Edmonton Oilers: Anton Slepyshev Rising in Playoffs

Edmonton Oilers forward Anton Slepyshev proved to have more than fourth-line ability in him during Game 6. He found himself all alone against Martin Jones, and made the most of the time with his puck, putting Edmonton up 2-0 on the breakaway.

Though he skates on the fourth line alongside David Desharnais and Benoit Pouliot, Slepyshev is showing flashes of greatness. He is still developing and adjusting to the NHL and is trying to keep his spot on the roster. Thanks to outstanding effort and determination in the playoffs, Slepyshev has stood out, and is having a strong campaign so far.

Edmonton Oilers

The Russian winger’s clutch Game 6 goal may have been his only contribution so far, but he shows drive and a promising future. Slepyshev has great vision, stickhandling ability and overall drive, and it has turned him into a more improved player.

Because of this, he displays tremendous patience with the puck, and often enough, he capitalizes on his chances. Slepyshev has proven that he can maintain puck possession and help move the breakout up the ice, which should greatly benefit the Oilers on the bottom six. Against San Jose, the Oilers appeared to struggle to muster up too much offense. Slepyshev’s presence, however, assures that Edmonton is getting a strong, driven player with each line on the ice.

The 6-foot-2, 187-pound forward also has the perfect NHL frame. He is a big player that the team needs to have on its roster, especially going into this postseason.

One area where Slepyshev could improve is his two-way game. There appears to be room for improvement when it comes to backchecking and playing without the puck. And, while he does offer some physicality (six hits through the first six games), there needs to be more dedication from him.

Overall, Slepyshev brings a lot to the ice, and will surely do more for the team as the stakes get higher against the Ducks.