Oilers Cut 8 Including Marincin, Keep Joensuu And Hamilton

The Oilers have reduced their training camp roster by eight this morning.

Jujhar Khaira, Bogdan Yakimov and Martin Marincin have been assigned to Oklahoma City. Kevin Westgarth has been released from his PTO.

Earlier, Keith Aulie, Anton Lander, Steve Pinizzotto and Tyler Pitlick were placed on waivers with the purpose of assignment to OKC.

Three of these moves come as a significant surprise: Marincin, Aulie and Pitlick.

Marincin's play last year suggested he would be relied on as a top four option.  Aulie's contract and prior relationship with Dallas Eakins suggested he would be the Oilers' 7th defenseman, and Pitlick has outplayed a number of players who remain on the roster.

The demotions of Marincin and Aulie, combined with the injury to Nikita Nikitin means that the Oilers are going into the season with Brad Hunt, Darnell Nurse and Oscar Klefbom in the lineup.  I'm puzzled as to what Marincin did to deserve the demotion.

Pitlick's demotion means the Jesse Joensuu experience will enter it's second painful season.