Oilers coach Knoblauch hints veteran forward will be out of starting lineup next season
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The Edmonton Oilers are set to enter next season with a logjam of depth players on forward and defence, which may lead to one veteran forward losing their roster spot.
The Oilers have reportedly asked Adam Henrique to waive his no-move clause, and insiders have hinted moving Mattias Janmark as a cap dump may be possible.
Oilers coach Knoblauch drops major hint on opening lineup for next season
Speaking in a new interview with Oilers insider Bob Stauffer, Coach Kris Knoblauch said he strongly hopes that all three of Ike Howard, Matthew Savoie, and David Tomasek will be in the starting lineup.
Speaking in a new interview with Oilers insider Bob Stauffer, Coach Kris Knoblauch said he strongly hopes that all three of Ike Howard, Matthew Savoie, and David Tomasek will be in the starting lineup.
STAUFFER: is there a mechanism in place where Ike Howard, along with Matthew Savoie and David Tomasek, are all in your opening day lineup?
KNOBLAUCH: Hopefully they are. We anticipate them having some ups and downs early in the season, but of they're able to be in the starting lineup, that's ideal.
We want those guys, because we feel like with their experience and more playing time, they're just going to become better and better players. We think of highly of them obviously, one being a free agent and the other two traded high capital to get those two. So we have a lot of belief in those guys.
Taking a look at the Oilers lineup, if David Tomasek would likely enter the lineup as a center or right winger. The most likely players to draw out of the lineup would be Mattias Janmark and Adam Henrique. It could be Kapanen or Podkolzin, but those players have key bottom six roles.
There may very well be another move coming prior to training camp to move out another veteran forward. Mattias Janmark may be the most likely candidate, as he only has limited trade protection.
Just by a look at the lineup and Knobaluch's comments, it's clear one of these two veterans doesn't fit the team's plans anymore.
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 22 | 405 ANSWERS Oilers coach Knoblauch hints veteran forward will be out of starting lineup next season Which player do you think will come out of the lineup for David Tomasek? | ||
| Mattias Janmark | 219 | 54.1 % |
| Adam Henrique | 122 | 30.1 % |
| Kasperi Kapanen | 64 | 15.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
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