With two goals in the Edmonton Oilers 6-2 win over the Winnipeg Jets Saturday, Brad Malone made himself one of the best players on the ice. And that has been the routine for him throughout camp: to stand out.
The 28-year-old signed with Edmonton early on in the offseason and is still in the running to earn a spot with the Oilers. He played in 52 games with the AHL’s Hershey Bears last season, scoring seven goals and 20 points.
Edmonton Oilers
Then, in the trade that brought Kevin Shattenkirk to Washington, Malone was sent to the St. Louis Blues, where he’d rack up four goals and eight points in 19 games with their minor league affiliate Chicago Wolves.
Malone has not seen NHL action since playing 57 games with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2015-16, where he registered two goals, six points and 124 hits. Despite serving as a physical presence, he couldn’t produce much or contribute a lot of offence, which led Carolina to waive him in February 2016.
He has two goals through four preseason games so far, but has also registered eight PIM and six shots on goal.
Coming into Oilers’ camp, he was expected to be a player to add more depth ot the Bakersfield Condors. And though Edmonton is not in need of centre depth, he is a dark horse for a roster spot.
A strong two-way player, the 6-foot-1, 213-pound winger brings a lot of size and physicality ot the lineup. He is a good bottom-six player who knows his role and can make himself versatile, as he can play the centre or the wing.
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Overall, while the Oilers have enough stability on the forward lines to last this season, Malone could benefit from being on the roster to start the year. He looks good so far, and if he continues to put in effort, he could even enter the main lineup this year.