Oilers make 2 more cuts to their roster ahead of the preseason.

The Edmonton Oilers have trimmed their roster down to 52 players ahead of their first preseason game of the 2019 - 2020 National Hockey League season, and unfortunately for two young Oilers hopefuls that means the end of the road.

On Sunday the Oilers officially announced that they would be sending back two members of their training camp roster to their respective teams, in this case one forward and one goaltender. The forward is none other than the Oilers 2nd round pick (38th overall) from the 2019 NHL Entry Draft Raphael Lavoie. Lavoie has spent the last 3 seasons of his young career with the Halifax Mooseheads of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and based on the report from the Oilers today it appears he will be returning to the Mooseheads for a fourth straight season following this cut. In his most recent campaign for the Mooseheads he appeared in 62 games, recorded 32 goals while adding 41 assists for an impressive 73 points over the season.

The goalie who was cut today also happens to be a former 2nd round pick (62nd overall) of the Oilers, this one from the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. I of course am referencing 19 year old goaltender Olivier Rodrigue of the Drummondville Voltigeurs, also of the QMJHL. Like the aforementioned Lavoie he has spent the last 3 of his seasons with the same organization and appears to be headed back that way for a 4th season following his cut from camp.

As previously stated this will trim the Oilers current roster down to 52 players, right in time as the preseason got into full swing with the first game of the schedule taking place on Sunday night.