Oilers News and Rumors: Nurse, Pickard, McDavid, Gleason – Hockey Writers – Edmonton Oilers

With a few games left in the preseason, the Edmonton Oilers have some big decisions to make. Darnell Nurse has been medically cleared, but should he play in the final two contests? Meanwhile, who will get the nod as the deepest defender on this team and possibly play alongside Nurse? How much should the coach listen to Connor McDavid, who is clearly desperate for the team to include in its regular lineup? Finally, there is good news when it comes to Calvin Pickard’s injury.

Darnell Nurse Medically Cleared

“He’s cleared, he can play,” head coach Kris Knoblauch said when asked if Darnell Nurse would play in any of the Oilers’ preseason games. Knoblauch added. “He has been participating in all the exercises, and he has been fit, he feels healthy.”

But, it doesn’t sound like the Oilers are completely confident they’ll include Nurse in the final two games of the exhibition season.

The Oilers took their time with Nurse and Knoblauch explained:

“We have to be careful when we list him and overextend him where he plays 25 minutes in the first game, 25 minutes the next night. I don’t think that would be good,” explained the coach. “We would have realized that if he played both games, we would have to make sure that his minutes are always low without passing, or should we just play him in one game? It is something we will decide tomorrow.”

McDavid Itching for A Full Oilers Lineup to Play

“We haven’t played much with our team. I think you’ll see that the next two games. I hope so, just to find a rhythm, a friendship. You know things are important,” McDavid said after the team’s 3-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks on Monday night.

Related: Why the Oilers Are Letting Mike Hoffman Out of His PTO

McDavid expressed that he feels their lineup may not be hitting on all cylinders, which is difficult when the regulars aren’t on the lineup. For example, Monday’s game was the first time the second line of Leon Draisaitl, Jeff Skinner, and Viktor Arvidsson played a preseason game together. It took them a while to drink, and they were still quiet.

He couldn’t answer questions about what he thought of his team as a whole because they didn’t get together. “Of course I’m itching for that,” he commented. It was also reported that he asked to play in Monday’s game even though he was not initially targeted.

Should Knoblauch listen to McDavid when he says he wants a full team on the ice? Or, does the coach stick to his game plan, especially if it’s different than his captain?

Could Ben Gleason Be A Fantastic Pick on the Blue Line?

The Oilers have a tough decision to make. With no dominant defenseman taking the No. 4, 5, or 6 job on the blue line, positions are still up for grabs. Troy Stecher, Ty Emberson, Josh Brown, and Travis Dermott (PTO) are vying for the role. But, one of the defenders added his name to the crowd on Monday.

Ben Gleason had a solid game for the Oilers and played 21:49. He scored a goal. He may have a shot to make the team, especially considering his level of NHL experience. Gleason can play both sides, so the next two games could be critical in determining his chances of being on the opening night roster.

Good News About Calvin Pickard’s Injury

“We expect him to be back on the ice in a couple of days,” Knoblauch said when asked about the status of backup goaltender Calvin Pickard. He added, “His neck hurts a lot, he’s obviously careful, but he should be fine.”

Pickard was ejected from the preseason after colliding with teammate Noah Philp (thanks to an assist from the Seattle Kraken’s Yanni Gourde). It doesn’t sound like Pickard will miss any regular season time and the Oilers are making sure he’s good to go before bringing him back in.