EDMONTON, AB - October is coming.
And after improving to 5-1-0 in the exhibition campaign on Thursday, edging the Arizona Coyotes 3-2 in overtime following Connor McDavid's two-goal performance, 27 players remain at Oilers Camp - 15 forwards, 10 defencemen and two goaltenders.
Oilers Head Coach Todd McLellan will have one last game to decide who joins the club on their looming trip to Europe. The squad will compete in their final Battle of Alberta of the exhibition campaign on Saturday.
But Friday's morning skate came with a piece of news from the Oilers Dressing Room. Neither Ty Rattie nor Kris Russell skated in the morning with the club, paving the way for some lineup adjustments ahead of the matinee meeting.
"Both are banged up a little bit," McLellan said. "Both are expected to make the trip and hopefully be ready for opening night."
RIEDING SHOTGUN
As a result of Rattie's injury, Pontus Aberg and Tobias Rieder dressed in navy practice silks on Friday, meaning they could get a look within the Oilers top-six on Saturday. McLellan said he's going to try Rieder on the top line with Connor McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.
"I'd like to see what Tobi does with those two, with Connor and Nuge on his off-wing," the bench boss, who will surely witness plenty of speed on that line, said.
"We're going to experiment with that."
McLellan said to not read too much into Saturday's lineup, noting there will be changes before the club's season opener overseas on Oct. 6.
"Our lineup tomorrow, if you think that's our opening night lineup, it probably won't be based on health and moving players around," he said.
CHIASSING A ROSTER SPOT
Alex Chiasson is one of the few forwards looking to secure a spot on said opening night roster. The forward joined the Oilers on a professional tryout contract after capping his 2017-18 season as a Stanley Cup champion, suiting up in 16 post-season outings with Washington.
It hasn't been easy for the Montreal, QC, product, who's had to compete on the right wing - one of the Orange & Blue's strengths throughout September.
"I think, to say the least, it's been a competitive camp on the right side," Chiasson, a 381-game NHL vet, said. "A lot of guys have played well and that's what you're looking for as a team. You want guys to push each other."
The 27-year-old said he underwent a similar situation in Washington, with players battling night-in and night-out to remain on the ice each game day. That notion has helped in Chiasson's endeavour in Edmonton.
"I experienced it last year in Washington," Chiasson, who registered nine goals and 18 points in 61 games with the Caps in '17-18, said. "When you got guys pushing to get in the lineup and guys don't want to get out, that brings the best out of the guys."
Saturday's tilt with the Flames could be his final opportunity to prove management that he has the chops to be an Oiler.
"I just have to be better than a lot of the guys here, whether it's game or practice," he said. "That's what I pride myself in. I've done that over my career and it's helped me out."
Chiasson has two assists in three pre-season games.
"I think for myself, it's been a good camp," he said.
EVAN ALMIGHTY
The past few months have been a wild ride for Oilers 2018 first-round selection Evan Bouchard.
The 10th-overall pick from this past June's NHL Draft in Dallas, TX, is one of 10 defencemen still with the club and hasn't looked out of place in Rookie or Main Camp - taking every 24-hour cycle one stride at a time.
"Right now, it's just being ready for tomorrow - whether I'm in the lineup or not," Bouchard said following Friday's skate. "It's taking it day-by-day and doing the right things to be ready for tomorrow."
Bouchard said the Oilers veterans have helped him gather confidence on the ice. When errors have been made, the players have been quick to provide support.
"If you make a mistake, they're not hard on you," he said. "They're trying to help you learn to make sure you don't make those mistakes again.
"That helps a lot with confidence and your play out there."
Whether he's in London with the Knights or Edmonton with the Oilers to start the season, Bouchard knows what he'll take from his time in Oil Country.
"Work ethic is one big thing," he said. "All the pros come to practice ready to play and it's the same thing on game day."
-- Paul Gazzola, EdmontonOilers.com
