NHL Training Camp Preview: Red Wings, Oilers Take Positive Strides

The National Hockey League will begin its 106^th season in early October, with a number of clubs looking to unseat the Colorado Avalanche after their Stanley Cup victory earlier this summer, while others are preparing to make a run at getting the best odds to select presumptive first overall pick, Connor Bedard.

With the NHL salary cap going up only $1 million, many clubs had to make difficult roster decisions. Nearly half the league is currently over the $82.5 million limit and will be using long-term injured reserve to get under the cap ceiling, while budget clubs used their cap space to add draft capital.

Here is the preview of one club that is in the process of a methodical rebuild and a Western Conference squad with the league’s best player that finally broke through in the postseason:

Detroit Red Wings (32-40-10 – 6th place in the Atlantic Division)

Who’s Out – Sam Gagner, Marc Staal, Danny DeKeyser, Thomas Greiss

Who’s In – Andrew Copp, David Perron, Dominik Kubalik, Ben Chiarot, Olli Maatta, Mark Pysyk, Ville Husso

Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman was among the busiest executives this summer, going into Stage 2 of the massive rebuild. Detroit added depth on the blueline by signing veterans Chiarot, Pysyk, and Maatta, locked up Michigan native Copp for five years, and snagged a pair of St. Louis free agents, trading for the rights and signing goalie Husso and locking up veteran Perron for two years.

The hope for the Wings is that they have upgraded in goal and added enough secondary scoring and experience on defense to support Calder Trophy winner Moritz Seider, team captain Dylan Larkin, and youngster Lucas Raymond.

2022-23 Potential impact prospects

G – Sebastian Cossa

D – Simon Edvinsson

C – Marco Kasper

Cossa is the Wings goalie of the future, who made Team Canada’s squad at the World Junior and made a run to the Memorial Cup with the WHL’s Edmonton Oil Kings, but the addition of Husso means he will not be rushed. Edvinsson played a full year in the SHL as an 18-year-old and for Sweden at the WJC, and is expected to make a serious bid for a job in Detroit at training camp later this month. Kasper was selected eighth overall in the 2022 Draft but may play in North America instead of another year in Sweden.

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Edmonton Oilers (49-27-6 – 2nd place in the Pacific Division – lost to Colorado in the Western Conference Final)

Who’s Out –  Duncan Keith, Zack Kassian, Kris Russell, Mike Smith, Mikko Koskinen, Kyle Turris

Who’s In – Mattias Janmark, Ryan Murray, Jack Campbell

The Oilers have traditionally been too reliant on the dynamic duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl and have been lacking depth up front and on the blueline, as well as being below average between the pipes. Edmonton once again snagged their biggest signing from Toronto, signing free agent goalie Campbell to a five-year deal. The retirement of Keith will force head coach Jay Woodcroft to rely more on youngster Evan Bouchard and rookie Philip Broberg, while re-signing winger Evander Kane gives Edmonton another scorer to take some of the pressure off McDavid/Draisaitl to score every night.

2022-23 Potential impact prospects

G – Stuart Skinner

C – Dylan Holloway

C – Xavier Bourgault

Skinner was excellent at AHL Bakersfield and played 13 NHL games with Smith/Koskinen injured or struggling, earning him the job as Campbell’s backup. Holloway signed in April after two years with Wisconsin and made his NHL debut in the playoffs, which could mean he gets a chance to make the Oilers with a good camp. Bourgault was selected 21^st overall in 2021 and scored 36 goals in 43 games with Shawinigan of the QMJHL last season.