Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has been in the Edmonton Oilers dressing room longer than any other current player and has always been optimistic heading into a new season.
Yet, it’s been some time since the Oilers forward was this excited, particularly since the team returned its core players who made it to the Western Conference Final last season.
Considered Stanley Cup contenders, the Oilers open the 2022-23 NHL season against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Place on Wednesday.
“The way we played last year, and the push that we made, we’re hungry for more,” Nugent-Hopkins said Monday. “It was fun — it was good to get a taste of going deeper into the playoffs. But we obviously aren’t satisfied, we need to keep pushing and expectations within our group are always going to be high.
“We always expect the most from us and I think we have a good, experienced group that’s been through a lot already. We’re anxious to get it going.”
On Monday, the Oilers took to the ice for their first official practice of the season, following the end of training camp. They will practice again Tuesday before opening the season Wednesday in the first of a six-game home stand.
“I think we’re definitely physically and mentally prepared,” Nugent-Hopkins said. “We’ve done a lot of good things throughout camp. It’s long, but sometimes you need that to feel good again. I thought the way we finished the game against Seattle was good (5-3 win Friday). We didn’t start our best, but showed good signs at the end and we’re excited to get it going here for real.
“We’ll need a good start, in this league it’s so important. We know that and we’re going to come out flying.”
The Oilers have been in this position before. After getting to Game 7 of the second round of the playoffs in 2017, expectations were high heading into the 2017-2018 season. However, the wheels fell off, the team struggled and missed the playoffs, which prompted the eventual dismissal of general manager Peter Chiarelli, who went on to be replaced by Ken Holland.
“I think there is a good group of guys that went through it in 2017 and went into next season and saw what happened when you take your foot off the gas,” Nugent-Hopkins said. “It’s not guaranteed you’re going to make the playoffs. I think a couple of teams were in the final-four two years ago and then didn’t make the playoffs the next year. We know we can’t take anything for granted. Those 82 games are important to get in there and then you try to do your damage once you get in. But you obviously have to work to get there.”
ROSTER MOVES
The Oilers submitted its list and the NHL will officially announce the 32 rosters for the start of the regular season on Tuesday.
The Oilers made several moves before having to submit its cap-compliant roster prior to the 3 p.m. MT deadline Monday.
Prior to submitting their roster, the Oilers announced Devin Shore and James Hamblin were loaned to the Bakersfield Condors, while defenceman Jason Demers was released from his professional tryout. Shore cleared waivers Monday after being waived on Sunday.
The Oilers also traded defenceman Dmitri Samorukov to the St. Louis Blues on Sunday in exchange for Russian forward Klim Kostin.
A product of Penza, Russia, Kostin was selected in the first round — 31st overall — of the 2017 NHL Draft. He had four goals and nine points in 40 games with the Blues last season and three goals with six points in 17 games with the Springfield Thunderbirds of the AHL. Kostin, 23, will report to Bakersfield.
Defenceman Philip Broberg did not practice Monday due to roster management.
“We held some people off (the ice), there is going to be some roster manoeuvring,” said Oilers head coach Jay Woodcroft. “We have to turn our roster, so in the interest of roster manoeuvring, he was held off today.”
Broberg is expected to be on the season-opening roster for salary cap reasons and then sent to Bakersfield as he appears to have been beaten out of job by veteran Ryan Murray and Markus Niemelainen.
Due to salary cap restrictions, the Oilers are expected to open with a 21-player roster consisting of forwards Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Evander Kane, Kailer Yamamoto, Dylan Holloway, Zach Hyman, Nugent-Hopkins, Ryan McLeod, Warren Foegele, Ryan Malone, Derek Ryan and Jesse Puljujarvi; defencemen Darnell Nurse, Cody Ceci, Brett Kulak, Evan Bouchard, Tyson Barrie, Broberg and goaltenders Jack Campbell with Stuart Skinner.
Malone is expected to be replaced by Shore and Broberg for Niemelainen for opening night on Wednesday. Tyler Benson will start the season on long-term injury reserve after sustaining a lower-body injury on Oct. 3.
CONDORS TRAINER CHARGE
Oilers announced via Twitter they are working closely with Condors management and staff and are fully supportive of the decision to fire head athletic trainer Chad Drown, who was charged with felony sexual offences in California.
The Condors put out a statement Sunday night. “Earlier today we became aware that Bakersfield Condors head athletic trainer, Chad Drown, had been charged with very serious felony offences related to contacting a minor to commit a sexual offence in the state of California. We are shocked and dismayed by the news and Mr. Drown has been relieved of his duties immediately.”
Drown, of Waterloo, Ont., joined the Condors from the Tucson Roadrunners prior to the 2018-19 season. Before that, he had been the head athletic trainer for the Guelph Storm of the OHL and worked with the Canadian Under-18 team in 2016.
Email: dvandiest@postmedia.com
On Twitter: @DerekVanDiest
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