While the Edmonton Oilers lack that "sexy" rookie phenom that they are accustomed to having year in and year out, there is no shortage of young talent on the current roster. There is no Connor McDavid, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, or Taylor Hall caliber of rookie on this team, yet they still boast a surprising amount of NHL newcomers that are making an impact from game to game. They aren't getting the first line minutes, and they aren't lighting the league on fire, but their contributions are not going without notice, and so I present to you the members of the 2016/17 Impactful Newcomers!
Tyler Pitlick:
At 25 years of age, it may be a stretch to call Pitlick apart of the youth presented in this article. Hell, he's older than all of Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, RNH, and even Darnell Nurse! Even with this being the case, he is young in terms of his NHL experience. Having only played in 50 games with the Edmonton Oilers over the course of the past 4 years, Tyler Pitlick has suffered a variety of different injuries that prevented him to stick with the team for a long period of time. This doesn't seem to be the case anymore, as he is currently finding himself to be an NHL regular with the Oilers. The one thing that is most noticeable in Pitlick's game is his tendency to play the body. The guy is an absolute banger on the ice, finishing his checks and driving the play at times. He has a nose for the net and has proven to be an effective goalscorer. He is the leader of this new crop of Oilers this season, showing the other newcomers what it takes to stick in the show. Playing in 24 games with the team thus far, he has more than tripled his career high in points with 6 goals and 1 assist. Sure, it's not an earth-shattering number, but I think it is safe to say that Tyler Pitlick's career is trending in the right direction for the moment.
Drake Caggiula:
The Edmonton Oilers were the lucky winners of the Drake Caggiula sweepstakes this past summer, and it was with good reason that the team pursued the 5'10" 185lb centerman from Pickering, Ontario. Caggiula was one of this summer's most sought after free agents, leading the University of North Dakota to a national championship, scoring 5pts in their final two games, and capturing MVP honours. Caggiula's strongest asset is his compete level on the ice. He does not allow his short stature get in the way, playing a gritty yet skilled game. He was initially expected to start his professional career in the AHL with Bakersfield but an impressive preseason showing allowed him to make the Oiler's roster. He has only played 8 games thus far, due to an injury sustained late in preseason, in which he has recorded a goal and 2 assists. He is a natural center that has been playing wing on the third line, but the coaching staff has started to give him looks in that 3rd C position, now that Draisaitl has been moved to the wing on McDavid's line. He has not looked out-of-place in this league and has shown glimpses of that gritty game, most recently against the Jets where he dumped Marko Dano after a high hit. Caggiula was hyped for a reason and, once he hits his stride, we may soon find out why.
Anton Slepyshev:
Drafted in the third round by the Oilers in the 2013 draft, Anton Slepyshev has been an interesting player to follow throughout his professional career. Not much was known about Slepyshev until we saw him make the Oiler's opening night roster out of training camp in the 2015/16 season. The Russian born winger has seen his fair amount of trials and tribulations in the North American game, having only played in 11 NHL games in his rookie season before being sent down to Bakersfield, but that did not stop him from once again making the team this season. He still struggles to find a consistent spot in the lineup, having been scratched more than a couple of times, but what cannot be denied about Slepyshev is what he has the potential to bring. When he is on his game he can bring a speedy and dynamic game to the opponents but when he is off, he is off. He must develop a consistent level of intensity in his game so that he string together some dominant performances. Slepyshev might not be the star player that we would all like him to be but, if continues to improve upon some areas, he could a staple in the bottom 6 for years to come.
Matthew Benning:
Similar to how the Oilers acquired Drake Caggiula, Matthew Benning was also signed out of the NCAA from NorthEastern University. Born and raised out of St. Albert, Benning opted to join the team that he grew up cheering for, but that is only the beginning of why Benning was signed. Originally drafted by Peter Chiarelli when he was GM of the Bruins in 2012, Benning opted not to sign with Boston. Categorized by most scouts as being a offensive defenceman with a physical edge to his game, the Oilers saw a opportunity to add some much-needed depth to their blueline, and that is exactly what they got. Benning had only played 2 AHL games with Condors before he got the call-up to the big club. Since then, he has become a nightly regular for the team, often playing on the bottom pairing with Darnell Nurse. He has very much been a surprise thus far, providing astute steadiness and maturity in his play, even in spite of his young age. With the Oilers losing Darnell Nurse for the time being, getting some more good play from Benning would go a long way in helping the Oilers pursue some meaningful hockey down the stretch.
The Edmonton Oilers are a team on the rise, and a big part of that is because they are no longer in the position to play newcomers, like Pitlick, Caggiula, Slepyshev, and Benning, more than they need to. Each and every one of these players are being utilized in a limited role to protect their development. The team has lacked this ability in the past decade and only time will tell if this newfound strategy will pay off for the long-term.
