A standout prospect at Oilers training camp may be sent to the AHL no matter how well he performs this fall.
26 year old Noah Philp has been one of the best stories at Oilers training camp. After stepping away from hockey entirely last season, Philp showed up at camp in incredible shape with the goal of making the team. Philp impressed everyone with his play in preseason and looks to be a sure fire NHL player, but he may start on the Bakersfield Condors regardless.
According to a new report from Jason Gregor, the Oilers may want Philp to get more game action in the AHL before bringing him up to the NHL full time. Philp himself has admitted he liked taking a hit in the preseason just to get him back in game action. Gregor believes that Philp will be called up before January.
In training camp and preseason, Philp has looked like the ideal player to fulfill the role of a fourth line center. He has been incredible on faceoffs, he's got speed and physicality, and always prioritizes his responsibilities on the defensive side of the puck. The Oilers may want to give 37 year old Derek Ryan a rest some nights and inject some more youth into the lineup, and Philp will be a perfect player for the spot.
Coming out of retirement at such a young age, it's incredibly easy to root for Noah Philp. He explained himself recently his reasoning to step aside from hockey was just a personal feeling, and didn't elaborate much. In 2022-23 though, Philp played 70 games with the Bakersfield Condors and scored 19 goals and 37 points. An Alberta native kid too, Philp could certainly become a fan favourite player.
The Oilers only have four preseason games left now before opening their regular season at home against the Winnipeg Jets. Coach Knoblauch will continue to whittle down the roster, and dial in the lineup for a season where every player will need to contribute towards the ultimate goal of the Stanley Cup.
