Pre-Game Talk: Rookie camp discussion

[NeverForget06]

Very excited to see Samorukov play! Very excited to see the steps he takes at the next level.

 

[Senor Catface]

I think Samorukov is going to finally start getting the respect he deserves around here during this rookie tournament. If he builds off last year the skies the limit with this kid. I wouldn’t even group him with Maximov as I believe he’s right there with Bouchard and Broberg for our best defensive prospect.

Around here? Samorukov is one of the most talked about prospects on the Oilers board.

 

[Raab]

Around here? Samorukov is one of the most talked about prospects on the Oilers board.

By some fans, a lot still are under rating him IMO

 

[McBooya42]

By some fans, a lot still are under rating him IMO

No...its just that a lot of posters don't agree with you that he'll be better than Nurse...this year.

 

[ChaoticOrange]

By some fans, a lot still are under rating him IMO

I wouldn't say that's the case. He's just in tough to make the team out of camp with Jones and Lagesson slotted in ahead of him at the moment, by virtue of age if nothing else.

He'll start in the AHL, IMO... but if he lights it up and Jones/Lagesson struggle, he won't be down there for long.

 

[rboomercat90]

My guess is Rogers Place costs a lot to open up.

The Oilers can’t afford to open up Rogers Place to show off their own prospects?

 

[ChaoticOrange]

The Oilers can’t afford to open up Rogers Place to show off their own prospects?

I mean, they won’t pay to broadcast their own preseason games either, they cut the U of A game, and pulled out of Penticton. Pennies are being pinched, it seems.

 

[rboomercat90]

I mean, they won’t pay to broadcast their own preseason games either, they cut the U of A game, and pulled out of Penticton. Pennies are being pinched, it seems.

I was just going to ask if the Penticton tournament had been scrapped. I don’t spend as much time keeping tabs on the prospects these days as I used to so this is the first I’m hearing of it. Is the tournament itself still going on without the Oilers?

 

[ChaoticOrange]

I was just going to ask if the Penticton tournament had been scrapped. I don’t spend as much time keeping tabs on the prospects these days as I used to so this is the first I’m hearing of it. Is the tournament itself still going on without the Oilers?

The official release said it was cancelled due to “lack of participating teams” ie us and the Flames pulled out.

 

[thadd]

I'm just saying, there's a lot of people that are going to be expecting a lot out of that top d pairing and those 2 scoring lines.

 

[Pass the Saitl Sauce]

Hopefully samorukov can be Holland’s kronwall V.2 with the oilers down the line, not many prospects hit like Dimitri can. Hoping he translates his play to the AHL this year.

 

[Del Preston]

Benson, Yamamoto, Skinner, and a few other prospects were at the downtown arena today skating with Draisaitl, Neal, RNH, and others.

BLOG: Oilers take the ice for first informal skate

 

[CupofOil]

By some fans, a lot still are under rating him IMO

Samorukov is definitely not underrated by Oiler fans and in fact, he might be a bit overrated by Oiler fans (including this McCupofOil fella who likes him more than Bouchard).
I'd say he's definitely underrated by non-Oiler fans but in fairness to them, he doesn't have a big enough sample size of high level success to be highly rated by people who don't watch him regularly.

 

[ConnorMcMullet]

Exactly, in my practice I come across a lot of blue collar guys with families who love hockey and can barely afford tickets plus food/drink for their families to go. It’s even crazier in Edmonton for prices.

I just bought a whole bunch of tickets for this prospects game to give to families that cannot afford regular season games.

$5 for lower bowl tickets to see our youngsters play and see the excitement of parents and children who otherwise would be unable to attend a game in an NHL arena? Sign me up all day.

That's awesome.

 

[Aerchon]

Samorukov is definitely not underrated by Oiler fans and in fact, he might be a bit overrated by Oiler fans (including this McCupofOil fella who likes him more than Bouchard).
I'd say he's definitely underrated by non-Oiler fans but in fairness to them, he doesn't have a big enough sample size of high level success to be highly rated by people who don't watch him regularly.

He is a very intriguing prospect. But it is a very small sample size against (relatively) low competition. Doing great in a junior league in your draft +2 year where you should dominate really doesn't matter much. It took him a long time to figure out a junior league. From here on in he goes up against men that are bigger stronger and faster than him. Completely different.

He is a looooooong way from being an nhl player.

 

[McOvechking]

I think this is Lagesson's year. He's 23 years old, it's time for him to make the jump. There's a spot on the blueline for him if he's willing to go out and take it.

 

[ChaoticOrange]

I think this is Lagesson's year. He's 23 years old, it's time for him to make the jump. There's a spot on the blueline for him if he's willing to go out and take it.

The way I see it there are 3 spots up for grabs


Nurse-Larsson (arrange the top 4 any way you see fit)
Klefbom-X
Russell-X
X

Benning has *probably* got one of the spots, but I wouldnt be shocked to see him dealt for a forward if guys like Bear and Persson show well.

I think Persson takes a spot.

Meaning I think the last one comes down to Jones or Lagesson, and there's an argument to be made that Jones would benefit more from #1 D minutes in the AHL than 7D minutes in the NHL.

Coming out of camp I think we see:

Nurse-Lars
Klefbom-Persson
Russell-Benning
Lagesson

With this in the AHL:

Jones-Bouchard
Samorukov-Bear
Lowe-Day
Manning, Desharnais, Kulevich, whoever else is on AHL deals.

... we really need to trade a defenceman.

 

[fireantz]

The way I see it there are 3 spots up for grabs


Nurse-Larsson (arrange the top 4 any way you see fit)
Klefbom-X
Russell-X
X

Benning has *probably* got one of the spots, but I wouldnt be shocked to see him dealt for a forward if guys like Bear and Persson show well.

