The Edmonton Oilers are heading into the 2024-25 campaign with a goal in mind to win their sixth Stanley Cup in franchise history, and they have made the moves this offseason to prove that. With the additions of Jeff Skinner and Viktor Arvidsson in free agency, the Oilers bolstered their forward group by adding two proven offensive producers who can play well at both ends of the ice. On top of that, they got rid of a defensive liability in Cody Ceci by trading him to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for an upgrade in Ty Emberson. They also acquired Vasily Podkolzin from the Vancouver Canucks to try and replace Dylan Holloway, who they lost to the St. Louis Blues with Philip Broberg due to offer sheets and saved some money in the process.
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With the recent news that Evander Kane’s injury will require surgery and likely keep him out for an extended period, there is a wide-open spot in the Oilers’ opening-night lineup. Matt Savoie and Raphael Lavoie could both crack the lineup depending on how they perform during training camp, but Lane Pederson is someone else who could be rewarded for his strong 2023-24 season with the Bakersfield Condors in the American Hockey League (AHL). He doesn’t have much experience in the NHL having only played 71 games, but his AHL success could earn him a fourth-line role with the Oilers to start the season.
In 66 games with the Condors last season, he scored 22 goals and added 30 assists for 52 points which comes out to a 0.84 points-per-game average. Throughout his AHL career, he has played 293 games, scored 106 goals, and added 112 assists for 218 points which comes out to a 0.74 points-per-game average. He is a strong two-way forward who hasn’t earned a full-time opportunity at the NHL level because of his inconsistency, but Kane being out could give Pederson yet another chance to prove he is worthy of being a bottom-six producer.
Pederson Will Have Strong Competition
As mentioned, both Savoie and Lavoie could make a push for a roster spot out of training camp. Savoie was acquired by the Oilers this summer in exchange for Ryan McLeod and Tyler Tullio in a surprise trade with the Buffalo Sabres, and Lavoie was drafted by the Oilers in the second round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft at 38th overall. Last season, Lavoie played seven games…
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