A recent article published by Allan Mitchell of the Athletic has brought to light that Oilers defensive prospect Phil Kemp may no longer be with the organization in 2025.
Mitchell feels that Kemp's days are numbered and would benefit to move on.
It's time for Phil Kemp to go.
With the Edmonton Oilers searching the league for defensive help, Kemp has been with the organization since 2017 and has only made one appearance in the NHL when they played against the Montreal Canadiens in 2024.
There has been no indication that he has shown any signs of standing out and trying to crack the lineup.
Many throughout the NHL feel that Kemp he's not good enough to make the NHL and will remain in the American Hockey League.
He was drafted by the Oilers in 2017 in the seventh round. He has seen his share of coaches and general managers as the Oilers have gone through five coaches which include Todd McClellan, Ken Hitchcock, Dave Tippett, Jay Woodcroft and now Kris Knoblauch.
With all those coaches, making a great impression would go a long way to helping secure a roster spot but that simply hasn't happened.
In contrast, his Bakersfield career has been quite consistent as he has helped the team qualify for the playoffs Four Seasons in a row and has produced 51 points with 156 penalty minutes and is a + 35 through 227 regular season games.
It's safe to say there's a strong chance that the Oilers will move off from him after this season as he will become an unrestricted free agent and being a right-handed shot and a very low cap yet, it's likely another NHL organization will have a look and either sign him to a contract or a PTO.
With new prospects coming into the fold through the draft or even trade, it's likely he will be pushed out of the organization.
