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    • Oilers face tough decision with waiver plan as holiday list freeze ends
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    Oilers face tough decision with waiver plan as holiday list freeze ends

    Pabio Posted on

    The NHL’s holiday roster freeze will end tonight, and the Edmonton Oilers will face some tough decisions with an extra forward on their roster.

    Just before the holidays, Oilers coach Knoblauch suggested the team didn’t want to risk losing a player. by placing them in derogation.

    “I see the group of 13 we have right now and everyone brings something very valuable to our team. I wouldn’t want to lose anyone. We have decisions to make, but right now I’m not thinking about our team wanting risk losing someone.

    – Coach Knoblauch

    The move made sense heading into the holidays, but now the Oilers have an extra forward on the roster. this will affect their plan to accumulate as much cap space as possible.

    Oilers face inevitable decision with veteran forward Derek Ryan

    With every player healthy except for Evander Kane, Derek Ryan has been the odd man out as the team’s fourth-line center — and he also has a prime backup waiting in the wings.

    26-year-old center Noah Philp impressed Oilers at training camp this year after coming out of retirement, and was recalled for 3 games earlier this year.

    The young 6’3 straight shooting center is probably who the Oilers would like in the lineup against Derek Ryan in the playoffs, unless they trade for another option. Even if it’s not Philp, it appears that 37-year-old Derek Ryan won’t play any role in the playoffs.

    Coach Knoblauch said Ryan will continue to have a role on the team and play if he is on the roster, but why would they if Philp is more likely to play in critical moments?

    At the very least, the Oilers should take some time before the trade deadline to give Philp an in-depth look at the fourth line. He certainly has more of a future on this team than a 37-year-old veteran.

    Oilers will have even tougher decisions to make when Evander Kane returns

    Evander Kane’s return date is still up in the air, and it’s possible he won’t return until the playoffs. However, when he does, the Oilers will be faced with another difficult decision: having to cut a player, or Kane himself.

    Assuming Philp is in the lineup against Derek Ryan when Evander Kane returns, another quality NHL player could be left out of the lineup. Jeff Skinner also has no roster spot and seems likely to be moved.

    Janmark is on a three-year contract, Connor Brown and Corey Perry are respected veterans who are still playing well, which could make Kasperi Kapanen the odd man out.

    If the Oilers want to keep Kapanen’s speed in the lineup, the decision is to cut Brown, Perry or Evander Kane.

    Nugent-Hopkins-McDavid-Hyman
    Podkolzin – Draisaitl – Arvidsson
    Kapanen – Henrique – Brown
    Janmark – Philp – Perry
    Kane

    Stan Bowman has just a few months left before the trade deadline and must make some important roster decisions.

    Pabio
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