Edmonton Oilers pick local winger Reid Schaefer in NHL draft
MONTREAL — Reid Schaefer grew up surrounded by Edmonton Oilers jerseys.
The jersey he pulled over his head Thursday, although, was particular — it was the one he acquired after the Oilers referred to as his identify thirty second general on the NHL entry draft.
“I used to be sort of nervous there at choose 32,” mentioned Schaefer, who grew up in Spruce Grove, Alta., simply exterior of Edmonton. “I knew Edmonton confirmed some curiosity and after I heard my identify referred to as, it was a dream come true.
“Very particular.”
The six-foot-three, 213-pound left-winger had 58 factors (32 targets, 26 assists) in 66 video games for the Western Hockey League’s Seattle Thunderbirds final season.
Schaefer described himself as an enormous, two-way energy ahead with offensive upside.
“I feel I’m a fairly distinctive participant that’s very versatile and may play up and down your lineup and play off wing,” he mentioned.
Oilers common supervisor Ken Holland watched Schaefer play in opposition to the Edmonton Oil Kings within the WHL playoffs earlier this yr and preferred what he noticed.
“We preferred him as a result of clearly he’s an enormous, robust, highly effective man,” Holland mentioned. “I feel if you wish to be good, you’d wish to have some massive measurement on the wings.”
Edmonton initially held the twenty ninth choose within the draft however moved right down to No. 32 in a commerce with the Arizona Coyotes.
The deal noticed the Oilers ship bruising ahead Zack Kassian to Arizona together with the No. 29 choose, a 2024 third-round choice and a second-round choose in 2025.
Along with buying the No. 32 choose, Edmonton shed Kassian’s US$3.5-million wage.
“It was apparent that we needed to make a transfer or two to attempt to get some cap house,” mentioned Holland, noting he did not wish to purchase out the remaining two years of Kassian’s contract.
The Oilers have a number of wants to handle this offseason, the GM added, together with signing a goalie, and deciding what to do with restricted free brokers Kailer Yamamoto and Jesse Puljujarvi.
Kassian, 31, performed seven seasons with the Oilers. Final yr, he registered 19 factors (six targets, 13 assists) and 63 penalty minutes in 58 regular-season video games.
He added one other 4 factors (two targets, two assists) and 12 penalty minutes in 16 playoff appearances.
Kassian’s place within the lineup has modified loads for the reason that Oilers signed him, Holland mentioned.
“The group acquired deeper and his function was vastly diminished,” he mentioned.
Edmonton completed the common season second within the Pacific Division with a 49-27-6 file and went on to make a deep playoff run earlier than being swept within the Western Convention semifinal by the Colorado Avalanche.
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed July 7, 2022.
Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press
