The Edmonton Oilers are heading into the 2024-25 marketing campaign with a aim in thoughts to win their sixth Stanley Cup in franchise historical past, they usually have made the strikes this offseason to show that. With the additions of Jeff Skinner and Viktor Arvidsson in free company, the Oilers bolstered their ahead group by including two confirmed offensive producers who can play properly at each ends of the ice. On high of that, they removed a defensive legal responsibility in Cody Ceci by buying and selling him to the San Jose Sharks in trade for an improve in Ty Emberson. Additionally they acquired Vasily Podkolzin from the Vancouver Canucks to attempt to substitute Dylan Holloway, who they misplaced to the St. Louis Blues with Philip Broberg on account of supply sheets and saved some cash within the course of.
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With the latest information that Evander Kane’s harm would require surgical procedure and certain maintain him out for an prolonged interval, there’s a wide-open spot within the Oilers’ opening-night lineup. Matt Savoie and Raphael Lavoie might each crack the lineup relying on how they carry out throughout coaching camp, however Lane Pederson is another person who may very well be rewarded for his robust 2023-24 season with the Bakersfield Condors within the American Hockey League (AHL). He doesn’t have a lot expertise within the NHL having solely performed 71 video games, however his AHL success might earn him a fourth-line function with the Oilers to begin the season.
In 66 video games with the Condors final season, he scored 22 targets and added 30 assists for 52 factors which comes out to a 0.84 points-per-game common. All through his AHL profession, he has performed 293 video games, scored 106 targets, and added 112 assists for 218 factors which comes out to a 0.74 points-per-game common. He’s a powerful two-way ahead who hasn’t earned a full-time alternative on the NHL stage due to his inconsistency, however Kane being out might give Pederson yet one more probability to show he’s worthy of being a bottom-six producer.
Pederson Will Have Robust Competitors
As talked about, each Savoie and Lavoie might make a push for a roster spot out of coaching camp. Savoie was acquired by the Oilers this summer season in trade for Ryan McLeod and Tyler Tullio in a shock commerce with the Buffalo Sabres, and Lavoie was drafted by the Oilers within the second spherical of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft at thirty eighth total. Final season, Lavoie performed seven video games with the Oilers and didn’t register a degree, however he impressed on the AHL stage scoring 28 targets and including 22 assists for 50 factors via 66 video games.
Savoie, who’s three years youthful than Lavoie, performed one sport with the Sabres final season, in addition to six video games within the AHL with the Rochester Individuals the place he notched 5 factors, however spent nearly all of his marketing campaign within the Western Hockey League (WHL) cut up between the Wenatchee Wild and the Moose Jaw Warriors. In 34 video games between the 2 groups, he scored 30 targets and added 41 assists for 71 factors which comes out to a formidable 2.09 points-per-game common.
Each of them are cherished by followers as many individuals need to see them get their shot on the NHL stage, however they might profit extra from growing on the AHL stage for yet one more season. Pederson however, has a bit extra expertise and will slot in properly as a fourth-line participant for the Oilers. He has the proper two-way type of play to be a depth ahead on the NHL stage; he simply has to attempt to discover consistency if he does earn the chance. He has confirmed himself to be worthy of one other probability — he simply has to play properly sufficient to maintain it.
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