On Monday night, the Edmonton Oilers fell 6-1 to the Columbus Blue Jackets, but that was the least of their worries, as captain Connor McDavid unfortunately departed the game due to an injury early in the first period. At this point in time, there's been no official update on the situation by the Oilers organization, with the latest official update being from Head Coach Kris Knoblauch, who revealed that McDavid will head back to Edmonton to get care and get his injury figured out.
Now, Elliotte Friedman has revealed the roster moves that the Oilers have made in the wake of the injury, with the team turning to both Noah Philp and Drake Caggiula to potentially fill the void of their captain's absence.
Caggiula has been a long-time pro in North America, last playing in the NHL in 2023 with the Pittsburgh Penguins after making his NHL debut with the Oilers all the way back in 2016. In that time, he has played in 282 NHL games while tallying 46 goals and 91 points, and at 30-years of age, the veteran could potentially slide onto the Oilers fourth line.
If the team want to go for youth and upside however, they'll look to 26-year old Noah Philp, who is yet to make his NHL debut, but almost made the team out of training camp this season. In six games with the AHL's Bakersfield Condors this year, Philp has put up a solid 2 goals and three points, and with good size and versatility, he could slot anywhere into the Oilers lineup with the exception of the first line.
Sure, neither of these players can replace McDavid, and until the captain is back, the team may ultimately struggle, but if he is out for a lengthy period of time, the team will be hoping that one of these players can step up and make an impact.
POLL | ||
OCTOBRE 29 | 94 ANSWERS Edmonton Oilers forced to make multiple roster moves following concerning injury to Connor McDavid Which of these players will get the first chance in the Edmonton Oilers lineup in place of Connor McDavid? | ||
Noah Philp | 41 | 43.6 % |
Drake Caggiula | 53 | 56.4 % |
LIST OF POLLS |