Oilers Call Up Two Forwards in Aftermath of Connor McDavid injury

PUBLICATION

Liam McCormick
October 29, 2024 (4:22 PM)

SHARE THIS STORY

This afternoon, the Edmonton Oilers announced that the team had called up two forwards after the injury to Connor McDavid.

The team has recalled centreman Noah Philp and winger Drake Caggiula from the AHL's Bakerfield Condors.

Noah Philp was the leading candidate to be called up first after his incredibly impressive training camp and preseason. Philp is now 26 years old, and was an undrafted free agent signing by the Oilers out of the University of Alberta. Philp played a full season in the AHL, but last season stepped away from the game of hockey entirely. Now in his first year out of retirement, Philp came back better than ever before, and deserved to make the NHL roster in preseason.

The Oilers sent Philp down to the AHL to get some extra games played, again due to missing the entirety of last year. Philp's had an impressive start to the season in the AHL, scoring 2 goals and 3 points in 6 games. Philp has an incredible story to him, and it's hard for anyone not to root for a player who has worked so hard to earn this moment.

Drake Caggiula is a much different player. Now 30 years old, Caggiula began his NHL career with the Oilers back in 2016. After playing for 4 different teams in a span of 5 years, Caggiula found himself back in the AHL, and the Oilers were able to bring him back into the system. According to scouting reports from Jason Gregor, Caggiula has been the most consistent AHL forward this year, and has earned this call-up as well.

According to Oilers analyst Bruce Curlock, the call-up of Caggiula could be a wake-up call for the rest of the bottom six forwards. None of them are scoring much goals, so if Caggiula is able to impress with his speed in the bottom six and comes at a cheaper salary - the Oilers may be forced to make some interesting decisions.

It's a brutal circumstances to see these two come up to the NHL because of an injury to McDavid, but there's definitely some reasons to believe in the Oilers depth players being able to keep them in the playoff race until McDavid returns.