Oil prepare for September 20th pre-season opener with the Flames.
Rexall Place is in full motion as the Oil kick it in gear to prepare for the up coming season. As the Oil once again occupy the Arena, expectations are starting to grow for this franchise. After loosing four straight games to Detroit in the second round of the play-offs (to end the seven game series). A new bench boss was brought in as GM Rink has stepped down as coach. Is there a new philosophy in Edmonton? No Oilers still suck!
Preseason Oil movement:
With yesterday set as the end of the Oil mini camp.
Some interesting decisions out of the oil camp as
disgruntled winger Scott Upshall has been returned to the Roadrunners to prepare for the upcoming season. Rink Rat: “Scott is a great kid, he is going to have a bright future with us, although at the moment we are fairly deep on the wings. We feel Scott has a better chance of developing further by playing a lot, and we just cannot offer that opportunity at this time. So ya Scott had been reassigned to the AHL. It’s a long season and I am sure he will see 15 – 20 games with us this year, but for know …… he is riding the bus. Scott had no comments on the re assignment.”
Anton Babchuck also returned to the AHL was an early favorite to hold down the 5-6 D spot. At 6’5 200 plus pounds and all the upside you can have for a young Dman. Rink Rat: “Anton can play in this league now, he is defensively sound, a good skater and possesses very good mobility and puck movement from the back end. Anton will be a PP specialist in the near future, although with Regehr, Hamr, Boumeester and Leetch again we felt Anton would benefit from playing huge minutes in the AHL.”
Michael Grabner was also a late cut as Michael was the Oil #1 pick this year. Rink Rat: “There was no question Michael was going to be returned to the minors for development, we wanted to keep him here as long as we could in order to get a good look at him…. The kid has big league wheels, and a set of hands to match. This kid has all the makings of a CPHL sniper. But like most offensively gifted kids coming out of juniors, he could use a little work in his own end, and improve his game with out the puck. Michael a sniper and Francios Bouchard (Oil #2 pick) a playmaker will learn to play together this year in Greenville. ”
Cam Barker set to make his AHL debut this season. Rink Rat: “We have been patient with Cam, we see him as a potential top pairing Dman. He had a great camp and we see no reason for him to return to Greenville this season. We expect Cam to see CPHL action this season, but again we will be patient with our future.”
Alexei Mikhnov also joined the train headed to the AHL. Alexei a long shot to make the club had a very good camp, although as expected he will return to the Roadrunners. Rink Rat: “That kid is huge at 6’5 and 220 plus. Alexei is your proto typical Russian top player. A very offensively gifted player with size and speed. I have the feeling Alexei may find his way into the line-up sooner than we think. For now he will report to the Roadrunners.”
Hugh Jessiman another huge forward at 6’6 and over 220lbs was as expected returned to the AHL. Rink Rat: “Hugh is a very talented power forward in the making, you have to love the way he drives to the net with authority. Some power forwards take a little longer to develop, but we fell Hugh is ready to contribute, although ice time is hard to come by in the Oil. Again we felt Hugh was much better off playing than watching.”
Other personnel notes:
Johannes Salmonson (HF8.0D), Lauri Korpikoski (HF7.5D, Vikto Alexandrov (HF7.0D) and Kyle Wharton (HF6.5B) are all expected to make the jump from the ECHL to the AHL this season.
Oil cut Roster to 20
