Oilers News & Rumors: Nurse, Pickard, McDavid, Gleason

The Oilers have taken their time with Nurse and Knoblauch explained:

“We have to be cautious putting him in the lineup and overextending him where he’s playing 25 minutes in the first game, 25 minutes the next night. I don’t think that would be good,” the coach explained. “We’d be cognizant if he played both games, we’d have to make sure his minutes stay lower and not overdo it, or do we just play him in one game? That’s something we’ll decide tomorrow.”

McDavid Itching for A Full Oilers Lineup to Play

“We haven’t played much with our group. I think you’ll see that the next two games. I’m hoping so, just to get some rhythm, camaraderie. You know that stuff is important,” McDavid said when he spoke after the team’s 3-2 shootout win against the Vancouver Canucks on Monday night.

McDavid hinted that he’s feeling like the roster might not be firing on all cylinders, which is tough when the regulars aren’t in the lineup. For example, Monday’s game was the first time the second line of Leon Draisaitl, Jeff Skinner, and Viktor Arvidsson played a pre-season game together. It took some time for them to gel, and they still were relatively quiet.

He couldn’t answer questions about what he thought of his team as a whole because they’ve not been on the ice together. “I’m definitely itching for that,” he noted. It was also reported that he asked to play in Monday’s game, despite not originally being slated to.

Should Knoblauch listen to McDavid when he says he wants the full team on the ice? Or, does the coach stick to his game plan, especially if it’s different than his captain’s?

Could Ben Gleason Be The Surprise Choice on the Blue Line?

The Oilers have a tough decision to make. With no real standout defenseman taking the No. 4, 5, or 6 job on the blue line, the positions are still up for grabs. Troy Stecher, Ty Emberson, Josh Brown, and Travis Dermott (PTO) are battling for the role. But, one defenseman threw his name into the mix on Monday.

Ben Gleason had a solid game for the Oilers and played 21:49. He quarterbacked the power play and scored a goal. He might have a shot of making the team, especially considering his level of NHL experience. Gleason can play both sides, so the next two games could be critical in determining his chances of being on the opening night roster.

Good News on Calvin Pickard’s Injury

“We expect him to be back on the ice in a few days,” Knoblauch said when asked about the status of backup goaltender Calvin Pickard. He added, “His neck is pretty sore, obviously being cautious, but he should be alright.”

Pickard was knocked out of a preseason game after a collision with his teammate Noah Philp (thanks to some help from Seattle Kraken’s Yanni Gourde). It doesn’t sound like Pickard will miss any regular season time and the Oilers are just making sure he’s good to go before putting him back in.