Oilers Have More Moves To Make At Forward
There is a lot of movement going on around the Edmonton Oilers. Players are coming back from injuries and others are performing in the AHL and needing a callup. The Oilers are a Stanley Cup contender, so it's not all that easy to integrate so many young guys into the lineup like a rebuilding team can, but they got younger in the offseason and are headed more towards a youthful team than the oldest team in the league.
Recently, David Tomasek packed his bags and left North America to return to the SHL. He wasn't getting the opportunity that he thought he would as it evaporated pretty quickly from the start of the season. Noah Philp returned from injury and was placed on waivers after a pretty strong start to the season prior to getting hurt. The Carolina Hurricanes claimed him off waivers. Cal Clattenburg, a physical energy guy in the AHL, was called up while there was a need for what he brought in Edmonton before he got injured. Now that he's healthy and the Oilers lack space in the NHL, he was assigned back to the AHL.
That's not all as Kasperi Kapanen is expected back in about a month, maybe sooner. That will create another roster move and he isn't going to be the one headed to the AHL. Putting his return aside, there are a couple of more pressing concerns in the AHL as Isaac Howard, who started the season with the Oilers and didn't really get a good chance, and Quinn Hutson, who was called up and scored a goal in a brief stint, are both playing excellent for the Bakersfield Condors and warrant a much longer look in a better spot in the lineup.
The Oilers' top-6 is great. Connor McDavid has his two most productive wingers in Zach Hyman and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, while Leon Draisaitl has a combination of Vasily Podkolzin, Matt Savoie, and Jack Roslovic. The one who isn't on the second line shifts to the third. This is where it gets interesting and there is plenty of room for change.
Not many will argue that Howard and Hutson should be playing in the NHL right now. Howard has nine goals and 20 points in 15 games and Hutson has 17 goals and 30 points in 25 games in the AHL. At the very least, they should both be up and alternating in on the third line, given at least 11 minutes of ice time per game. If Trent Frederic can get over 11, Mattias Janmark can get nearly 12, and Adam Henrique can get over 14, then young and dynamic players who are the future of the Oilers can get better looks.
The NHL isn't a development league, and doesn't have to be because both young forwards are more than ready. Andrew Mangiapane was a healthy scratch last game and a trade is coming. He is willing to waive his no-trade clause, which will open up cap space, and thus, the Oilers can fit two new players on the roster. Between Max Jones and Curtis Lazar, one or both will likely eventually find their way back to the AHL. If I were to pick another forward that will be on the move, it's Janmark. He may be able to kill penalties, but so can many others on the team and he's replaceable.
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