I think Persson takes a spot.

Meaning I think the last one comes down to Jones or Lagesson, and there's an argument to be made that Jones would benefit more from #1 D minutes in the AHL than 7D minutes in the NHL.

Coming out of camp I think we see:

Nurse-Lars
Klefbom-Persson
Russell-Benning
Lagesson

With this in the AHL:

Jones-Bouchard
Samorukov-Bear
Lowe-Day
Manning, Desharnais, Kulevich, whoever else is on AHL deals.

... we really need to trade a defenceman.

Why? That’s only 16 d-men. Injuries! competition! Persson Bear Jones and Lagesson have this season to prove they have jumped ahead of Manning and Benning or there is a chance they are traded. Russell will be traded IF Jones or Lagesson pass him on the depth chart. IF Bouchard and/or Samorukov jump the queue, we have a full season to move candidates out.

 

[booyakasha]

Why? That’s only 16 d-men. Injuries! competition! Persson Bear Jones and Lagesson have this season to prove they have jumped ahead of Manning and Benning or there is a chance they are traded. Russell will be traded IF Jones or Lagesson pass him on the depth chart. IF Bouchard and/or Samorukov jump the queue, we have a full season to move candidates out.

??

 

[LaGu]

The way I see it there are 3 spots up for grabs


Nurse-Larsson (arrange the top 4 any way you see fit)
Klefbom-X
Russell-X
X

Benning has *probably* got one of the spots, but I wouldnt be shocked to see him dealt for a forward if guys like Bear and Persson show well.

I think Persson takes a spot.

Meaning I think the last one comes down to Jones or Lagesson, and there's an argument to be made that Jones would benefit more from #1 D minutes in the AHL than 7D minutes in the NHL.

Coming out of camp I think we see:

Nurse-Lars
Klefbom-Persson
Russell-Benning
Lagesson

With this in the AHL:

Jones-Bouchard
Samorukov-Bear
Lowe-Day
Manning, Desharnais, Kulevich, whoever else is on AHL deals.

... we really need to trade a defenceman.

I think Persson could be a positive surprise, but I'd be (almost) shocked if he made it out of camp. I am thinking more in line with Pilut last season, 30 or so games in AHL and then he'll get a taste. The need for adjustment to NA does not mean he is a bust, it can be really important. Probably when either Lagesson or Jones (or Benning) hit a skid. It would not surprise me if he takes it from there and sticks with the team.

... That said, Persson is the embodiment of non-conventional in his development, so who knows.

Edit: he'll get his chances in the preseason though, Gulutzan said as much. Top PP minutes and playing time, I have my doubts he'll be able to be effective right away, but again, who knows. He did say that tries not try to think when playing, but rely on his instincts, because it is quicker. I guess we'll see how good they are.

 

[Oilers in NS]

How about samourukov and maximov.

Seen Samourkov twice last year in Mem Cup in Halifax. I liked him. It should be noted that he was injured as well

 

[bucks_oil]

The way I see it there are 3 spots up for grabs


Nurse-Larsson (arrange the top 4 any way you see fit)
Klefbom-X
Russell-X
X

Benning has *probably* got one of the spots, but I wouldnt be shocked to see him dealt for a forward if guys like Bear and Persson show well.

I think Persson takes a spot.

Meaning I think the last one comes down to Jones or Lagesson, and there's an argument to be made that Jones would benefit more from #1 D minutes in the AHL than 7D minutes in the NHL.

Coming out of camp I think we see:

Nurse-Lars
Klefbom-Persson
Russell-Benning
Lagesson

With this in the AHL:

Jones-Bouchard
Samorukov-Bear
Lowe-Day
Manning, Desharnais, Kulevich, whoever else is on AHL deals.

... we really need to trade a defenceman.

This very well could be correct... and I agree that Jones as our defacto #1 in the AHL (and mentoring Bouchard defensively... which may eventually be an NHL pairing) would be a great scenario IF Persson is really ready for prime time.

But like LaGu said, I'm not sure I'd bet on that. Jones and Bear have NHL experience, and more importantly, NA-Ice experience. All things equal, I'd be more comfortable with Persson getting twenty games to work on his gap control in the AHL before experimenting with that in the NHL.

But I have to admit... I REALLY, REALLY hope that one of the RD's in Bouchard, Bear, Persson can step into the lineup... otherwise we're going to have Russell on his offside on the 2nd pairing or Benning playing there (while Russell mentors the rooks on the bottom pairing).... neither of which are ideal.

 

[CycloneSweep]

Why? That’s only 16 d-men. Injuries! competition! Persson Bear Jones and Lagesson have this season to prove they have jumped ahead of Manning and Benning or there is a chance they are traded. Russell will be traded IF Jones or Lagesson pass him on the depth chart. IF Bouchard and/or Samorukov jump the queue, we have a full season to move candidates out.

Manning was a consistent healthy scratch in the AHL. Most of these guys have proven they are better already

 

[Mr Sakich]

I try to take in the rookie game in Calgary every year. I almost always see a player who surprises and ends up being the story of camp. A few years ago, Slepyshev was obiiously a guy who would challenge for a spot. Before that, Marincin, Klefbom were early surprises who ended up being players.

A couple years ago, Yamamoto clearly showed he was an NHL player when everyone thought he would be one of the first camp cuts.

This year, I am hoping it is Samorukov.

 

[LMFAO]

I try to take in the rookie game in Calgary every year. I almost always see a player who surprises and ends up being the story of camp. A few years ago, Slepyshev was obiiously a guy who would challenge for a spot. Before that, Marincin, Klefbom were early surprises who ended up being players.

A couple years ago, Yamamoto clearly showed he was an NHL player when everyone thought he would be one of the first camp cuts.

This year, I am hoping it is Samorukov.

Benson it is