Have an opinion on the Pitlick, Caggiula, Slepyshev, or Benning? Be sure to leave me your thoughts in the comments below or tweet me on Twitter @PrestonKixFM!
Thanks For Reading!
Tyler Pitlick:
At 25 years of age, it may be a stretch to call Pitlick apart of the youth presented in this article. Hell, he's older than all of Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, RNH, and even Darnell Nurse! Even with this being the case, he is young in terms of his NHL experience. Having only played in 50 games with the Edmonton Oilers over the course of the past 4 years, Tyler Pitlick has suffered a variety of different injuries that prevented him to stick with the team for a long period of time. This doesn't seem to be the case anymore, as he is currently finding himself to be an NHL regular with the Oilers. The one thing that is most noticeable in Pitlick's game is his tendency to play the body. The guy is an absolute banger on the ice, finishing his checks and driving the play at times. He has a nose for the net and has proven to be an effective goalscorer. He is the leader of this new crop of Oilers this season, showing the other newcomers what it takes to stick in the show. Playing in 24 games with the team thus far, he has more than tripled his career high in points with 6 goals and 1 assist. Sure, it's not an earth-shattering number, but I think it is safe to say that Tyler Pitlick's career is trending in the right direction for the moment.
Drake Caggiula:
The Edmonton Oilers were the lucky winners of the Drake Caggiula sweepstakes this past summer, and it was with good reason that the team pursued the 5'10" 185lb centerman from Pickering, Ontario. Caggiula was one of this summer's most sought after free agents, leading the University of North Dakota to a national championship, scoring 5pts in their final two games, and capturing MVP honours. Caggiula's strongest asset is his compete level on the ice. He does not allow his short stature get in the way, playing a gritty yet skilled game. He was initially expected to start his professional career in the AHL with Bakersfield but an impressive preseason showing allowed him to make the Oiler's roster. He has only played 8 games thus far, due to an injury sustained late in preseason, in which he has recorded a goal and 2 assists. He is a natural center that has been playing wing on the third line, but the coaching staff has started to give him looks in that 3rd C position, now that Draisaitl has been moved to the wing on McDavid's line. He has not looked out-of-place in this league and has shown glimpses of that gritty game, most recently against the Jets where he dumped Marko Dano after a high hit. Caggiula was hyped for a reason and, once he hits his stride, we may soon find out why.
Anton Slepyshev:
Drafted in the third round by the Oilers in the 2013 draft, Anton Slepyshev has been an interesting player to follow throughout his professional career. Not much was known about Slepyshev until we saw him make the Oiler's opening night roster out of training camp in the 2015/16 season. The Russian born winger has seen his fair amount of trials and tribulations in the North American game, having only played in 11 NHL games in his rookie season before being sent down to Bakersfield, but that did not stop him from once again making the team this season. He still struggles to find a consistent spot in the lineup, having been scratched more than a couple of times, but what cannot be denied about Slepyshev is what he has the potential to bring. When he is on his game he can bring a speedy and dynamic game to the opponents but when he is off, he is off. He must develop a consistent level of intensity in his game so that he string together some dominant performances. Slepyshev might not be the star player that we would all like him to be but, if continues to improve upon some areas, he could a staple in the bottom 6 for years to come.
Matthew Benning:
Similar to how the Oilers acquired Drake Caggiula, Matthew Benning was also signed out of the NCAA from NorthEastern University. Born and raised out of St. Albert, Benning opted to join the team that he grew up cheering for, but that is only the beginning of why Benning was signed. Originally drafted by Peter Chiarelli when he was GM of the Bruins in 2012, Benning opted not to sign with Boston. Categorized by most scouts as being a offensive defenceman with a physical edge to his game, the Oilers saw a opportunity to add some much-needed depth to their blueline, and that is exactly what they got. Benning had only played 2 AHL games with Condors before he got the call-up to the big club. Since then, he has become a nightly regular for the team, often playing on the bottom pairing with Darnell Nurse. He has very much been a surprise thus far, providing astute steadiness and maturity in his play, even in spite of his young age. With the Oilers losing Darnell Nurse for the time being, getting some more good play from Benning would go a long way in helping the Oilers pursue some meaningful hockey down the stretch.
The Edmonton Oilers are a team on the rise, and a big part of that is because they are no longer in the position to play newcomers, like Pitlick, Caggiula, Slepyshev, and Benning, more than they need to. Each and every one of these players are being utilized in a limited role to protect their development. The team has lacked this ability in the past decade and only time will tell if this newfound strategy will pay off for the long-term.
Have an opinion on the Pitlick, Caggiula, Slepyshev, or Benning? Be sure to leave me your thoughts in the comments below or tweet me on Twitter @PrestonKixFM!
Thanks For Reading!