You wouldn’t assume that somebody who’s 212 kilos must fear a lot about falling by the cracks.
However with the Edmonton Oilers pressed laborious towards the wage cap and making ready to start out the season with solely 12 forwards, and with their most urgent want being at fourth-line centre, PTO left winger Adam Erne is aware of he’s in robust to be one of many fortunate dozen on opening night time.
Alternatively, a giant ahead with seven years price of NHL expertise and an honest set of expertise to go together with his dimension (he was drafted thirty third general in 2013) may turn out to be useful on a group that wants extra heft in its backside six.
So, whereas the mathematics doesn’t look particularly good for the 28-year-old former member of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Detroit Crimson Wings, head coach Jay Woodcroft warns everybody to by no means say by no means.
“Ken (Holland) and I sat down with Adam and we laid out clearly the chance that’s earlier than him,” Woodcroft mentioned. “We really feel our greatest want is at centre, however Adam is aware of that if he is available in and knocks any person out of the field, we’re going to ice one of the best group we are able to.
“That’s our duty as coaches and managers, to ensure we discover the right combination. His job is to make an impression throughout the video games.”
If the Oilers had been able to hold 14 forwards and a 23-man roster, Erne’s odds would dramatically enhance. However the panorama is what the panorama is. Although he’s the sort of fourth-line participant they’re in search of, no one is making any false guarantees.
“With our scenario with cash, we are able to solely carry 21,” Woodcroft mentioned. “These are the instances we reside in. As a coach, what that does is create a wholesome competitors to be a kind of 21 gamers. I don’t assume something is about in stone, that’s what coaching camp is all about, letting the battles play themselves out.”
Whereas the arithmetic of the scenario generally is a little daunting, Erne says he isn’t mendacity awake at night time attempting to see how he suits into the equation. Years of expertise have taught him the one place to spend your power is enjoying hockey.
“That’s a mistake, overthinking it,” he mentioned. “I’m going to do what I do finest and see the place the playing cards fall. Simply enjoying my recreation acquired me right here and acquired me on their radar, it’s what made them within the first place.
“They see one thing they like so I’m simply going to maintain doing that, working laborious and attempting to implement the methods they’re beginning to change up, which I’m fairly acquainted with as a result of we performed comparable methods in Tampa and Detroit.”
Erne additionally is aware of from his conversations with Woodcroft and Holland that he isn’t right here to simply be a training-camp physique. If he reveals higher everybody else who had an eye fixed on that fourth-line spot, then it’s his.
“I talked to the coaches and Ken about what they’re in search of, what they really feel they had been lacking, and I believed I may fill that gap. I felt like I might be given a good likelihood coming into camp,” Erne mentioned.
He’s beginning chilly. There are different gamers right here who’ve been drafted or are signed to contracts whose beginning blocks are just a few yards forward of his. However he has the sting in the case of having confirmed himself on the NHL degree. That’s one thing that isn’t going unnoticed by the teaching employees.
“The place Adam’s fairness comes is that he’s performed 200-plus video games within the NHL,” Woodcroft mentioned. “He’s a recognized amount. Veteran gamers get somewhat extra rope as a result of they’ve a physique of labor at this degree. He’s at that age the place he’s not attempting to determine who he’s or what he brings to the desk. He is aware of what he brings as a participant. His job is to point out it in exhibition video games.”
Erne, who had eight targets final season in Detroit and had a career-high 11 targets in 45 video games with the Crimson Wings in 2020, has been a part of good groups earlier than — the Lightning membership that went 62-16-4 in 2019 — and needs to get that feeling once more. That’s a giant a part of the rationale Edmonton is so enticing to him.
“I undoubtedly wished to be in a spot the place I had an opportunity to win and be part of a successful group,” he mentioned. “These guys have a very good basis right here, they’re simply lacking a bit or two. It’s a super-skilled group that’s pushed and hard-working. It’s good to see and I’d like to be part of it.”
All he has to do now’s make it occur.
“There are guys who’re below contract who’re much more snug, they know they’ve a spot, they know they’ve a paycheque coming. For me, I’ve a household, children, it’s important to make the group and earn a contract. That is the following huge step for for positive.
“I wanting ahead to exhibiting them what I can carry to the desk. I do know they’ve seen quite a lot of me on tape and video games I’ve performed towards them but it surely’s totally different once they can watch you first hand.”
