“Changes Coming”: Expert Says Big Shake-Up for the Edmonton Oilers Roster is Near
Elliotte Friedman from Sportsnet reports that the Edmonton Oilers are preparing for some big roster changes soon. With several players, like Alec Regula, Zach Hyman, Kasperi Kapanen, and Mattias Janmark, recovering from injuries and getting ready to play again, Friedman thinks the team will have to make some tough choices to stay within salary limits and keep a balanced roster.
In a chat with Bob Stauffer on Oilers Now, Friedman was clear:
“There are too many players on the team. Some will need to go, either by being put on waivers or traded. Either way, they need to make room. ”
Friedman mentioned that defenseman Troy Stecher might be one of those players to leave. He’s currently not getting much playtime and is at the bottom of the Oilers’ defense list. “He just wants to play,” Friedman said, pointing out that the team understands his position and is looking into trade possibilities. Although rookie defenseman Maxime Emberson might be more appealing to trade because he has more value, Friedman argues that Stecher’s situation makes him a more likely choice to be moved.
On the other hand, NHL expert Frank Seravalli has put forth another idea — that they could trade Emberson instead, since his salary of $1.3 million is higher than Stecher’s $787,500. The Oilers are close to hitting their salary cap, so every dollar counts.
With Alec Regula coming back and more players expected to return, the Oilers’ roster of 23 players is full. Look for several players to be moved down to the AHL — maybe Isaac Howard when Hyman comes back, or Curtis Lazar when Kapanen is ready to play. The team might also consider trading Janmark, who has a $1.45 million salary through next season, or sending him down if they can’t find a trade.
Additionally, with new player Jack Roslovic joining the team, David Tomasek might lose his spot and end up in Bakersfield. While Tomasek has been solid defensively, he might not fit the role the Oilers want for their fourth line.
One thing is clear: the management in Edmonton has a very busy week ahead of them.
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