Janmark was also absent from Saturday’s skate with an undisclosed injury, but like Kane, the Swede was on the ice yesterday for the Oilers’ full-team practice at Rogers Place and is expected to play in Game 1 alongside him on the fourth line. Forward Connor Brown is expected to be the odd-man out along with Derek Ryan and Troy Stecher on Monday.
Coach Knoblauch and his staff will have the full plethora of healthy players to choose from tonight when the 45-year-old bench boss makes his NHL playoff coaching debut, including a handful of options who could slot in and out of the lineup throughout the series depending on matchups and game flow.
“We've got a lot of guys who are playing well,” he added. “We're going to be taking somebody out, which is going to be tough.”
During Saturday’s practice, Kane and Janmark took line rushes with Sam Carrick, signalling that Dylan Holloway looks to have secured his spot in Edmonton’s Game 1 lineup alongside Corey Perry and Ryan McLeod on the third line.
The 22-year-old has the versatility to play both wing and centre and enters the 2024 Playoffs in strong form, scoring in three of his last six games and showcasing his speed and skill as an asset for the Oilers over their run to the Stanley Cup.
Holloway’s speed plays strongly alongside another fast forward in McLeod and a veteran in Perry, who is the only player on the Oilers roster to have lifted the Stanley Cup – a feat he accomplished back in 2007 with the Anaheim Ducks.
“From what I've seen, Dylan has instilled a lot of confidence in myself and the coaching staff and all the players on the team with how well he's played with a simple, direct game and a lot of tenacity and physicality,” Knoblauch said. “He's been able to chip in quite significantly with his role since he's been called up, chipping with goals and assists, but I just think the puck play gives us the most confidence with a young player.
