The Edmonton Oilers are heading into the 2024-25 marketing campaign with a objective in thoughts to win their sixth Stanley Cup in franchise historical past, and so they 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 nicely at each ends of the ice. On prime of that, they removed a defensive legal responsibility in Cody Ceci by buying and selling him to the San Jose Sharks in change for an improve in Ty Emberson. In addition they acquired Vasily Podkolzin from the Vancouver Canucks to attempt to exchange 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 current information that Evander Kane’s harm would require surgical procedure and sure maintain him out for an prolonged interval, there’s a wide-open spot within the Oilers’ opening-night lineup. Matt Savoie and Raphael Lavoie may each crack the lineup relying on how they carry out throughout coaching camp, however Lane Pederson is another person who might 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 may 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 objectives 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 objectives, and added 112 assists for 218 factors which comes out to a 0.74 points-per-game common. He’s a robust two-way ahead who hasn’t earned a full-time alternative on the NHL degree due to his inconsistency, however Kane being out may give Pederson yet one more likelihood to show he’s worthy of being a bottom-six producer.
Pederson Will Have Robust Competitors
As talked about, each Savoie and Lavoie may make a push for a roster spot out of coaching camp. Savoie was acquired by the Oilers this summer season in change 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 degree scoring 28 objectives and including 22 assists for 50 factors by way of 66 video games.
Savoie, who’s three years youthful than Lavoie, performed one recreation with the Sabres final season, in addition to six video games within the AHL with the Rochester People the place he notched 5 factors, however spent nearly all of his marketing campaign within the Western Hockey League (WHL) break up between the Wenatchee Wild and the Moose Jaw Warriors. In 34 video games between the 2 groups, he scored 30 objectives and added 41 assists for 71 factors which comes out to a formidable 2.09 points-per-game common.
Each of them are beloved by followers as many individuals wish to see them get their shot on the NHL degree, however they may profit extra from creating on the AHL degree for yet one more season. Pederson then again, has a bit extra expertise and will slot in nicely as a fourth-line participant for the Oilers. He has the right two-way fashion of play to be a depth ahead on the NHL degree; he simply has to attempt to discover consistency if he does earn the chance. He has confirmed himself to be worthy of one other likelihood — he simply has to play nicely sufficient to maintain it.
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