First-round pick Schaefer makes big first impression with Oilers

Reid Schaefer was a first-round draft pick of the Edmonton Oilers. He played in a pre-season road game in Seattle. Head coach Jay Woodcroft thinks he will be a good player for the team one day. Schaafer wants to follow in the footsteps of fellow Edmontonians Stuart Skinner and Brett Kulak and become an integral part of their team. He hopes to win a WHL championship with the Seattle Thunderbirds this year. The whole experience has been invaluable for him. It's been awesome to see what the guys are like and be around them. They are faster and stronger than the players he played with.

Schaefer was one of six players who dressed in both of Edmonton's back-to-back games Sunday and Monday. Tyler Benson, Markus Niemelainen, Jake Virtanen and James Hamblin also played. Woodcroft wants to see how they would respond to the double duty.

The Oilers played eight pre-season games this year. Tyson Barrie thinks three or four is enough.  “If you get three games in and you're feeling good you just want to stay healthy for the real stuff.”