Edmonton Oilers: Kailer Yamamoto Finally Re-Signs With The Team
By Phil Gretzky
Colton Sceviour signed to a PTO
Ever the tinker and putter man, Holland recently gave Colton Sceviour a PTO. Sceviour is a fairly vanilla bottom six RWer. He played in Pittsburgh last season and put up 10 points in 46 games. Over a full 82 game season that would be 18 points. Never hurts to have one more in the pile at training camp, especially when there’s no long term commitment to the guy, but I have to wonder why he did it.
After all, Sceviour will be in tough to make the roster. He has to beat out Archibald and Kassian as his main competition, both of whom are entrenched incumbents in the bottom six. Then there’s Cooper Marody – a younger player and much more well known prospect in the organization – plus the guys who can play both wings like Devin Shore, Brendan Perlini, and Warren Foegele.
This guy will be in tough just to get a spot as an extra guy on this roster, never mind as a regular.
Not that a PTO creates any sort of a problem, but I’m curious as to why Holland chose yet another bottom six forward when he could’ve brought in a right d-man which would’ve made more sense.
Seems a bit redundant to me considering how many players will be fighting for spots.
Sceviour is also 32 years old which is usually when most bottom six forwards at least start to decline. They usually play a tougher game which leads to more wear and tear on their bodies, so they’re usually out of it faster than the guys at most other positions.
Oh well, still time to bring in that right d if he wants to.
Good luck, Sceviour. You’re going to need it.
Speaking of PTOs, ex-Oiler James Neal just signed one with the St. Louis Blues. I wish we could’ve found a way to keep him on the team for at least one more season, but it wasn’t meant to be. The Oilers came up in a cap crunch too quickly, and needed cap relief so badly they couldn’t wait another season. IMO he can still contribute to a team in a bottom six role as a PP specialist who plays on the fourth line at even strength. I wish Neal luck in getting a contract, except of course when he plays the Oilers.