him to Bakersfield that that is the best decision for him and the club moving forward. Personally, I haven’t seen anything from him that would make me think that he’s head and shoulders above other candidates like Tomas Jurco but then again, Jurco has only had one game, problem is, it was a good one.
Tonight we’ll see Joakim Nygard elevated up the lineup and playing with some better linemates. It will be important for him to assert himself early in this game I believe as he’s also been a bit wishy-washy so far. The same goes for Gaetan Haas. This player came over from the Swiss league with a bit of hype and if he’s going to stick around North America, it’s incumbent upon him to stand out positively for the Oilers, especially vs. a more experienced Canucks squad like the one Edmonton is facing tonight.
The battle for the final centre spot on the Oilers is going to see a candidate or two fall after the game this evening. We’ve got Ryan McLeod with his speed and size, Cooper Marody with his hands and vision, Gaetan Haas’ quickness and defensive reliability, as well as Brad Malone’s grit and toughness.
At this point, I’d say it should come down to Malone and Haas. I don’t feel that Marody has the explosiveness in his skating yet and even though McLeod can keep up with NHLers, I believe he’d benefit from some time in the AHL. Malone and Haas are older gentlemen who have experience on their side. Haas has to show that he can get it done on the NHL ice though.
Three Players to Watch on the Canucks
It looks as if Vancouver will be icing another veteran team tonight. I’d go as far as to say that ten of the players playing for them will be on their opening night roster. Here’s their lineup for the game,
How things *could* play out tonight. pic.twitter.com/KQ0O87nDqF
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) September 19, 2019
JT Miller was picked up in a trade this off-season with the Tampa Bay Lightning for draft picks and a goaltending prospect. I know the Oilers have had interest in him in the past but I imagine they weren’t willing to pay the same price Vancouver did.
Miller is a gritty, hard-nosed two-way forward who likes to get in his opponent’s face. I expect he’ll give the Oilers some trouble around the net and in the corners. In his last appearance for Vancouver, he had a point shot bank of his helmet and into his own net… Lucky guy.
Troy Stetcher is a player I’ve always liked since he joined Vancouver out of North Dakota (NCAA). He’s a slick puck-moving defender that hasn’t quite put up the points some expected him to, but going into year four with the Canucks, I could see him getting a bump in production should Quinn Hughes fail to grab the bull by the horns.
Josh Leivo was a player I was hoping the Oilers would find a way to acquiring. His size and speed would’ve been a very nice compliment flanking Edmonton’s talented centers. He opens things up for his skilled linemates and he’s not afraid to get some dirt underneath his fingernails.
Three Players to Watch on the Oilers
Tonight’s roster is very interesting, it’s a real melting pot of skill and sandpaper and I can’t wait for the puck to drop. If I had to guess, I reckon there are about six players who will for sure be on Edmonton’s opening night roster.
Here are the line combos,
Nygard-McLeod-Neal
Jurco-Marody-Chiasson
Benson-Haas-P. Russell
Granlund-Malone-PelusoKlefbom-Persson
Samorukov-Benning
Lowe-JonesKoskinen
Starrettis expected lineup tonight.
— Reid Wilkins (@ReidWilkins) September 19, 2019
One player I’ll be very interested in keeping an eye on is Joel Persson. This is because I remember in his first game that he had a slow start and got flustered a bit from the forecheck of the Jets. The Canucks have a few players who make their living being a pain the ass for defensemen and I want to know if Persson can handle it.
Tomas Jurco had an excellent debut two nights ago where he showed great hands, speed, and a heck of a shot. That said, one of the knocks on this player has been consistency. Can he have another good game or will he disappear into the ethos?
We’re going to see at least 30 minutes of Mikko Koskinen and the reason I’m intrigued to watch him is to see what we might be getting this year. Can he be that guy who went undefeated in his first seven or eight games last season or will we get the guy who struggled down the stretch?
I hope the Oilers can give us a similar effort to the one they gave in Vancouver on Tuesday but this time come away with the win! Let’s go Oilers!
Who are you going to be keeping an eye out for tonight? Let us know in the comments below!
