Edmonton Oilers’ Kailer Yamamoto Inspired By Teammate Derek Ryan – Edmonton | The Canadian News

There has been an early payoff for Kailer Yamamoto of the Edmonton Oilers in training camp.

In four periods of play on Friday and Saturday, Yamamoto scored three times. Two were on Mike Smith while the other was on an empty net.

It’s an encouraging sign for Yamamoto, who focused on improving his shooting over the summer.

“I hope I can do that in the regular season and show it there as well,” Yamamoto said.

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“That was something we talked about at the end of the year. I spoke to him a bit during the summer. He told me his dad built him a shooting ramp in the backyard. He’s been shooting all summer, ”said head coach Dave Tippett.

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“I shot about 150 orange records a day, 150 black records, I did it all summer,” added Yamamoto.

Oilers center Derek Ryan, like Yamamoto, is from Spokane. The two trained together.

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“He told me he wanted to work on his shooting early in the summer, even before he signed in Edmonton. I was working on quick release and precision. I think that has been evident so far in training camp, ”Ryan said.

Yamamoto, 22, mentions Ryan, 34, as a major influence on his career.

“He is very similar to my second father. I exercise with him. I skate with him. I really admire him, ”Yamamoto explained.

The two members of the Oilers Spokane Connection went very different paths toward the NHL. Yamamoto was selected in the first round in 2017. Ryan played for the Alberta Golden Bears after his WHL career ended. He then spent four seasons in Europe and one in the AHL before becoming a regular for the Carolina Hurricanes in 2016.

“His path to the NHL is incredible,” Yamamoto said. “It just shows that if you work hard, anything is possible. I think that’s probably the biggest advice he’s ever given me. “

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“It’s really tough being one of the top six in the NHL. There are many types who have the ability to be there, but there are a limited number of places. I feel like guys are struggling to find a role in the bottom six, ”Ryan said. “I feel like I’ve done a good job adapting my game, coming from Europe, where I was in the top six. Now in the NHL, where I am a player in the last six, I have found a way to be effective in the fighting and the responsibility of the defensive zone and contribute to the offense. “

“He’s a really smart player,” Tippett said of Ryan. “He understands the game very well, he understands the dynamics of the team. You understand your role on the team, which you can to make sure you are contributing to the team. You just see their intelligence in the game. “

The Oilers play their first preseason game Sunday night in Calgary. Enjoy the action at 630 CHED with the head-to-head show at 5:30 PM. The game starts at 7 p.m. M.

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