The Edmonton Oilers face a pleasant but difficult roster decision as rookie Connor Clattenburg's explosive physical play makes him increasingly difficult to remove from the lineup.
Rookie Makes Immediate Impact
At just 20 years old, Clattenburg is delivering exactly what Oilers management hoped to see from veteran forward Trent Frederic this season. Through his first three games, the young forward has registered 14 hits, translating to an impressive 33.1 hits per 60 minutes of ice time. This places him at the top of the entire NHL among players who have appeared in at least three games.
Beyond his hitting, Clattenburg has engaged in fights, agitated opponents during post-whistle scrums, and even contributed offensively with a goal. His scoring output already brings him within one goal of matching Frederic's total for the entire season to date.
Veteran Struggles Create Opportunity
While Frederic continues to deliver physically with a respectable number of hits, his overall performance has declined significantly. His point production has evaporated, he's failing to help generate high-quality scoring chances, and defensively he's been the least effective two-way forward on the Oilers at even strength.
Statistical analysis shows Frederic is making the highest rate of mistakes on Grade A shots against among any regular winger on the team. This defensive liability has already resulted in his demotion to the fourth line during Edmonton's recent game against Seattle.
Roster Crunch Looming
The situation presents a challenging dilemma for head coach Kris Knoblauch, particularly when injured players return to health. When center Noah Philp, Jack Roslovic, and the aggressive Kasperi Kapanen are medically cleared to play, two current forwards will need to exit the lineup.
Based on current performance trends, the players most likely to be removed on merit would be Frederic and Curtis Lazar, with Kapanen and Roslovic taking their spots. However, sitting Frederic represents a bold move for the organization, given his recent eight-year contract extension.
Oilers fans have embraced Clattenburg's energetic style so enthusiastically that any decision to send him to the minors or even scratch him in favor of Frederic would likely trigger significant backlash from the fanbase.
As the Oilers battle for playoff positioning, the team cannot afford to carry passengers among their forward group. Clattenburg has proven he's anything but passive - he's the engine room worker shoveling coal into the furnace. Without several forwards embracing this gritty role, Edmonton's playoff aspirations could quickly derail.
