Edmonton Oilers Training Camp and the 5 Things You Need to Know

The Edmonton Oilers had a busy offseason which saw general manager Craig MacTavish add multiple new faces in an attempt to bolster an Oilers lineup that finished near the bottom of the NHL standings last year.

With training camp set to begin on September 18, there are a few things to take note of and to keep an eye out for during the upcoming weeks.

Here is a look at what to keep your eye on during the Edmonton Oilers’ 2014-15 training camp.

Basic Information

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Edmonton Oilers training camp will begin in earnest on Friday, September 19, at Rexall Place. But the 29 players who partook in Oilers Rookie Camp joined 38 additional players for main-camp medical and physical testing on Thursday, September 18.

Fans who want to catch a glimpse of the new-look Oilers will get an opportunity as the Friday and Saturday training sessions will be open to the public between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. MST at Rexall Place.

The Oilers will then relocate to the Leduc Recreation Centre in Leduc, Alberta, from September 23 to 28; all practices will be open for public viewing.

** All dates and times courtesy of EdmontonOilers.com.

Preseason Schedule

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The Edmonton Oilers preseason will begin with the first edition of the “Battle of Alberta” as the Oilers’ rivals from Calgary make the trip up to Edmonton.

The schedule is predominately against Canadian opponents with the Oilers set to face the Flames, Jets and Canucks as well as the newly minted Arizona Coyotes and the Chicago Blackhawks.

With such limited opportunities to make an impression, the first two games of the preseason against the Calgary Flames will be crucial for non-roster invitees as well as rookies looking to wow the Oilers’ coaching staff.

Exhibition schedule is in Mountain Standard Time and courtesy of EdmontonOilers.com:

Sunday, September 21, 6 p.m.
Edmonton Oilers vs. Calgary Flames—split-squad game

Sunday, September 21, 6 p.m.
Edmonton Oilers at Calgary Flames—split-squad game

Wednesday, September 24, 6 p.m.
Edmonton Oilers at Winnipeg Jets

Sunday, September 28, 4 p.m.
Edmonton Oilers at Chicago Blackhawks (in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan)

Monday, September 29, 7 p.m.
Edmonton Oilers vs. Winnipeg Jets,

Wednesday, October 1, 7 p.m.
Edmonton Oilers vs. Arizona Coyotes

Thursday, October 2, 7 p.m.
Edmonton Oilers vs. Vancouver Canucks

Saturday, October 4, 8 p.m.
Edmonton Oilers at Vancouver Canucks

Rookies to Watch

Leon Draisaitl

The Edmonton Oilers' third overall selection in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft will be the player under the most scrutiny during the team's training camp.

With the departure of Sam Gagner during the offseason, the Oilers have a glaring need for a second-line center and hope Draisaitl fits the bill.

With the vacant position, it is safe to assume that Draisaitl has an excellent opportunity to make the team out of training camp, but Edmonton's coaching staff and management will want to consider the best route possible for the big German’s overall development.

Draisaitl has the size and the skill set to make an impact in his rookie year. Coupled with the fact that the Oilers lack organizational depth in the center-ice position, Draisaitl could be primed to make the jump directly into the NHL.

Darnell Nurse

Unlike Draisaitl, the Edmonton Oilers have no need to rush Darnell Nurse into the NHL, as the Oilers have done a decent job of stocking the organization with defensive prospects.

Nurse, the former seventh overall selection in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, was well served with his reassignment to the OHL’s Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds last year, as his physical and on-ice maturity took significant steps.

Listed at 6’3” and 192 pounds on team's official website, Nurse has the physical frame and reputation for playing the game with a physical edge that the Oilers have lacked in recent years.

A strong training camp might force head coach Dallas Eakins and general manager Craig MacTavish to consider giving Nurse a few games at the beginning of the season to prove his worth.

Invitee to Watch

Vladimir Tkachev

After being passed over during the NHL Entry Draft this past summer, Moncton Wildcat forward Vladimir Tkachev was a free-agent rookie camp invitee who has now been invited to attend the main training camp.

Tkachev is a small, dynamic forward who possesses a wealth of offensive talent, but it is his two-way play during Oilers rookie camp that secured his invitation to the main camp.

The Oilers have a lot of smaller, gifted playmakers, but if Tkachev shows during training camp that he's willing to back-check and is not afraid of the physical aspect of the NHL, he could very well earn himself a contract. 

Other Things to Watch

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The Oilers are hoping that Nail Yakupov can find the form he demonstrated during his breakout rookie season.

With the additions of Benoit Pouliot and Teddy Purcell, the Oilers look to give their top two offensive lines a different look this season. It will be interesting to see the chemistry that these two new faces can establish with incumbent stars Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Taylor Hall.

The new arrivals also raise the question as to what will happen to Nail Yakupov, who endured a dismal season last year after struggling to adapt to new head coach Dallas Eakins’ system and defensive expectations.

Yakupov will look to have a strong training camp to show that he has put last season behind him and is ready to do what it takes to prove that he belongs with the Oilers' talented forwards. He also needs to demonstrate that he's capable of adapting his freewheeling style to Eakins' more structured way of doing things.