from Mark Spector of Sportsnet,
It’s a good thing the Edmonton Oilers Top 6 is pretty much set.
Because if they were looking for some help from this crop of training camp invites, it could be a lean season offensively.
Two nights after losing 3-0 in Seattle, the Oilers dropped a 4-0 decision to a Calgary Flames roster that sported 14 players who will be NHL regulars this year. Edmonton dressed (by our count) seven NHL regulars — and not a Top 6 forward or Top 3 defenceman among them.
Ryan McLeod was the best Oilers forward, skating miles Wednesday at the Saddledome in a fruitless effort. He has first-line speed, but is still working on those third-line hands, closing the night with zero shots on net in 21:09 of ice time, tops among Edmonton’s forwards.
“There are some offensive opportunities where he, upon second look, might want to do some different things,” said head coach Jay Woodcroft, who liked how McLeod looked against a mostly NHL Flames lineup. “He certainly can skate with them. Now, it’s finding a way to be offensively productive against them.”
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