Edmonton Oilers Make Two Urgent Call-Ups To Deal With Connor McDavid's Absence
It's becoming more and more clear that the Oilers are going to be without Connor McDavid for a few games, so the team has made two urgent call-ups.
The Edmonton Oilers have made roster moves following the injury of star player Connor McDavid, recalling two players from their AHL affiliate. With McDavid heading back to Edmonton for further evaluation, the Oilers needed some extra bodies to make sure they could send out a full complement of forwards into their Thursday night game against the Nashville Predators.
With that potentially a reality, the Oilers have called up both Noah Philp and veteran Drake Caggiula. Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman first reported the roster move. This is done to add depth to the lineup in McDavid's absence and give the Oilers more wiggle room in their matchup against the Predators.
The 26-year-old talent of Philp has looked great lately and was very close to joining the main roster in the opening phases of the season. After having taken the season off last year for personal reasons, Philp came back to play with a lot of dynamism, looking great through preseason games. His development has gone under the radar, and he has a good shot of making his NHL debut in Nashville and showing what he is capable of at the top of the level.
But the call-up of Caggiula, however, was a bit out of left field. The 30-year-old veteran forward has been in great form in the AHL with the Bakersfield Condors, having already collected two goals and five points in five games. Though he last played in the league during the 2022-23 season, his recent form and stellar preseason led to him receiving the call-up. Caggiula broke into the NHL with the Oilers in 2016 and has since suited up for several other teams before re-joining Edmonton's organization last year.
It remains to be seen how head coach Kris Knoblauch will fit Noah Philp and Drake Caggiula into the mix, but one can assume that he might experiment with combinations up until Thursday's game. This lineup shakeup is huge for team momentum with Connor McDavid out, and the upcoming game will give fans a first glance at the adjustments. These players will need to step up to the plate and help temper the loss of their captain by keeping the team competitive in his absence.
