At the end of the first period of Wednesday’s road game against the Seattle Kraken, Edmonton Oilers right winger Viktor Arvidsson blocked a shot on the penalty kill. Fans had to wait for the entire intermission to confirm his presence on the bench and his participation in the rest of the game.
That kind of event is repeated hundreds of times during an NHL season. Management, including the coaching staff, must have a contingency plan for all possible events.
There are some players who are irreplaceable. Oilers captain Connor McDavid is unequalled in the game; Leon Draisaitl has few contemporaries capable of playing at his level.
The mere mortals on an NHL roster have an understudy in the organization, and the preseason identifies these men and the order of recall in case of injury, trade or a rough series of performances.
Here’s a look at the “next man up” for Edmonton, by position and playing style.
First recall centre: Noah Philp
The Oilers are running McDavid, Draisaitl and Adam Henrique on the top three lines, with the coaching staff auditioning several pivots for the fourth-line role.
Through the preseason leading up to the finale on Friday night versus the Vancouver Canucks, Noah Philp is clearly the first recall for the team.
In fact, his presence has had so much value, the club may make room for him on opening night. That could force a waiver move and possible loss of another young player (Raphael Lavoie), but Philp is full measure for the opportunity.
If Philp wins the job outright or is recalled, it would push Derek Ryan to the wing or the press box.
Philp’s range of skills include superior speed, size, impressive faceoff work (he’s at 63 percent in the dot at five-on-five this fall) and the ability to play at even strenth and the penalty kill.
Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch could run Philp and Ryan together on the fourth line, an NHL team can never have too many right-hand centres available.
Philp missed a year of hockey, he isn’t supposed to be in this position. Doesn’t matter. Of all the outsiders who were pushing for NHL spots in Edmonton this training camp, Philp has looked most like an insider from day one.
A quick note on the Oilers procurement of Philp. If he wins a roster spot over Lavoie, that’s an undrafted free agent from Canadian university hockey outduelling second-round draft pick (Lavoie) for NHL work. The person who flagged Philp for signing should get full credit for it, but NHL teams rarely make those names public.
First recall winger: Raphael Lavoie
There’s a bit of an either-or feel to Lavoie versus Philp, as it will be difficult to get both men on the roster.
Management’s signing of Corey Perry to an extension meant the die was cast, especially with the organization apparently determined to house injured winger Evander Kane on the active roster. Avoiding LTIR in the Kane case leaves the Oilers in an advantageous position in accruing cap dollars for the deadline, but Lavoie on waivers may mean a specific asset cost if he’s lost to another NHL team.
As for Lavoie the player, he’s done everything possible to earn an NHL job (including two goals in preseason) and there’s a bit of now-or-never to his situation. He’s a bona fide 25-goal scorer in the AHL, but there is no skill winger job open to him and he’s unlikely to deliver more value than Philp as a depth forward.
His injury during preseason further clouded his situation. The one true thing is Lavoie is the obvious first recall option on the wing. That only works if he’s still in the organization, and waivers are necessary to get him to Bakersfield.
First recall defenceman: Travis Dermott or Ben Gleason
The Oilers look set on defence, with the top pairing of Mattias Ekholm and Evan Bouchard leading the way. The two men averaged over 21 minutes per game last year, and that total could increase in 2024-25.
Darnell Nurse is finally healthy and played in the Seattle game, and he too could exceed 21 minutes per game this coming season.
After that, names like Ty Emberson, Brett Kulak, Josh Brown and Troy Stecher should land on the NHL depth chart in support roles.
The Oilers’ final depth charts (left and right) at the positions are not yet known. Auditions continue, and in the case of PTO signing Travis Dermott, an NHL contract for the 2024-25 season would be required.
Dermott has impressed during his time with the team and could land an NHL deal at any moment. If he does, that could send Stecher through waivers and to the minors.
If not, Ben Gleason may be the Oilers’ first defensive recall option. For the second year in a row, Gleason showed well during the preseason schedule and should be in line for NHL work this winter.
Gleason’s numbers closely resemble Dermott’s. Here’s a look at all prominent defensive hopefuls (looking for the No. 7 job on defence) who spent time in Oilers camp this year.
All numbers five-on-five via Natural Stat Trick
Based purely on minutes played, both Dermott and Gleason saw extended work compared to other hopefuls. Both men can play left and right side, that wrinkle may have aided ice time for the two men.
Brown played a lot, possibly due to struggles during the early portion of the preseason. His job has been deemed secure throughout training camp due to his unique skills (he’s the most physical right-handed defender on the team and a close style comparable for Vincent Desharnais, who is no longer in the organization) but he has been slow to come around in this camp.
With just a few days to go, the likely scenario has all projected blue making the team.
Gleason would be the first recall unless Dermott is signed to a contract. Both men have comparable skills, with Dermott possibly having an edge since he played with coach Kris Knoblauch (and McDavid) with the OHL Erie Otters.
First recall goaltender: Uncertain
The answer to this question was Olivier Rodrigue until Thursday night’s game against Seattle. Rodrigue, who has finished top 10 in AHL goalie save percentage for two years running, picked an inopportune time to have a poor game.
Previous to that outing, Rodrigue had struggled but he wasn’t alone. Looking at the Oilers’ save percentages during the preseason, none of Edmonton’s stoppers has managed anything close to stopping 90 percent of the pucks sent their way.
Those wobbly numbers won’t impact starter Stuart Skinner or backup Calvin Pickard, whose jobs are written in stone.
Rodrigue’s resume (two strong AHL seasons in a row) allowed some room for him as an option for third goalie in the organization (and first recall option).
His struggles against the Kraken allow Collin Delia into the conversation and may force general manager Stan Bowman to contemplate outside options for the Bakersfield Condors (and the NHL club’s first goalie recall).
Bottom line
For a team that doesn’t have any of its own first-round picks pushing up from the pro hockey side, the Oilers have a nice group of recall options.
Credit the scout who pushed for Philp; that may turn out to be a major win. Right-handed centres who can PK and win faceoffs, have size and good speed have great value to NHL teams, and Philp appears to be NHL-ready in an area of need right on time for the Oilers.
The defensive depth chart is flush with candidates of similar quality, and if Emberson can deliver as Nurse’s partner things are looking up. Dermott’s presence means he’s first recall if he signs, with Gleason lurking if the organization passes on adding another contract.
Lavoie and Rodrigue are in less attractive situations. Lavoie looks NHL-ready, but his ideal job is on the second line as a winger and the signing of Arvidsson blocks him for this year and beyond.
Rodrigue’s poor outing against Seattle is probably an inconvenient blip on the map. He has a good chance of seeing NHL time this season if he can play well in backstopping the Condors again in 2024-25.
Trades, especially moving Lavoie for a defenceman or goalie, and waivers remain possibilities.
(Photo of Noah Philp: Terrence Lee / Imagn Images)
