Three pre-season games down, two disappointing losses to their bitter rival in Calgary, and one announcement of roster cuts. The Edmonton Oilers have announced their first round of cuts from this year’s training camp as they send four players back to their respective junior teams.
Nathaniel Day, Connor Clattenburg, William Nicholl, and Dalyn Wakely have been sent back to the OHL for the upcoming season.
These moves come as no surprise as none of these players were poised to make an impact at camp or near the NHL roster. However, for Clattenburg, Nicholl, and Wakely, all draft picks from this June, the experience and chance to join an NHL team for training camp will be worthwhile in their development.
Day and Clattenburg will both return to the Flint Firebirds. Clattenburg was especially notable in his brief stint in an Oilers uniform as he had a strong showing in the rookie tournament in Penticton, showing his toughness and ferocity as he was physically engaged with anyone who would reciprocate.
Nicholl will be returning to the London Knights, where he looks to build on a rookie season in which he had 20 points in 65 games. His effort and pace should serve him well in his growth and he works towards increased ice time within a strong Knights development system.
Wakely will be returning to the North Bay Battalion for his last season of junior hockey as an overager. His impressive 104 points last season sets a high bar for him as he looks to continue developing that offence to go with his work ethic and battle. He found himself as an honourable mention in The Oil Rig’s prospect rankings earlier this offseason, falling just shy of the top-10.
We join the Oilers in wishing these players well in the upcoming season and in their development!
