The Edmonton Oilers have recalled forward Noah Philp from the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors, in what Oilers color analyst and Oilers Now host Bob Stauffer calls a potential “test drive” ahead of this season’s NHL trade deadline. The idea is to see if he can fill in as the team’s fourth-line center, thus negating the need to add that piece before the playoffs.
Philp, a 26-year-old from Canmore, Alberta, has had a solid season in the AHL. To date he’s registered nine goals and eight assists in 28 games. He got a cup of coffee in the NHL earlier this season, playing in three games. He posted a single assist.
Known for his versatility, Philp has played as a second-line center, contributed on the second power-play unit, and logged significant penalty-kill minutes with the Condors. Perhaps most impressive about him this season is that he’s performing well after taking a year off altogether.
Oilers To Give Philp an Extended Look?
Stauffer believes Philp could be given a longer look than a typical AHL call-up. That will obviously depend on his performance, but if he’s relatively gaffe-free, he could keep getting games. With the trade deadline looming, the Oilers must decide how to address their depth issues. If they can do so internally, it offers them more flexibility in other areas.
This is the time of the season when teams will test their AHL players to fill gaps or evaluate talent. Can Philp fill a need on this roster and have an impact on a club that is looking to contend for the Stanley Cup? Time will tell.
The Oilers are going to use several methods to try and round out their roster and upgrade where needed. The team is playing well, but there are holes to fill. If Philp can translate his AHL success to the NHL level, he could provide the organization with a cost-effective solution as a 4C.
And, should he not work out over the next few weeks, the team will know they have to scour the trade market to get a player that can help.
