The Edmonton Oilers have recalled 26-year-old forward Noah Philip from the Bakersfield Condors (AHL) this evening., which many believe is long overdue. Phillip has already played in three NHL games with the Oilers this season, where he recorded one assist and a +1 plus/minus rating. In 28 games with Bakersfield this season, he scored nine goals and eight assists, contributing to a +2 plus/minus.
With the Condors, Phillip has mostly played as the second-line center and has also been a key part of the second unit for both the power play and the penalty kill. If he performs well during his upcoming test starting tomorrow in Minnesota, there’s a chance he may see time on the Oilers’ second penalty-kill unit in the future.
This call-up raises questions about the future of Jeff Skinner and Derek Ryan with the Oilers. Skinner has been a healthy scratch for the past two games, and while I wish he would get more of a chance, it seems he’s currently in the doghouse. I anticipate Skinner will be slotted back into the lineup for the upcoming games against Minnesota and Colorado, likely on the fourth line with Phillip at center is my guess. This move could also result in defenseman Josh Brown being sent back down to Bakersfield.
I think this move may lead to Derek Ryan heading to Bakersfield as well. However, it could also be a precautionary move due to an illness/injury to an Oiler before their road matchup against the Wild. Regardless of the reason, giving a skilled forward like Phillip a chance is a great decision in my opinion. Also, I hope that young AHL All-Star Matthew Savoie also gets an opportunity down the stretch this year, as he is having a standout AHL season so far, scoring 26 points through 31 games.
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