How to make 23 out of 33 – Who gets cut in Edmonton

In a few hours the Oilers will take to the ice against the Lightning in their seventh preseason game of the year. After getting out of the gates to a 3-0 start, and with the city planning the parade route, the Oilers have dropped their last three.

With the preseason into its third week we’re starting to separate the wheat from the chaff and tonights lineup looks a lot more like an NHL team that what was iced nine days ago in Calgary. 10 of the Oilers 18 skaters tonight will without a doubt be staying up with the big club. Last night against Calgary the Oiler lineup had 14 skater who will be making this team.

I would bet that after tonight we get another round of cuts. With 33 players in camp, who will stay and who will go to get the Oil down to 23?

To get down to 23, lets first look at who stays without a doubt. Cogliano, Comrie, Gagner, Hemsky, Horcoff, Moreau, Nilsson, O’Sullivan, Penner, and Pisani stay for the forwards. Gilbert, Grebeshkov, Smid, Souray, Staios, Strudwick, and Visnovsky make up the blue line. Khabibulin will be between the pipes. If you’re counting that leaves just four open spots on the front end, all seven defensive spots spoken for, and the backup job up for grabs.

With those spots on the backend guaranteed that means Chorney and Peckham will both be sent back to Sprinfield to start the season. Both are good enough to play in the NHL at some point but the Oil are going to go with the same seven as last season.

Down to 31 players with these cuts.

In goal the backup job will go to Deslauriers. He’s looked more like an NHL goalie at camp this year than at anytime in the past. Wether he can play 20 plus games this season remains to be seen but he hasn’t looked out of place during the preseason. The other point in favour of Deslauries if that he was with the club last season and as you might also recall the team spent most of last season with three goalies (Roloson and Garon were here too) because the Oil were afraid to put Deslauriers on waivers and risk losing him. Since he’d still have to clear waivers to go to Springfield I can’t imagine that they’ll be sending him down to start this season.

Dubnyk gets a ticket to the AHL and 30 players are left.

As of right now the Oilers have 21 forwards at camp and 14 roster spots. Two of the cuts are simple, Eberle and Rajala. These guys are both prospects that the Oilers are very excited about but this just won’t be their year. Eberle has played really well, even though he has no points so far, and some people have said he’s made the case to be kept with the big club. But he’s a junior elegible player on a team with too many forwards under contract, he isn’t going to stay here; you’re welcome Regina. Rajala, who was drafted by the Oilers in this years draft, will be heading back to Finland.

28 players, 5 cuts left.

As I’m writing this we’ve still got three “tough” guys in camp: Brennan, MacIntyre, and Stortini. Stortini isn’t the toughest player on the team but he’s an agitator and he’s getting better at playing that role. I think he’ll make the team. Brennan and MacIntyre are pretty interchangeable and one of the two will crack the 23 man roster for those night when the Oil need a designated hitter. Watching Brennan last night he looks like more of a hockey player than MacIntyre but he has yet to really establish himself as a candidate to be the Oilers enforcer during this years camp. Last night was a great opportunity and he could only manage to get into a pseudo scrap with Prust; that won’t get him on this team.

Brennan is gone, 4 players left to send down.

Schremp will also be on the outside looking in. Here is a former first round pick and I’m not sure he is ever going to play a full time role, or any role for that matter, with this team. With Schremp’s skill set he needs to be in the top six; this team already has eight forwards that can play in the top six. Schremp is in the lineup tonight and it might actually be last game he ever pays as an Oiler since he’s got to clear waivers to go back to Springfield. I can’t see how a team like the Isles with offensive holes galore won’t take a shot on a guy like him.

Also gone is Reddox. On this team he’d have to play on the fourth line in an energy role and he simply hasn’t shown enough to warrant a spot over bigger and more physical players like Jacques or Stone. Reddox is a borderline NHLer on his best days and this team is way to deep up front for him to grab a spot.

That leaves us with four players – Jacques, Stone, Pouliot, and Brule – and two spots available.

Jacques has played himself onto this team plain and simple. He has been derailed by injuries in the past but has finally looked like the guy the Oilers hoped he would be when the took him in the second round six years ago. Last night his linemates (Horcoff and Hemsky) looked ugly, but Jacques still managed to stick out as a positive. That says a lot about where his game is at right now. Jacques take one of the last two spots.

And the last spot goes to, drum roll please, Brule. Brule brings a package of scoring and physicality. He isn’t out there throwing Scott Stevens like hit but he doesn’t back down either. Columbus took him with the number six pick a few season ago so you know he’s got talent. Enough talent that the Oilers won’t risk losing him but placing him on waivers in favour of either Stone or Pouliot.

Sorry Stone and Pouliot you’re going back to the minors. I can’t see any reason why Pouliot has been with this team as long as he has so I’m thrilled that he won’t be here this season. I’m willing to give him a ride to the airport just to get him the hell out of here. Stone has had a good camp and will probably the first player recalled in the event of an injury or Jacques returning to his form of seasons past.

So there it is, that’s how the Oilers get their roster down to 23. You’re welcome Mr. Quinn.