Oilers Admit They Don’t Have a Plan for Discouraged Winger

Mark Spector’s piece on David Tomasek pulls back the curtain on something the Edmonton Oilers probably don’t love admitting publicly: they don’t really know what they’re doing with him. Quoting words from both the forward and the general manager, Spector shines a light on the fact that thing have not gone according to the original plan for Tomasek.

Two lines jump off the page — and neither inspires confidence.

First: “Bowman doesn’t feel great about this.”
Second: “We don’t have a game plan.”

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That’s not good news for the forward or the team, at least not if the plan is to find out whether Tomasek can be a regular Oiler moving forward or hack it in the NHL.

Tomasek didn’t come to North America on a whim. He arrived as a proven scorer, fresh off leading the SHL in points as a first-line center, betting on himself at 29 years old to see if his game could translate to the NHL. The Oilers, in turn, signed what Spector aptly described as a thoroughbred — and then promptly hooked him up to a plow.

The problem isn’t that Tomasek hasn’t worked. It’s that he’s been miscast from the jump.

The Oilers Aren’t Using Tomasek, And When They Are, It’s Not A Good Fit

Edmonton currently has a creative, offensive player buried on the fourth line, averaging under 11 minutes a night. He’s often in and out of the lineup, while others with longer NHL résumés remain locked into roles despite struggling. That’s not development or giving the winger — who got a ton of good looks in the first few games — a fair shake. The Oilers are deeper than they figured they’d be and struggled out of the game. Now that the team has found a bit more of a rhythm, Tomasek has become collateral damage.

Credit to Bowman for being honest. Admitting there’s no clear path, no defined role, and no plan beyond “wait and see” suggests Tomasek will likely be traded at some point this season. And, it won’t be for a good return. It will be a $1.2 million cap dump, assuming injuries don’t give Tomasek an unexpected opportunity he can seize in Edmonton.

Tomasek became an afterthought once Jack Roslovic hit the ground running and Zach Hyman returned. Any opportunity he once had vanished.

What makes this situation worse is that everyone seems to know how it usually ends. If he’s moved along as a player who “never quite fit,” that will be disappointing.

As Spector points out, to Tomasek’s credit, he hasn’t complained. He’s realistic, professional, and fully aware he could return to Europe tomorrow if he chose. But that doesn’t mean this season isn’t being wasted. This was supposed to be his NHL shot. The only shot it’s become is one to the gut.

Next: Oilers’ Stars Are Shining: What This Means for Trade Season