Ethan Moreau, check.
Steve Staios, check.
Patrick O’Sullivan, check.
Now Shawn Horcoff, errr Robert Nilsson has left the team with both another open spot after being bought out by the Oilers earlier this season. According to Jim Mathieson of the Edmonton Journal, Nilsson will leave for Salavat Yulaev in Ufa, Russia, in the Kontinental League.
The reason of fantasy relevance is the Oilers now have another spot for a top six forward.
Based off last season’s lines, the depth chart looks a bit like this:
Dustin Penner – TBD – Andrew Cogliano
TBD – Shawn Horcoff – TDB
Now we know Sam Gagner was hurt at the end of the season as was Ales Hemsky and Gilbert Brule but now these top six forwards will have a challenge. Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle seem ticketed for a top six spot which should challenge the incumbent forwards.
In addition, the team seems very willing to give a chance to Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson and Linus Omark although probably only one or two of the rookies will have fantasy relevance.
The Colorado Avalanche showed last season that a young team can win with mostly young players. Hemsky can compare to Paul Stastny while Penner and Chris Stewart play very similar games. The Oilers still have a hole and controversy surrounding their netminders but clearing spots for the youth is certainly a start.
