Edmonton Oilers newcomer with longest contract benched for final pre-season game

October 4, 2024

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This in from Bob Stauffer of Oilers radio, the starting line-up for the Edmonton Oilers in their final pre-season game against the Vancouver Canucks.

RNH-McDavid-Hyman
J.Skinner-Draisaitl-Arvidsson
Janmark-Henrique-C. Brown
Podkolzin-Philp-Perry

Ekholm-Bouchard
Nurse-Emberson
Kulak-Stecher

Skinner

Also in are reports that centre Derek Ryan is injured day-to-day, coach Kris Knoblauch says.

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My take

1. On merit Noah Philp, Ty Emberson and Troy Stecher all made the team this training camp. They out-played other competitors, though it’s no sure thing Philp will stay with the team, as Ryan also played well and is out due to injury.

2. The Edmonton Oilers brought in five new players on NHL contracts this summer, Viktor Arvidsson on a two year deal, Ty Emberson, Vasily Podkolzin, Jeff Skinner on one year deals, and Josh Brown on a three year deal at $1.0 million per. Of the returning Oilers who signed new deals — Leon Draisaitl, Adam Henrique, Mattias Janmark, Troy Stecher, Corey Perry and Calvin Pickard — only Draisaitl got more than a two-year deal. But only Brown has failed to make the roster for this final game. This is a significant move then, as Brown was expected to start beside Brett Kulak this year and had been slotted into that role all preseason.

3. Brown was outplayed in the pre-season by Emberson, Stecher, try-out candidate Troy Stecher and Ben Gleason, who is now in the minors. He struggled to move the puck crisply and made some iffy reads as well. Perhaps he’ll still be on the team, though, as a seventh d-man, as he offers size and toughness. That’s not yet been determined.

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4. Philp has been one of top stories of the pre-season. He’s a big, smart right shot centre, who handles the puck well and has a solid shot. He took last season off from hockey due to personal reasons, but had done well in the AHL and also aced it this pre-season with the Oilers. He demonstrated he’s an NHL player, even if that’s in a bottom line role.

5. This is the first game we’ll see the 24-year-old Emberson — picked up in a trade for Cody Ceci — paired up with Darnell Nurse. It’s critical that the Oilers find someone who can play well beside Nurse, who struggled much of last season. Emberson has shown a good head for the game, solid defending and steady puck-moving this pre-season. I’d say he’s got a 50/50 chance of sticking as Nurse’s partner this year, which aren’t bad odds considering he’s an unheralded player. But it looks like he’s got some game.