Something's Gotta Give

On the Edmonton Oilers site there's
an interesting set of quotes in regard to Marty Reasoner.

Craig MacTavish says "I want Reasoner back for sure" and Kevin Lowe says "we have a lot of bodies right now so we have to see what unfolds."

This is such an interesting situation. We know that the head coach has major input into roster makeup and we also know that Marty Reasoner isn't going to break the bank.

So who are these "bodies" Kevin Lowe talks about? Also, what would Reasoner's job descripton be if he were signed? Which players do we think could be gone in a MacT lineup that includes Marty?

In looking at the Oilers forward depth chart, we can list 9 of them without much argument:

1. Hemsky
2. Horcoff
3. Penner
4. Gagner
5. Cogliano
6. Nilsson
7. Pisani
8. Stoll
9. Brodziak
10. Glencross (UFA)
11. Torres
12. Moreau
13. Stortini
14. Pouliot
15. Schremp
16. Jacques

• What would Reasoner's job description be if he returned? I bet it would be the same as last season in terms of minutes. Reasoner spent 11EV minutes and 3PK minutes on the ice per game, and just 30 seconds on the PP. Gabriel Desjardins stats tell us that Marty played with low linemates and against the second toughest available opposition. Horcoff's health and an improved Jarret Stoll might mean he'd be superfluous but that's a bit of a gamble, as is counting on Kyle Brodziak this early in his career to do too much heavy lifting. They could use him as LW insurance behind Moreau and Raffi.
• Who are these "bodies" Kevin Lowe talks about? Glencross for sure, possibly Raffi Torres and maybe Marc Pouliot. Should Glencross sign he'd be a factor. Schremp and Jacques are non-factors in this conversation, as the jobs they'll be applying for in the fall are the fringe spots.
• Which players do we think could be gone in a MacT lineup that includes Marty? Two of Pouliot, Schremp and Jacques. I'd bet that Reasoner plays both center and left wing for this coach in 08-09. With Horcoff, Stoll, Cogliano and Brodziak a solid top 4 on the current roster, Marty would be the 5th man who could come in when someone was injured and slumping. That leaves Pouliot on the outside looking in. On Left Wing, with Penner, Nilsson, Torres and Moreau as the depth chart, Reasoner could also serve as the extra man there. This would effectively cut off Jacques as the 14th man on the roster and the final 14 might look like this: Horcoff, Penner, Hemsky, Cogliano, Nilsson, Gagner, Stoll, Moreau, Pisani, Brodziak, Torres, Stortini, Reasoner and then one of the players listed above (Schremp, Pouliot, Jacques). Schremp can be sent back to the AHL without passing through waivers and the French kids need to make the big club.

In the words of the great Johnny Mercer, Something's Gotta Give.