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Two preseason games remain and the Oilers roster is starting to take shape. With three more players sent to Bakersfield this morning the Oilers are now left with just 30 players in camp.
The #Oilers have assigned defencemen Dillon Simpson & Jordan Oesterle, as well as goalie Laurent Brossoit, to the AHL's @Condors.
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) October 5, 2016
Laurent Brossoit’s departure means that it’ll be Cam Talbot and Jonas Gustavsson as the Oilers two goalies to start the season. This would have been predicted by literally everyone before training camp started.
The picture is getting clearer on the blue line as well. With Dillon Simpson and Jordan Oesterle no longer in the picture, the Oilers now have just 10 defencemen left in camp; a number that includes Andrew Ference who is unofficially retired. Eric Gryba, Matthew Benning, and Griffin Reinhart are the three names battling for that final spot. My money is on Gryba converting his PTO into a contract.
Or the Oilers could keep eight defenders to start the season, or Brandon Davidson might still be listed as day-to-day at this time next week, either of which would make it a little more likely that Reinhart hangs around a little while longer. Benning has gotten a good look in camp but he seems like a long shot to make the team.