Oilers release eight, two more headed to Barons immediately
BY RYAN ABER
raber@opubco.com
Just as one wave of new players arrives in Barons training camp Monday, another group was sent down from Edmonton right behind them.
The Oilers cut eight players Monday, a day after wrapping up their preseason schedule against Calgary.
Edmonton sent down forwards Liam Reddox, Linux Omark, Ryan O’Marra, Alexandre Giroux, Ben Ondrus and Chris Vande Velde as well as defensemen Shawn Belle and Richard Petiot.
All but Omark and Vande Velde have to clear waivers before being assigned to the Barons.
The Barons also released three players from their tryout assignments–Anthony Aiello, Mike Egener and Vladimir Nikiforov.
Aiello will play for the Oilers’ ECHL team in Stockton, Calif., while the other two have signed with the ECHL’s Florida Everblades.
The 23-year-old Omark wasn’t happy about the assignment to the Barons.
“There is a lot of politics,” Omark told the Edmonton Journal.
When asked if the Edmonton organization was the best place for Omark to be this year, he declined comment.
The Swedish winger scored 36 points (20 goals, 16 assists) in 56 games for Moscow Dynamo in the KHL last season.
“I am very disappointed,” Omark told the paper. “But it’s not up to me. I think I played better and better every day. But that’s just the way it works. I am going to do my best in Oklahoma City and see what happens.”
Omark showed well in Oilers camp but it was crowded for rookie forwards with last year’s No. 1 pick Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle and Magnus Paajarvi all apparently making the squad.
Vande Velde played in two games for the Oilers’ AHL affiliate in Springfield last year after finishing his NCAA career at North Dakota.
Giroux, 28, had his best overall scoring season as a pro last year, with 103 points (50, 53) for the Calder Cup-winning Hershey Bears. He added 27 points (14, 13) in the playoffs.
Giroux has played 31 games in the NHL in parts of four seasons.
O’Marra, the No. 15 overall pick by the Islanders in 2005, played the last two seasons for Springfield and had a solid camp but also lost out in the numbers crunch at the end.
Ondrus is another AHL veteran, serving most recently as the captain for the Toronto Marlies. Ondrus has also played in 52 career NHL games.
The Oilers still have to make two more moves by Wednesday afternoon’s deadline to set their roster before the season begins.
The Barons, though, might be done receiving players from Edmonton.
That hinges on what the Oilers do with disgruntled defenseman Sheldon Souray.
Souray cleared waivers last week but has not been assigned.
Edmonton general manager Steve Tambellini said if Edmonton couldn’t find a way to move Souray, he would send him to the minors.
Souray could be assigned to the Barons, a deal could be worked allowing Souray to play for another AHL team, or the Oilers could work out a deal with a European club to loan Souray. The last option would require Souray’s consent, though.
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Omark is a talented player, who showed signs of that in th pre-season in Edmonton. His attitude needs to improve if he going to be an important part of the Barons team. He needs to work on being the complete player, rather than just a great stick handler and a YouTube sensation.
In regards to Sheldon Souray, I hope he finds AHL Hershey fun to play for, because his poisonous comments last year, didn’t help team cohesiveness at all…