Insider Explains Absence of Two More Edmonton Oilers Forwards At Practice
The Edmonton Oilers have been losing players left and right to injuries this season, and today, they took the ice for practice without forwards Derek Ryan and Kasperi Kapanen.
There was a slight panic among fans thinking that one of the players could be adding to the Oilers injury problems or heading on waivers, but that proved not to be the case.
According to Daniel Nugent-Bowman of the Athletic, neither Oiler missed practice for overly concerning reasons. Kasperi Kapanen was sorting immigration papers, and Derek Ryan was dealing with something that seems to have struck the whole team - and illness.
Interestingly, an illness may explain the up and down results from the Edmonton Oilers in the last week.
A number of Oilers players have missed practice with maintenance days, and Evan Bouchard nearly missed a game last week with illness.
Then, Coach Knoblauch spoke to the media after yesterday's practice, and it became real obvious that a bug is spreading through the Oilers locker room. Knoblauch's voice is very obviously hoarse, and he looked to be battling to get through the interview.
Additionally, Oilers forwards Zach Hyman and Victor Arvidsson remain unavailable due to injury, not yet taking part in practices at all.
With the reduced players available at Oilers practice and no games on the immediate schedule, the Oilers held a more casual practice today to focus on skills development.
This light break in the schedule could turn out to be a much needed boost for the Edmonton Oilers to rest and recover. Their injured forwards will get some no-pressure time off, and every other sick player will have some time to get better.
The Oilers will be back in action this Friday against the Utah Hockey Club on the road, beginning a 3 game road trip for the team.
| POLL | ||
Have you been able to tell this week that the Edmonton Oilers look sick? | ||
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