EDMONTON - Speed has been his signature, of that there’s been no dispute, but the question now is this: How fast will Magnus Paajarvi adapt to his new role as a two-way forward?

The winger will draw in for the Edmonton Oilers home-opener against the San Jose Shark and will play alongside Eric Belanger and Lennart Petrell.
Ben Eager, injured in a fight with the Vancouver Canucks Zack Kassian, still has swelling in the eye and nose area and he has had concussions issues in the past. He has not been on the ice for the last two days.

“It’s a new role but I’m ready to embrace it. It’s something I can develop and be a whole new player, a better player for this team. We have so much talent up front so if I can help playing a two-way role then I’m more than ready to do that,” Paajarvi said.

Drafted 10th overall by the Oilers in 2009, Paajarvi was one of the Big Three in 2010, a speedy newcomer who was to compliment Jordan Eberle and Taylor Hall. He finished with 34 points in 80 games and has not spent a full season with the team since.

During the lockout, he put up 20 points in 37 games with the Oklahoma City Barons then joined the players called up to Edmonton  when the new collective bargaining agreement was hammered out. He started the shortened season in the press box but has been pegged as a player who could play a role similar to that of Ryan Jones, who is out with an eye injury.

Head coach Ralph Krueger said Paajarvi has worked at becoming more of a depth player and that he will be utilized on the penalty kill. He sees the Swede as a scoring checker who can use his size and speed and maybe step up the lineup, if need be.

“They want me to play a little bit differently this year and I think I’ve adapted,” said Paajarvi. “They want me to play a little bit more (on the penalty kill) and use my speed for that. I just don’t want to lose my offence because I know I have it.

“I can adapt those skills to the new role. That can make me a better player.

“There’s always pressure when you play in the NHL,” he continued. “You have to make plays. You have to give them a reason to (keep you). You can’t just go and think everything will be okay.”

Lights, cameras, action

Paajarvi, for one, has experienced curtain lifters at Rexall Place and said it was much too difficult to sum up the experience.

Justin Schultz, meanwhile, said he has no idea what to expect when he gets on the ice – other than that fact his teammates have told him it will be loud and crazy.

“It’s kind of nice to have (a game) under my belt already. There’s going to be a lot of pressure on everyone for our opener,” Schultz said, who has never played in Rexall or even sat in the stands for a game. He did see a lot of the highlights from the 2006 Stanley Cup run during the presentation Krueger made when the Oilers were courting the free agent defenceman.

“Once I get that first shift under my belt (in the season opener in Vancouver) it was like I was playing another game,” Schultz said. “I’m sure it’s going to be the same tonight. I’ll be pretty nervous that first shift but once I get into the game I’ll be fine.”

Schultz did eventually confess to one star struck moment in the game against the Canucks. It came on a faceoff when he glanced up and saw Henrik Sedin.  Next up will be the likes of Joe Thornton.

“I remember one time I was lined up against Henrik on a faceoff and I was thinking, oh wow, I used to watch this guy on TV all the time,” said Schultz. “That was pretty cool.”

The franchise, meanwhile, has a number of giveaways on tap, including 93 jerseys. Winners can pick any player they choose and will get an autograph jersey once they’ve made their decision.

Schultz said if he had to pick one, he’d pick Paul Coffey. Taylor Hall said he’d take a Wayne Gretzky jersey.

“I don’t have any Gretzky memorabilia and once I do buy a house here I’m sure I’m going to have something on the wall,” said Hall. “There are so many great players who played here in the past and now we have a good group of young guys so it’s going to be hard for fans to choose.”

Managing the manpower

There was an optional morning skate at Rexall for the Oilers – a trend that will become routine in the shortened season.  A handful of players elected not to skate, including Hall.

The players were also told that age had no bearing on whether or not they went out on the ice, or, if they participated in the off-ice routine.

“I just want to make sure I’m as sharp as I can be out there,” said Hall. “I did some stretching and a little bit of a walk on the treadmill to make sure I’m loose but as far as skating, I know I’m going to be doing enough.”

“We’re going to leave it up to the players (and) age shouldn’t play a role. We made that clear,” said Krueger.

ireland@edmontonjournal.com

Twitter.com/jirelandEJ