Oilers Lineup for Final Preseason Game Hints at New Opening Night Lines
Photo credit: Sportsnet
The Oilers have revealed their lineup for their final preseason game tonight against the Canucks, and it looks like the opening night lines.
The lines look as expected for the most part, with two notable absences. Noah Philp is skating as the fourth line center with Vasily Podkolzin and Corey Perry, and Troy Stecher is on the third pair defence instead of Josh Brown. Teams usually dress the full lineup in the final preseason game as a warm up, so these could be the opening night lines.
These are two significant changes that have been brewing throughout training camp. Noah Philp is a 26 year old Oilers prospect coming out of retirement that's impressed everyone in the preseason, and earned a spot on the roster based on merit. Derek Ryan is still a valuable contributor, but at 37 years old he may be the 13th forward, like Sam Gagner last year.
Troy Stecher getting the nod on the third pair in place of Josh Brown is also a significant development. The Oilers committed to Brown in free agency with a three year contract, but in preseason he's looked entirely out of place. Some analysts have ranked Brown as the third worst defenceman in the NHL, and the Oilers have better options with Stecher and Dermott.
If this lineup is the group that takes the ice on opening night, it would be a sign that Coach Knoblauch has full control of the lineup and is dressing the best possible lineup - without considering seniority or contract factors. That's the needed approach from Game 1 in a season where the team wants to win the Stanley Cup.
The Oilers will begin their regular season on October 9th at home against the Winnipeg Jets. It's another long regular season, but the Oilers have the full attitude of finishing the job from last year.
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