Haas could fill third-line centre hole for Oilers

Of course, Gaetan Haas says he has been called a “Swiss army knife” player.

A veteran of almost 400 games in the National League in Switzerland, first in Biel, then Bern, he’s a right-shot centre with a deceptive wrist shot, with many of his goals coming off the left side if you watch his video highlights. But he can also check and he’s worked hard on his faceoffs, taking some feedback from countryman Nico Hischier on the importance of strength on draws in the NHL.

Going into camp, Haas is the Edmonton Oilers’ 3C.

He’s an NHL rookie at 27, but on a team heavy with left-shot centres — Connor Mcdavid, Ryan Nugent-hopkins, Leon Draisaitl (if he plays in the middle, not left side with the captain), and Colby Cave — Haas has a good chance to fill a large hole. Right now, pointa-game farmhand Cooper Marody and 35-year-old Kyle Brodziak, coming off a rough season compounded by back issues, are the only true right-shot centres with Sam Gagner more a right winger than a centre at this point.

Haas had interest from Calgary, Montreal and Chicago the last two years, but the undrafted centre chose the Oilers on a one-year, two-way contract. If he doesn’t make the Oilers out of camp, he’ll go to Bakersfield only briefly to learn the NHL game because he has an agreement to return home rather than the AHL for months not weeks. The Oilers signed the six-foot, 180-pound centre to be an NHLER, not a farmhand.

“I had an opportunity to come to the league last year but had a contract with my team (Bern) back home so couldn’t come over but my agent worked with my team there to get an out clause … and now I’m here,” he said. “There were a couple of other teams interested with Edmonton the last to come to me because they changed almost all of their organization. When I got on the phone with (GM) Ken Holland I got a good feeling and I talked to Dave Tippett, too. I got the feeling, they knew how I played. This was the best chance for me.”

Haas had 15 goals and 38 points in 50 games for Bern last season as a Swiss League all-star, with former Oiler winger Mark Arcobello getting 53 points. He was on the power play and snapped several wrist shots for goals. He’s got obvious ability with the puck, but heard he had to get better on draws.

“To be honest I wasn’t that good at it five or six years ago, but I worked at it and this summer I talked to a few NHL players like Nico Hischier (of the New Jersey Devils) and he gave me a couple of tips. I think I’m ready,” he said.