Oilers Make Surprising Call-Ups To Replace Connor McDavid

Finn Marceau

Oct 29, 2024, 21:11

Finn Marceau

Oct 29, 2024, 21:11

Noah Philp and Drake Caggiula are being recalled from Bakersfield.

Terrence Lee-Imagn Images - Oilers Make Surprising Call-Ups To Replace Connor McDavid

Help is on the way.

Left with only 11 forwards on the roster in the wake of Connor McDavid's injury, the Oilers are calling up Noah Philp and Drake Caggiula from Bakersfield, according to Elliotte Friedman.

Philp's call-up is no surprise. The 26-year-old centre impressed many at training camp in his return from hiatus, almost making the team out of camp. He spent the pre-season in competition with Derek Ryan and James Hamblin for the fourth-line centre position, losing out in the end to the veteran Ryan.

The 37-year-old Ryan has had a trying start to the season, carrying an expected goals share of just 37.4% according to MoneyPuck. Considering Ryan's struggles and the generally poor play of the Oilers' fourth line, it wouldn't be surprising at all if Philp were to stay in the NHL for good, especially if he plays as well as he did in the pre-season.

What is slightly surprising is Caggiula's call-up. The 30-year-old winger hasn't played in the NHL since a four-game cup of coffee with Pittsburgh in 2022-23, spending all of last season with Bakersfield. He'll likely only be up until McDavid returns, though he could get an opportunity to replace Mattias Janmark, who's been just as bad as Derek Ryan, on the fourth line. His next game with the Oilers will be his first since 2019.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ke14303je6s[/embed]

At any rate, Caggiula wouldn't have been my first choice. Even if my hope of a Matt Savoie call-up was a pipe dream, it's a bit surprising to see Caggiula get the call over James Hamblin, who's five years younger, the same handedness, and performed admirably in 31 games last season.

This is a situation where the Oilers really miss Raphael Lavoie, whose waiver claim saga ended with him in Henderson, Vegas' AHL affiliate. The Oilers were having trouble scoring goals with McDavid in the lineup, something that neither Philp nor Caggiula will be able to address.

I expect that Noah Philp will draw into the lineup for his first career NHL game on Thursday in Nashville, while Caggiula will serve as the team's thirteenth forward while the Oilers wait for more news on McDavid's injury.

*Update: The Oilers have officially recalled Caggiula and Philp.

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