Edmonton Oilers hit with new setbacks as key players face extended absences
Photo credit: Edit from Athlon Sports
The Oilers are unfortunately dealing with some injury setbacks, as Kris Knoblauch revealed the latest news on Jack Roslovic, Kasperi Kapanen, and Jake Walman.
The Edmonton Oilers shared several injury updates on Friday, beginning with Jack Roslovic.
The winger, who quickly found chemistry beside Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, missed practice and is expected to be out "a couple of weeks," according to head coach Kris Knoblauch. He added that the team does not expect Roslovic back in the short term.
Kasperi Kapanen also left practice early with an injury, and Knoblauch said he "may be several weeks" away from returning as the team continues gathering more information.
Jake Walman won't play Saturday but skated again in the morning, giving him a chance to return next week. Knoblauch shared these updates during his media availability.
What the positive news is that the Oilers have received
There is some positive news for the Oilers: Curtis Lazar and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins have both been cleared to play against Seattle.
With Roslovic out, Connor Clattenburg has earned a spot on the third line with Nugent-Hopkins and Andrew Mangiapane.
His recent performances and steady minutes over two games made the promotion a logical move, especially with veterans David Tomasek and Trent Frederic still looking to gain traction.
Why the Oilers' defensive numbers are not good this year
Several Oilers have seen their two-way numbers dip compared to last season, including McDavid, Draisaitl, Evan Bouchard, Mattias Ekholm, Darnell Nurse, and Walman.
But others, such as Nugent-Hopkins, Adam Henrique, Vasily Podkolzin, Mattias Janmark (who also missed practice recently), and Ty Emberson, have maintained or improved their play.
Even with the statistical dip, McDavid, Draisaitl, Bouchard, and Ekholm remain Edmonton's top contributors at even strength.
With injuries continuing to challenge the lineup, the Oilers will need reliable depth performances until they get key players back.
| POLL | ||
NOVEMBRE 28 | 78 ANSWERS Edmonton Oilers hit with new setbacks as key players face extended absences Will these injuries lead the Oilers to slip even further in the standings? | ||
| Yes | 47 | 60.3 % |
| No | 31 | 39.7 % |
| List of polls | ||