Oilers announcing first training camp cuts after losing split squad games

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Liam McCormick
September 24, 2024 (7:17)

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The Edmonton Oilers played two preseason games simultaneously tonight, and are now expected to announce some roster cuts.

Coach Knoblauch spoke to the media after the loss for the home squad, and revealed that the Oilers will send home the first wave of players tomorrow. They needed to carry a larger roster to this point for the split squad games, and now can trim it down. More roster cuts will come later this week too.

The Oilers currently have 50 skaters and 7 goaltenders at training camp, and many of the players being sent down now will be minor leaguers for the rest of the season - if not their whole careers.

The prime candidates to be sent down tomorrow will be players like Ethan de Jong, William Nicholl, Brady Stonehouse, Cam Wright, Connor Corcoran, and Alex Kannok-Leipert. The Oilers play another preseason game tomorrow night, and after that there will likely be more players going down.

A few Oilers may also earn an extended look as the top prospects in attendance. Players like Raphael Lavoie, Noah Philp, and Matt Savoie could be playing for a spot on the NHL roster. All of those players and more were early standouts in the first game.

A few other younger players may not have a chance at making the NHL this year, but it'd be nice to see them earn a longer look in camp with their play - this group includes Sam O'Reilly, Matvey Petrov, Max Wanner, and a few more.

Now that Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and most of the Oilers regulars have made their preseason debuts, it's time for Knoblauch to start whittling the roster down to the opening night lineup. Edmonton will play 5 more preseason games before their first regular season game at home against the Winnipeg Jets on October 9th.