Main Camp officially opened and there haven’t been any big surprises as of yet. The line combinations have been largely as expected, with Drake Caggiula getting a chance on the right side (as he did in the Playoffs).

The team is split into three squads, but only the A & B groups look like real contenders for roster spots on opening night. The players in C squad will really have to impress in order to knock off veterans and players who have been penciled into spots for months.

Group A

Maroon McDavid Strome
Khaira Letestu Kassian
Callahan Kelly Pakarinen
Hamilton Downing Butcher (P. Russell)

Russell Benning
Auvitu Simpson
Lagesson Bear
Stranton

Talbot
Pasquale

Group B

Lucic Draisaitl Caggiula
Jokinen RNH Puljujarvi
Platzer Malone Rattie
Christoffer Gambardella Yamamoto

Klefbom Larsson
Nurse Gryba
Jones Fayne
Lowe

Brossoit
Ellis

Group C

Benson Chase Currie
Maksimov O’Brien Safin
Polei

Betker Mantha
Paigin Samorukov

Skinner
Starrett
Wells

Ethan Bear and Caleb Jones moved out of Group C for the scrimmage today, but had been there previously. As well, after what was reportedly a sluggish start from Caggiula, Yamamoto was moved into his spot. It seems that McLellan is letting everyone know early on that anyone vying for a spot on the right side better perform.

It’s very easy to extrapolate from these lines what opening day looks like (barring surprises). If we blend these lines we get:

Maroon McDavid Strome
Lucic Draisaitl Caggiula
Jokinen RNH Puljujarvi
Khaira (Slepyshev) Letestu Kassian

Klefbom Larsson
Russell Benning
Nurse Gryba

Talbot
Brossoit

Even in the combined lineup, the Right Wing position is an obvious weakness for the club, as is the 2nd pairing. The challenge for the Oilers will to be re-establish offensive chemistry based on duo’s until someone steps up. Maroon & McDavid, Lucic & Draisaitl, Letestu & Kassian. Nuge will be working with mostly unknown’s to him at first in Puljujarvi and Jokinen. The good news is that while they didn’t play together a lot, Puljujarvi spent half the year with Edmonton. And if Jokinen can bounce back from last year Jokinen can rely on his veteran experience to help the transition.

As for the defense, it goes without saying that the Oilers are committed to playing Kris Russell on the 2nd pairing despite the outcomes – at least to start. This puts considerable pressure on Benning to be both the reason the puck moves up the ice and the reason it doesn’t come back. He was a surprise last season who performed by eye and number and the team needs him to take another big step if they want to navigate this portion of the season without Sekera. And if not him then they need it to be Nurse.

Early reports from camp say that Nurse tested off the charts in his physical fitness. That makes him one of about 700 NHL players who “are in the best shape of their lives” but Nurse may actually be stronger than ever, given his age. In his case, it hasn’t been about his fitness or strength, it’s been about his decision making. The former 7th overall pick was making strides in his effectiveness before injury limited him to just 44 games last season.

Nurse’s skating is what separates him from most defenders his size. He’s not just a good skater for his size. He’s a good skater for a player 5 inches shorter and 30 pounds lighter. His ability to transport the puck with his feet make him a wildcard on the breakout. If his passing can catch up then the sky is the limit.

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