Forward Curtis Lazar and head coach Kris Knoblauch can finally relax as the Edmonton Oilers get through a very tough week.
On Wednesday morning, Knoblauch shared important health news about two important players on the team. It seems the team narrowly avoided a major setback just before the trade deadline on Friday.
The head coach mentioned that Lazar will be out for about a week. Although losing a dependable player for the lower lines is a setback, dodging a long-term injury is a big win for the team’s spirit.
Also, top defenseman Jake Walman did not play at all in the third period of their last game, which caused a lot of worry among the fans.
Luckily, Knoblauch assured everyone that Walman’s injury does not seem to be serious and shouldn’t last long. Keeping their defense strong is very important as they head into the final stretch of the season.
Knoblauch noted that Lazar will be out for at least a week, while it’s not expected that Walman’s injury is serious; he did not play in the third period.
–
Salary Issues Limit Trade Choices
General manager Stan Bowman is working with almost no salary cap space. The management team has no financial flexibility at all.
Losing a regular player to a major injury right now would be a disaster. The Oilers do not have the money to find high-quality replacement players in this costly market.
Throughout his NHL career, Walman has proven to be a tough and reliable player on defense. His strong performances in the defensive zone are just what this Stanley Cup hopeful needs to control the game and stop top players from the other team.
Lazar brings great toughness and energy to their penalty-killing unit. His intense style of play disrupts the other team’s transitions completely.
The team really needs both experienced players to be in good shape for the tough spring games coming up. Right now, Knoblauch will probably make some small changes to the lineup to cover for Lazar and Walman while they get better fast.
Do you want me to check the latest lineup and defensive pairings for the Edmonton Oilers without Lazar and Walman playing?
Leave a Reply