Head coach Kris Knoblauch was disappointed to cut this prospect

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Finnegan Frost
October 2, 2024 (9:33 PM)

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As the Edmonton Oilers highly anticipated regular season is right around the corner, it's crunch time for head coach Kris Knoblauch.

The Oilers have one preseason game left against the Vancouver Canucks, indicating that the team's roster is almost finalized. With that in mind, it doesn't negate the fact that Kris Knoblauch's job has been extremely difficult during this year's training camp.

According to Liam McCormick of Oilers Daily, Knoblauch pointed to Ben Gleason as a player who had great training camps and are close to being NHL players, but the Oilers do not have a spot for them.

»It's very disappointing. It's difficult giving the news, but you tell them things that they did really well in Camp to get this far. During the season, there are going to be times when there are injuries, or we just don't like how our team's playing, and we need a little something different.»
- Coach Knoblauch

Despite the heartbreak for Knoblauch, the Hockey Writers indicate that Gleason could be considered for a mid season call up.

Ben Gleason had a solid game for the Oilers against the Canucks and played 21:49. He quarterbacked the power play and scored a goal. He won't make the team to start the season, but Gleason can play both sides and could be an early call-up if things don't go well with the other names mentioned.

As hard as it is to send hard working players home, it's the nature of the business. Ben Gleason will look to be a breakout player for the Condors this season to earn his stripes in hopes of getting another shot with the Oilers.

source: The hockey writers - Oilers Daily
Oilers Coach Knoblauch Disappointed To Make Recent Roster Cuts