One Edmonton Oilers prospect has an outside chance of making the NHL team after missing all of last season.
One Edmonton Oilers prospect has an outside chance of making the NHL team after missing all of last season.
EDMONTON -- Noah Philp is not a known commodity around prospect circles.
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The Edmonton Oilers prospect isn't a blue chip prospect like Shane Wright, David Jiricek or Jesper Wallstedt. He's an undrafted prospect who worked his way up to the AHL.
On April 7th 2022, he signed his first Entry Level Contract (ELC) with the Oilers organization. Before then he had spent a various amount of time between the AJHL, WHL, AHL and USports.
Philp spent his 2022-23 season with the Oilers AHL affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors. During that year he played 70 games, scored 19 goals and collected another 18 assists. He earned 32 of those points in the final 42 games of the season.
Philp signed a new contract on July 1st, 2024. It is a one-year deal worth $775,000.
Colin Chaulk made an appearance on Oilers Now to discuss several Oilers prospects. He was asked a pointed question on if Philp could have played in the NHL last season. He had a very direct response, "I think he could have played some games this year."
Chaulk discussed the improvement in Philp's game from the first half of the season to the back half, "it was a bit of a process for him...but once he started to get it, he was unbelievable for us in the second half. I think he had 19 goals too. He also was mean, he was tough."
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Philp took a step back from hockey last season. According to Chaulk it was for "personal reasons." But he is excited to see what this year holds for the 25-year-old centerman.
It's not unreasonable to think that Philp could find his way onto the Oilers roster this year. With their cap crunch they need effective players on inexpensive deals. If Philp can work his way up, he could slot in easily as a fourth-line center. At 6-foot-3 and 198 lbs, he certainly has the size to be a great contributor in that role.
Oilers fans will need to wait to see if he can make the jump.
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