As the October 6th deadline for NHL teams to finalize their 23-man rosters approaches, the Edmonton Oilers are facing some tough decisions, potentially leading to surprising cuts. Several players have already been sent down to their AHL affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors, including defensemen Cam Dineen and Riley Stillman. In addition, Forwards Viljami Marjala, Connor Clattenburg, and James Hamblin, and defensemen Atro Leppanen, forwards Josh Samanski, Quinn Hutson were also demoted.
With opening night drawing near on October 8th, fans and analysts are speculating about which players might be on the bubble. Jason Gregor of Sports 1440 sparked discussion by asking which three players the Oilers should cut, prompting a flurry of responses from fans. The prevailing sentiment seems to favor retaining younger players while demoting veterans.
Several names have emerged as potential waiver candidates. Defenseman Troy Stecher and forwards Curtis Lazar and Max Jones have been frequently mentioned. Lazar, a free-agent signing this summer, and Jones, acquired in the Trent Frederic trade, are seen as possibilities, along with Stecher or a younger defenseman like Ty Emberson or Alec Regula.
The decision regarding Regula is particularly complex. While he possesses a high potential ceiling, the Oilers risk losing him to waivers. The team has invested a year in his development, and he is reportedly feeling healthy and performing well.
Waiver-exempt forwards Matt Savoie, Ike Howard, and David Tomasek have also been discussed. However, Tomasek's situation is complicated by his lack of signing bonuses. According to Gregor, recalling a player without bonuses in-season would result in a cap hit that includes both salary and bonuses, making it significantly higher.
Some have suggested more drastic measures, such as trading veteran contracts like Mattias Janmark or Adam Henrique. However, such moves are considered unlikely until next summer.
The Oilers' blueline appears relatively set with Mattias Ekholm, Evan Bouchard, Jake Walman, Darnell Nurse, Brett Kulak, and Ty Emberson. If the team opts to carry a seventh defenseman, Alec Regula and Troy Stecher would likely compete for that final spot.
Assuming the team carries the usual 13 or 14 forwards, at least one or two more cuts are expected. Curtis Lazar, Noah Philp, Max Jones, and David Tomasek are among the forwards potentially battling for their roster spots.
The Oilers may start the season with as many as five rookies on the roster, demonstrating the team's confidence in its young talent and commitment to internal development. Preseason performance will be crucial in determining which players make the final cut.
