Kris Knoblauch praises young Oilers prospect

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Finnegan Frost
September 27, 2024 (9:52)

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Is we reach the midway point of the NHL preseason, the Edmonton Oilers have been struggling to say the least.

Currently sitting at a dissapointing 1-3 record, the Oilers have let in 6 goals in three consecutive games. Yes, it's the preseason and none of this will matter in a few weeks, but Oilers enthusiasts were hoping for a better start.

Despite the slow start for the team, there have been some notable standouts. One of the best performers so far is Sam O'Reilly, who was selected 32nd overall in the 2024 NHL entry level draft in Las Vegas. During a recent interview, Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch had some high praise for the young prospect.

"We wanted to see what he could do playing with two regular NHL players," Knoblauch stated. "I thought he did a heck of a job. We rotated lines a bit in the third period, but it was a good test for him."

"He's an extremely smart player," Knoblauch continued, "he's young. He's only going to get stronger and faster"

"There's so much to like with O'Reilly right now. He's just going to continue to get better and impress us in the future."

According to the hockey news, It was clear that the Oilers saw something in O'Reilly when they traded into the first round to select him in this year's entry draft. He will probably not make the Oilers this season, and that's good. He is a player who could work his way into the lineup as an NHL regular in a year to two years' time.

The Edmonton Oilers will be looking for a major bounce back as they take on the Seattle Kraken for a thrilling preseason showdown tomorrow at Rogers Place.