Edmonton Oilers Training Camp Guide

Honest-to-goodness NHL hockey is back!  The Edmonton Oilers' 2011-12 training camp kicks off today at Millennium Place in Edmonton and if last year's crowds were any indication, the place will be packed.  We've got your handy reference guide for training camp basics and story lines to keep you covered for at least opening weekend.  My colleagues will start breaking things down tomorrow night with the Joey Moss Cup and continue through the final cutdown day. 

The Oilers will divide the invitees up into three squads A, B, C, (Scott will have a breakdown of this year's list when it's released) and though there was lip-service to open competition last season, it wasn't in the cards.  2011 won't be much different as a minimum of 21 players and possibly 23 players are all but guaranteed roster spots and only significant injuries will alter the expected course.

Arm yourself with reference material for camp and the exhibition games by using the Copper & Blue archives:  for a rundown on last year's team, make sure to check out our comprehensive list of 2010-2011 player recaps; Scott Reynolds has searched high and low for a comparable NHL player for Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and his results have been interesting; a number of Oilers will meet significant career milestones in 2011-12, and if you have season tickets and need to divide them amongst a group, or you're interested in a game or two, make sure you check out Ryan Batty's Guide to Splitting up Your Season Tickets.

Schedule:

Roster Spot Assured:

• However strange it may seem, 21 roster spots are already locked up and there will be competition for only two spots. 
  
• Most fans would say that Jeff Petry should have a spot locked up and probably in the top 4 given the defensive depth, but recent comments from Steve Tambellini about him wanting Jeff Petry to believe he can make the team were somewhere between eye-opening and stunning.
• Tom Renney might give Ryan Jones an extended look in the top 9 at the expense of Linus Omark.
• Steve Tambellini's comments on Cam Barker being a top 4 defenseman means that the team already has his role planned:

"...we feel that the addition of Barker, at his age and his experience…that should take some of the weight away from those people that can play those minutes like Whitney and Gilbert and Barker should be able to jump right in there."

Battling For A Spot:

• In reality, these battles might be all for show.  Many, including myself, believe that Chorney and Nugent-Hopkins already have these spots sewn up.

Projected NHL Depth Chart:

F:

D:

G: