We Back!

Happy New Year!

Yes it has been a while but the NHL is coming back in 10 days and I for one am extremely excited! The Edmonton Oilers are back at training camp and are in a different setting to start this year because of the World Junior Hockey Championships. The Oilers started their training camp this morning at the NAIT Arena as Rogers Place is occupied by some "out of towners".

An optional skate was the main focus this morning (Picture via Reid Wilkins).

Yes it isn't much but the boys are back in town and they seem to be excited to be back on the ice as they stare at a new challenge, that challenge being the North Division. The division consists of all Canadian teams, meaning the Oilers will be playing Calgary 10 times this year....OH BOY!

Here is how things start this season....

Jan 13 vs VAN

Jan 14 vs VAN

Jan 16 vs MON

Jan 18 vs MON

The Oilers won't be playing Calgary until February 6th. My only question is; Will 10 games vs the Flames water down the rivalry? Or will it put 10 more logs on the fire? Only time will tell.

Going back to Training Camp, the Oilers will move back into their home rink on Thursday after the World Juniors are done. Until then they will work out and practice at the NAIT facility.

Here is what the camp roster looks like...

GOALTENDERS (5)

33 Anton Forsberg G 6'3" 192 L 11/27/1992 Harnosand, SWE

19 Mikko Koskinen G 6'7" 202 L 7/18/1988 Vantaa, FIN

50 Stuart Skinner G 6'4" 201 L 11/1/1998 Edmonton, AB

41 Mike Smith G 6'5" 220 L 3/22/1982 Kingston, ON

30 Dylan Wells G 6’2” 188 L 1/3/1998 St. Catharines, ON

DEFENCEMEN (12)

22 Tyson Barrie D 5'11" 197 R 7/26/1991 Victoria, BC

74 Ethan Bear D 5'11" 197 R 6/26/1997 Ochapowace, SK

75 Evan Bouchard D 6'2" 193 R 10/20/1999 Oakville, ON

82 Caleb Jones D 6'1" 194 L 6/6/1997 Arlington, TX

20 Slater Koekkoek D 6'2" 193 L 2/18/1994 Winchester, ON

84 William Lagesson D 6'3" 205 L 2/22/1996 Gothenburg, SWE

6 Adam Larsson D 6'3" 208 R 11/12/1992 Skelleftea, SWE

81 Theodor Lennstrom D 6'1' 190 L 8/8/1994 Stockholm, SWE

80 Markus Niemelainen D 6'4" 190 L 1/8/1998 Kuopio, FIN

25 Darnell Nurse D 6'4" 221 L 2/4/1995 Hamilton, ON

4 Kris Russell D 5'10" 170 L 5/2/1987 Caroline, AB

5 Ryan Stanton D 6'2" 205 L 7/20/1989 St. Albert, AB

FORWARDS (23)

15 Josh Archibald RW 5'10" 176 R 10/6/1992 Brainerd, MN 1

49 Tyler Benson LW 5'11" 190 L 3/15/1998 Edmonton, AB

39 Alex Chiasson RW 6'3" 208 R 10/1/1990 Montreal, QC

27 Adam Cracknell RW 6'3" 209 R 7/14/1985 T

29 Leon Draisaitl C 6'2" 208 L 10/27/1995 Cologne, GER

63 Tyler Ennis LW 5'9" 161 l 10/6/1989 Edmonton, AB

23 Seth Griffith C 5'9" 190 R 1/4/1993 Wallaceburg, ON

91 Gaetan Haas C 6'0" 181 R 1/31/1992 Biel-Bienne, SUI

21 Dominik Kahun LW/RW 5'11" 175 L 7/2/1995 Mannheim, GER

44 Zack Kassian RW 6'3" 211 R 1/24/1991 Windsor, ON

16 Jujhar Khaira C 6'4" 212 L 8/13/1994 Surrey, BC

65 Cooper Marody C 6'0" 184 R 12/20/1996 Brighton, MI

97 Connor McDavid C 6'1" 193 L 1/13/1997 Newmarket, ON

70 Ryan McLeod C 6'2" 199 L 9/21/1999 Mississauga, ON

18 James Neal RW/LW 6'3" 212 L 9/3/1987 Whitby, ON

93 Ryan Nugent-Hopkins C 6'0" 184 L 4/12/1993 Burnaby, BC

10 Joakim Nygard LW 6'0" 179 L 1/8/1993 Stockholm, SWE

98 Jesse Puljujarvi RW 6'4" 201 R 5/7/1998 Tornio, FIN

26 Alan Quine C 6'0" 203 L 2/25/1993 Belleville, ON

52 Patrick Russell RW 6'1" 203 R 1/4/1993 Holte, DEN

14 Devin Shore C 6'1" 206 L 7/19/1994 Ajax, ON

8 Kyle Turris C 6'1" 190 R 8/14/1989 New Westminster, BC

56 Kailer Yamamoto RW 5'8" 153 R 9/29/1998 Spokane, WA

There are a couple of things that I am looking for to start training camp! Who will take over 4th line centre? Who will slot in where Oscar Klefbom would have been? Can they REALLY rely on Mike Smith & Mikko Koskinen? Who will Jesse Puljujarvi play with? Are there any dark horses ready to make the jump to the NHL? Find out on the next episode of "The Oilers"

What does it all mean?

In all reality we haven't really started anything yet. This mornings skate was just optional and the real practices kick off this week. However, we can't help but be excited right? Here's to a new season!