EDMONTON, AB - Scottie Upshall and Kyle Brodziak formed two-thirds of a strong fourth line as members of the St. Louis Blues.
An all-Albertan trio was created when Brodziak centred Upshall and Ty Rattie, which is a possibility in 2018-19 given the three are now with the Oilers organization.
Upshall spoke to 630 CHED's Oilers Now guest host Brenden Ullrich on Monday, a day after he
signed a professional tryout contract with the club
. The Fort McMurray, AB, product
talked of Edmonton's appeal
as well as his chemistry with his former linemates.
"I love Ty Rattie," he
said
. "I didn't know much about him other than that I came to St. Louis on a PTO the first year and I was trying to size up who I was competing against. I'm like, 'Who is this kid dangling everyone out here?' They said it was Alberta boy Ty Rattie and I'm like, 'OK, got it.'"
Upshall told a story about his first experience playing alongside the fellow 'Berta boys.
"We're in Carolina and we had a few guys hurt and Rattie gets put on mine and Brodziak's line," the 34-year-old said. "I had a goal and two assists, Rattie had two goals, one assist and Brodziak, I think, had three assists. All of the sudden we're just like, 'Alright, here we go.'
"Next game, Rattie's on the first line."
Should Upshall and Brodziak reconvene as an Oilers unit, it's possible Rattie - who ended last season riding shotgun with Connor McDavid - may not be their winger.
"Brodziak and I, we were always known to play with a few guys who would play one game with us, do really well, then get bumped up to the first line," Upshall joked.
"We were like, 'Hey bud, you're welcome. Just don't forget where you're from, alright.'"
BLOG: Upshall recalls chemistry with Brodziak and Rattie
Past teammates formed an all-Albertan line with the St. Louis Blues
