Oilers GM confessed they have no plan for benched forward
Photo credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images
With his healthy scratches recently, Oilers' forward David Tomasek prepares for his opportunity to play, while GM Stan Bowman figures out when exactly that will be.
In a recent SN article, both player and GM talked about the circumstances surrounding the offensively-gifted 29-year old.
TOMASEK: I'm trying to do what the coaches want trying not to get discouraged.
BOWMAN: Once Jack was able to succeed quickly, it kind of took (Tomasek's) opportunity away. And then Zach (Hyman) came back It's hard. We don't have a game plan, per se, on how we're going to make it work.
BOWMAN: Once Jack was able to succeed quickly, it kind of took (Tomasek's) opportunity away. And then Zach (Hyman) came back It's hard. We don't have a game plan, per se, on how we're going to make it work.
Forward languishing in bottom-6 of roster
When Stan Bowman signed Tomasek in April to a one-year, $1.2M contract, he'd just completed a successful season in the SHL, where he led his team in goals and points.
Tomasek was the first-line center on an already talented squad in Sweden. When he decided to play in North America, it was with the expectation that he'd be contributing offense on the team's top-6.
Except, that has not been the case, for several reasons, the main one being that the Oilers signed Jack Roslovic. The return of Zach Hyman from the IR pushed David further down the depth-chart.
Now, over his past nine games, Tomasek has been scratched five times, averaging a TOI of just 10:46 on the 4th-line.
The trouble with that is, players like Mangiapane and Frederic, whose play has been questionable, are playing consistently, ahead of the Czech forward.
Throughout all of this, Tomasek has been the consummate professional, refusing to complain and keeping ready for the tap to play, all while maintaining a positive attitude.
«I can probably always get a job in Europe. I will always have a league to come (back) to, teams to come to,» he said. «I didn't want to regret not giving (the NHL) a try, because I know that even if somebody told me how these things are going, I would still take that over the feeling that I never tried.»
Meanwhile, GM Stan Bowman must decide what is next for a player that wants nothing more than a chance to play some hockey in the best league in the world.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 18 | 595 ANSWERS Oilers GM confessed they have no plan for benched forward Should Stan Bowman trade David Tomasek for draft capital to a team that needs depth? | ||
| yes | 473 | 79.5 % |
| no | 122 | 20.5 % |
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