Edmonton Oilers making liberal use of taxi squad to bolster their struggling bottom six

0
226

Edmonton Oilers forward Alex Chiasson (39) scores on this shot against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the second period at Scotiabank Arena on Jan. 6, 2020. Photo by John E. Sokolowski /USA TODAY Sports

Article content

Game Day 10: Toronto at Edmonton

Imagine if you will, you’ve parked your vehicle at the first level of an underground parking garage. You find the elevator, press the button, then watch the lights over the big door. They seem to beat a steady path from “G” to “P2” and back, again and again, without ever stopping at your own location at P1. After several repetitions, the sounds of the lift passing in both directions without ever stopping at your level, you begin to wonder what the heck is wrong with the thing, and why is it ignoring you?

That is how I imagine Alex Chiasson must be feeling right about now. The veteran right winger played the first five games of the season for the Edmonton Oilers, struggled to get his game going, and by Game 6 in Toronto found himself in the press box, replaced by James Neal who had been activated from the “unfit to play” list. Joakim Nygard, who had cleared waivers at the beginning of the season, was assigned to the the six-man taxi squad that is in place for the 2021 season.

Advertisement

Story continues below

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Article content

As the 13th forward on an active roster that contains exactly 13 forwards, it stood to reason that any subsequent changes would surely involve Chiasson getting another opportunity.

Yeah, no.

The Oilers have won just one of the four subsequent games, and have changed up their forward group multiple times. But every such change has seen the organization bypass Chiasson, making direct exchanges between the game-night line-up (G) and the taxi squad (P2).

Game 8: The club placed Tyler Ennis on waivers, and when he cleared, on to the taxi squad. He was joined on that elevator ride by Devin Shore, who had already cleared waivers the day he signed a one-year contract with the Oilers after a successful Professional Tryout at camp. Taking the ride to ground level were Jujhar Khaira and Patrick Russell.

Game 9: After a loss in Winnipeg, Khaira and P.Russell (who had both cleared waivers at the start of the season) found themselves heading straight back to the taxi squad, replaced by Shore and Nygard.

Game 10: Which brings us to tonight, where the Oilers attempt to bounce back after another regulation loss to the Maple Leafs. No confirmation of the line-up just yet, but the rotation at Friday’s practice suggests that Ennis will be back in action, with Nygard heading the other way. Just the one change, but again directly between the taxi squad and the game night roster, bypassing Chiasson who will be a healthy scratch for the fifth game in succession.

Advertisement

Story continues below

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Article content

Tonight’s line-up

By now Chiasson must feel more like the 16th forward than the 13th, given that six different players — Shore, Khaira, Ennis, Nygard, P.Russell, and Josh Archibald — have taken shifts on the fourth line since he last got a game. Of that group, only Archibald has been a constant in the line-up; the other five have all been shuffled directly from taxi squad to active roster and back.

Given all have cleared waivers, the Oilers will have free rein to continue making such moves until at least 30 days into the season, when additional waivers will be required on some of the group. For now, the club has not attempted to waive Chiasson, preferring to stash him at that 13F spot. But at such time as it becomes necessary, he would likely clear without difficulty, given his $2.15 million cap hit and unimpressive start to the season.

Alas, those last words can be applied to all of the above named players, as nobody beyond Archibald has found a niche. The seven men battling for position on the fourth line have collectively played 28 games, producing 2 goals (neither at 5v5), 2 assists and a collective -18 rating. Ugh.

Above them, a third line of veterans Neal, Kyle Turris and Zack Kassian has become a regular unit from night to night, and are beginning to show some signs of chemistry and cohesion after a dreadful start of their own that has seen them post collective boxcars of 2-4-6, -11 in a combined 21 GP.

It’s a sad refrain for Oilers fans, who have become accustomed to seeing the GM du jour clear out his predecessor’s ineffective bottom six only to replace it with one of his own making. In the case of Ken Holland, that transition at least saw a massive improvement in the penalty kill during 2019-20. Alas, that unit has regressed significantly in the early stages of the truncated 2021 campaign, with disastrous results. For example, in their previous two games against tonight’s opponents, the Oilers have allowed four powerplay goals and a fifth that came just at the expiry of a penalty. Three of those tallies broke a tie in the third period, including the game winner down the stretch in both contests.

Advertisement

Story continues below

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Article content

This after the Oilers had won the first game of the season series on a late powerplay goal of their own, scored by Leon Draisaitl in the back half of the third period. The net result? Win one, lose two, which has been the story of the early season for the 3-6-0 Oilers.

Surely no team in the league is more reliant on its top six. Once again the Oilers have the top two scorers in the NHL, with Connor McDavid leading the way with 5-9-14, Draisaitl (6-7-13) tied for second with Toronto’s Mitch Marner. That same duo finished 1-2, though in reverse order, last season, and 2-4 the season before. In theory two consistent elite-level scorers should be more than enough to power a contender; in reality, Edmonton’s painful lack of depth has stalled the expected elevator ride up the standings.

Tonight’s line-up

Full roster shown including the taxi squad given its ongoing relevance. We have projected recently-acquired Troy Grosenick into the backup goalie role for tonight’s game, and a likely starter tomorrow vs. Ottawa. If he is activated, look for Stuart Skinner to be reassigned to the taxi squad and Dylan Wells to Bakersfield of the AHL. Neither requires waivers.

The defence is expected to be the same group that played in Thursday’s 4-3 loss to the Leafs. With both teams’ #2 goalie on IR and would-be #3 lost to waivers earlier this season, expect the same match-up of Mikko Koskinen vs. Oiler-killer Frederik Andersen, who sports a career 14-1-1, 2.26, .926 vs. Edmonton.

Game time is 5pm MST to accommodate the large viewing audience that tonight’s visitors always command on Hockey Night in Canada.

Recently at the Cult of Hockey

STAPLES: Oilers tinkering around the edges but no major line-up changes

McCURDY: Player grades from 4-3 loss to Leafs

LEAVINS: Oilers missing Klefbom

Follow me on Twitter @BruceMcCurdy

Comments

Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. Comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. We have enabled email notifications—you will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your email settings.

Leave a reply

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here