Oilers Release Four
by Neal Livingston on Sep 21, 2011 11:46 AM MDT
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Edmonton Oilers General Manager Steve Tambellini announced today the club has reduced its training camp roster by four players.
The following were assigned to their respective junior clubs today:
Jeremie Blain (D) to Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL)
Tyler Bunz (G) to Medicine Hat (WHL)
Brandon Davidson (D) to Regina (WHL)
David Musil (D) to Vancouver (WHL)
Edmonton's roster now sits at 54 players.
After announcing that he'd been sent back to Medicine Hat, Tyler Bunz, along with three other players, have now officially been returned to their Junior hockey places of refuge. Bunz put on an amazing show during both the Young Stars tournament in Penticton and last night against the Wild, but with four professional goaltenders in front of him, practice reps are limited. By returning to the WHL, he'll be the team workhorse and see plenty of minutes.
With the split-squad preseason games now in the books, the roster thinning has begun. No one expected the players listed above to remain much longer, and as they are whisked back to the junior ranks we'll continue to watch them as they progress this season. Brandon Davidson does come as a bit of a surprise after an article on the Oilers' team site mentioned in passing that he was "turning pro this season". That passage, along with Ryan Martindale's contract status added to the suspense (confusion?) surrounding the 50-man contract limit.
That Martindale has survived this round may bode well for his chances at landing an entry-level contract and a spot in Oklahoma City. Milan Kytnar has to be worried about the prospect of another center in Oklahoma City as both Martindale and Tyler Pitlick join a very crowded depth chart. With Ryan O`Marra and Chris VandeVelde already in front of him and Anton Lander almost certainly to come, two more centers might send Kytnar to Stockton.
Of note: Drew Czerwonka survived this round of cuts as well. While most observers felt he would make his way back to Kootenay to develop his game in the WHL, his survival might mean he's shown enough in camp to be considered for the 50th and final contract.
As the days solider on the 54 roster spots will continue to decrease, and displacements, even to the minor leagues, will begin (Barons AHL camp begins September 26th).
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Is it possible that the Oil simply buy out a contract such as Motin or Rajala in order to give them a little more flexibility? Surely those two are almost entirely submerged in the faeces-filled waters of the failed prospects pool…
I dont know if you can buy out ELCs….or terminate then without some overwhelmingly strong reason other than ‘doesnt fit in our plans’
Have you seen my bear Tibbers?
If they send Marincin or RNH back to junior that would open up a spot. They are both underagers who have been signed to ELCs.
Oilers fan through thick, thin and anorexic. Writer for The Cult of Hockey.
by Bruce McCurdy on Sep 21, 2011 3:23 PM MDT up reply actions
You can only buy players out during the designated buy-out periods, so I’m pretty sure the Oilers are stuck with them. They could try to terminate a contract if a player defects though. Maybe they’ll “encourage” Motin to refuse his assignment…
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Sep 21, 2011 12:46 PM MDT up reply actions
I don’t see why not, though it does cost you against the cap, and would be a huge financial windfall for a marginal guy like Motin.
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Sep 21, 2011 1:00 PM MDT up reply actions
Motin is in real trouble here, but I think it’s a bit early to write off Rajala, a 20 year old kid that just put up 0.5ppg in the SM-liiga in his 19 year old season as a failed prospect, especially when he was taken in the 4th round. To put that in perspective, Linus Omark didn’t really show up on the radar till he was 22, and he wasn’t really ‘Omark’ till he broke out at 23. He posted 0.34ppg in the SEL in his 19 year old season.
Not that I’m saying Rajala will ever be at that level, he doesn’t seem to have the same mindset, but he does have the skill. I just find it disconcerting how linear people think prospect development is, and how quickly people write off these kids.
"When you find yourself rooting for mediocrity – you might be an Oilers fan." - Neal Livingston
Motin can’t be bought out – he’ll likely spend his season in Stockton and maybe get a buyout next year. On the other hand, the Oilers will free up 10 contract spots next season.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Interesting point re: Davidson. I’ve been wondering all along if they might give him a year as an overager. But recently I heard/read the same comment you reference from some official-seeming source that he “will” turn pro which had a few of us fooled. Somebody somewhere spoke out of turn.
Given BD’s status of late bloomer, it’s not the worst idea, especially with the logjam that is developing in OKC. He’ll be #1 with a bullet in Regina I would have to think. Could the Barons guarantee him a spot in the top 6? I’m not so sure.
Oilers fan through thick, thin and anorexic. Writer for The Cult of Hockey.
Not likely, but the fact that he’s a lefty probably would have helped him. They’ve only got two on the team (Chorney and Marincin).
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Sep 21, 2011 1:03 PM MDT up reply actions
his survival might mean he’s shown enough in camp to be considered for the 50th and final contract.
In that he’s not eligible to play in the AHL this season, that doesn’t seem particularly likely, although they could sign him and send him back to the WHL. He wouldn’t count against the limit in that case.
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
Czerwonka is not currently listed on the active roster at the Oilers website. He got dinged up at the Young Stars, missed the Joey Moss and didn’t play in either game last night. Not at all sure he’s seen the ice. So his seeming omission from today’s round of cuts is likely injury-related. I suspect he’s Oilers’ responsibility until he’s good to play, then watch for him to be sent out within a day or so.
Oilers fan through thick, thin and anorexic. Writer for The Cult of Hockey.
by Bruce McCurdy on Sep 21, 2011 2:16 PM MDT up reply actions
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