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This comes from the Edmonton Oilers, their latest roster moves: “Calvin Pickard, Phil Kemp, Cam Dineen and Brad Malone have been placed on waivers for assignment to the Condors.”
My opinion
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1. There are more questions than answers with this latest round of cuts. Malone, Kemp, Dineen and Pickard were not serious contenders to make the team, as Gleason had been ahead of Kemp and Dineen during the preseason. Janmark seems to be doing well at center, and Lane Pederson is holding strong, which makes Brad Malone unlikely as well. But why not also send Markus Niemelainen? He faded in his final exhibition games.
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2. More Questions: Is Ben Gleason the Ty Rattie of this exhibition season or more of the real deal? A number of Oilers players in recent memory, most notably veteran Rattie, have been outstanding in exhibition games, only to slump in the regular season. Gleason has played extremely well so far. He defended and moved the puck skillfully. He looks like an NHL player. But is there one?
3. What is the real health status of Ryan McLeod, Brett Kulak and Mattias Ekholm? Will any of them go to long-term injured reserve, taking them out of action for 10 games and 24 days, and freeing up cap space for the Oilers to keep players like Pederson, Gleason and Raphael Lavoie?
4. Has Mattias Janmark done enough at center to solidify his place as the team’s fourth-line center? I think he can get the job done in his own end, but he’s never been very good on faceoffs. His best year was last season, where he didn’t take many, only 59 , and won only 44 percent. He is at a career 38.3 percent. Could he suddenly leave that figure at 48 or 49 percent?
5. Has Raphaƫl Lavoie done enough to deserve a place in the Top 12 attackers? He has improved throughout the preseason, but he still finds a way to make an impact.
6. Has Adam Erne done enough to land a contract? I’m on the fence. He did not dominate Lavoie. He also can’t play center like Pederson.
7. Can Lane Pederson get the job done defensively? I’ve seen a few slip-ups, but such mistakes are not uncommon for any player. But I’m not sure yet that he can be the kind of defensive pillar he needs to succeed in the NHL.
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