Josh Samanski and Kris Knoblauch don’t need to make a big deal out of one missed game for the Oilers. That’s the clear message here. If a young player sits out for a game, it doesn’t always mean something bad, and it shouldn’t be seen as a setback.
In Edmonton’s situation, it can actually be something positive. Sometimes a new player just needs a night off to reset, to watch how the game flows, and to take a break from the stress of trying to keep their spot every game. Samanski has already caught people’s attention this season. He played his first NHL game in January after having a great year in Bakersfield, and he looks like someone the Oilers think can make a difference.
That’s why it’s important to stay calm about this. If the Oilers were done with him, the talk around it would feel different. But it doesn’t seem that way. “It’s not surprising. I think people are overreacting a bit because he’ll likely be back in the game tomorrow. ”
It appears to be just the team making a routine decision about a young player who is still figuring out how to play well. And that’s important since Samanski isn’t just some random player who popped up for a week. Edmonton signed him last year after he did well in Germany, and he has been improving ever since.
Missing one game doesn’t change the overall picture. This is a common trap that fans fall into as the season goes on. Each move in the lineup starts to feel more important, especially for a team under pressure to make the playoffs with many forwards competing for spots.
Giving Samanski a game off tonight shouldn’t be viewed as a bad thing for the young player.
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But for Samanski, spending one night in the press area can still be helpful. He can notice small things, observe different player matchups, and return with a better understanding of what the coaches expect from a player in a lower-line position.
“I know some people are going to criticize Chris Knoblauch for this, but I don’t see anything wrong with it.”
That position is tough in Edmonton. A young winger needs to play properly, deal with the boards, stay involved even without the puck, and avoid tiring themselves out while the star players are on the ice.
“Hasn’t he played more this year than he usually does? He’s played 65 games this season… that’s a lot of hockey. ”
Samanski still has a chance to improve in that area. His experience with the German Olympic team and the chances he’s had this season already indicate that the team sees potential in him.
So, this shouldn’t be seen as a negative thing. Just because a player isn’t playing doesn’t mean they’re being punished, and taking a break isn’t always a sign that a player is falling out of favor with the coaches.
Sometimes, it simply means the Oilers are being smart about how they handle a young player. For Samanski, this could turn out to be much better than having him play every game and acting like he can only learn while he’s on the ice.
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