EDMONTON — As Dave Tippett took a few players out of Sunday’s winning lineup for tonight’s rematch with the Winnipeg Jets, he reflected on the different environment this season’s taxi squads have brought to an NHL dressing room.
“Normally you’ve got one or two guys who are unhappy. Now you’ve got eight guys who are unhappy,” he said, trying to manage his playing roster while keeping a spark of hope for the guys who aren’t playing.
So here are your lineup changes for tonight: Patrick Russell comes in at fourth line left wing for Tyler Ennis, who cleared waivers Tuesday, while Jujhar Khaira comes in for Devin Shore at 4C. On defence, Caleb Jones returns and Slater Koekkoek takes a seat.
Here are the Oilers lines:
Nugent-Hopkins, McDavid, Puljujarvi
Kahun, Draisaitl, Yamamoto
Neal, Turris, Kassian
Archibald, Khaira, P.Russell
Nurse, Bear
K.Russell, Barrie
Jones, Larsson
Koskinen
And here is how we believe the Jets will stack up:
Connor, Scheifele, Wheeler
Copp, Stastny, Ehlers
Perreault, Lowry, Appleton
Harkins, Gustafsson, Lewis
Morrissey, DeMelo
Forbort, Pionk
Stanley, Beaulieu
Hellebuyck
“The unique thing about this year is,” Tippett began, “usually you have one or two extra guys and you’re trying to make sure everybody fits in. Now we have eight or nine extra guys. So, you’re trying to make sure you’re not forgetting about anybody.
“Patrick Russell has been dominant with that taxi squad group. The most dominant guy at every practice. We believe … if someone doesn’t play as well as they can that we have hungry people ready to come into the lineup.”
As for Khaira, he’s made a career of coming in, making an impression, then fading back out of the top 12. He needs to find a foothold, after clearing waivers earlier this season.
“We need him to be a strong, powerful (fourth-line) centreman and good penalty killer,” his coach said “Play the game in the offensive zone with some heavy minutes around the net, heavy cycle… Wear a team down.”
Jones Back In
Caleb Jones started the first three games of the season, went pointless with a minus-4, and fell out of the lineup. But the 23-year gets a second chance tonight, on a pairing with veteran Adam Larsson.
“He’s got all the tools in the world to be a really good hockey player,” said Larsson, who may be the next defenceman to come out if his game doesn’t pick up. “I think he’s just knocking on the door to be a really successful one.”
Jones comes in as the Oilers try to improve their puck-moving from the back end. Theoretically, Jones should be a good partner for the stay-at-home Larsson, and the veteran should be able to calm down Jones’ game.
“You need to bring it every day, and that’s something he’s really working on,” Larsson said. “He’ll be a tremendous player in this league, it’s just going to take a little time. As a young kid you live and learn. That’s what he’s doing right now.”
One thing Larsson already knew that many Oilers fans are figuring out, is the impact of the injured Oscar Klefbom. Turns out he had more to do with a successful Edmonton power play than many gave him credit for, and his 25 minutes a night were of greater value, too, than many realized.
“I’ve said it all along: he’s one of the most underrated players in this league,” Larsson said of Klefbom, who will miss the entire season with arthritis in his shoulder. “I don’t think people really knew what he brought to the table on a daily basis. He is truly missed, that’s for sure.”
As for Evan Bouchard, his turn will come. Just not in the next game or two. “Bouch has got a bit of a back issue he’s been dealing with the past couple of days. He’s not an option for us right now,” Tippett revealed.
Call A Copp
Andrew Copp is that depth forward who is noticed around the other Canadian markets, but coveted in Winnipeg where they watch him work every night. Now he’s starting to score, fashioning a four-game points streak (2-3-5) while elevated to the Jets’ second line with centre Paul Stastny and Nikolai Ehlers.
Jets head coach Paul Maurice was asked about robbing his Bottom 6 of such a fine checker, and what that does for his lineup
“So, there’s no cost to as a coach when you move him around,” he explained. “Andrew’s talent was defensive hockey when he first came in, and then he developed an offensive game. He’s an exceptionally bright player, and if you put him with (Mark) Scheifele and (Blake) Wheeler there is no cost, because that line just becomes a better defensive line. With Stastny and Nikolai, he can make plays. He can read the offensive game.”
History says the offence likely will not stay consistent, but it doesn’t really matter. Copp still makes the Jets’ second line a better unit, whether he’s scoring or not.
“His talent — his gift that he’s really good at — is reading the play defensively. So you can put him out against anybody at any time.”
The Great One Turns 60
Paul Maurice was a kid in the stands in Sault Ste. Marie when Wayne Gretzky showed up to play for the Greyhounds back in the 1977-78 season. Today, Gretzky celebrates his 60th birthday, while Maurice prepares his team to face Gretzky’s old Oilers at the MTS Center.
“I had season tickets when he played junior in Sault Ste. Marie. He would have been about 18,” said Maurice. Actually, Gretzky was 16, and would go on to post 182 points in 64 games that season, finishing 10 points behind 18-year-old Bobby Smith for the scoring title.
Although Maurice coached in the NHL against him, “I would say I have a lot of fan memories of Wayne Gretzky,” Maurice said. “He played for the Soo Greyhounds, he’s (16). That puts me at (10 years old) — so he’s a God in your town.
“I remember people saying, ‘Ah, he’s never going to play in the NHL. He’s too small. Those guys are going to kill him,” Maurice smiled. “Yeah, that wasn’t a good scouting report.”
Tippett had the pleasure of being assigned to shadow Gretzky back in the ‘80s, an assignment he does not recall fondly.
“I hated it,” Tippett chuckled. “(He’d be) chasing him all night, then I’d turn around thinking it wasn’t going there, and the puck was on his stick.
“My memories are of me chasing him around, and then the rest of the Oilers chasing me around because I was chasing him around. They weren’t good memories.”
