Oilers forward on three year contract may be healthy scratch in playoff lineup
Photo credit: Edmonton Oilers Raw
The Edmonton Oilers re-signed Mattias Janmark to a three year contract extension last offseason, but now it's looking like he may slip out of the playoff lineup this year.
The Oilers forward depth this season is incredible, especially when factoring in the possible returns of Trent Frederic and Evander Kane in Game 1. However, it'll force the Oilers to scratch at least one veteran.
Mattias Janmark seems to be player most likely to be scratched in fully healthy playoff lineup
The Oilers are currently down McDavid and Draisaitl as well in addition to Kane and Frederic, so out of their current lineup, 4 players will have to be taken out for a fully healthy playoff game.
Derek Ryan, Max Jones, and Kasperi Kapanen seem to be the easiest players to take out, but after that, it becomes a very difficult decision.
The next class of players to come out may be one of Jeff Skinner, Connor Brown, and Mattias Janmark. Unfortunately, Janmark is the player that deserves to be out.
The 32 year old forward Janmark has only scored 2 goals in 68 games this season. He is a defensive specialist, and plays an important role on the penalty kill - but other players can bring so much more.
It's unfortunate because he's a veteran signed for 2 more years, but both Skinner and Brown have outperformed him this season and deserve to be in over him. There will surely be opportunity to get back in with injuries, and the coach tinkering the lines.
Having too many good players entering the playoffs is really a great problem for the Oilers to have. Even if they don't play game 1, any of the players on the sidelines could end up playing a major role in a playoff game later in the stretch.
| POLL | ||
MARS 25 | 551 ANSWERS Oilers forward on three year contract may be healthy scratch in playoff lineup Which player do you think would be scratched in a fully healthy playoff lineup? | ||
| Mattias Janmark | 183 | 33.2 % |
| Jeff Skinner | 68 | 12.3 % |
| Connor Brown | 89 | 16.2 % |
| Someone else | 211 | 38.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
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