Oilers Have Three Prospects Knocking On The Door

The Oilers might be getting some reinforcements in the coming weeks.

Despite the team's 3-0 record since New Year's Eve, head coach Kris Knoblauch has shown his dissatisfaction with the Oilers' forward corps by doing quite a bit of lineup shuffling over the past week.

While his recent changes have worked, it's becoming increasingly clear that the forward group might need a shakeup. A trade is always possible, but for now, it seems like the answer might lie in the AHL.

With that in mind, let's take a look at three of the most interesting forwards down on the farm in Bakersfield.

RW Matthew Savoie

It's safe to say Savoie has put his slow start behind him. The Oilers' top prospect has been on a tear since mid-December, putting up 12 points over his last seven games, including four straight multi-point nights.

He's doubled his season point total during this hot streak, bringing himself up to 24 points in 29 games. With the Oilers still in need of one more scoring threat in their top six, Savoie could present himself as an alternative to bringing someone in through a trade.

If Savoie were to be called up, he would have to fill a scoring role, preferably in the top six. His fast-paced, playmaking game would mesh well with both Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl's lines.

C Noah Philp

Philp seems the most likely candidate to get a call-up in the coming weeks. He nearly made the team out of training camp and made his NHL debut back in October when Connor McDavid was injured.

While Philp doesn't sniff Savoie's point totals with just 16 in 26 games, that's also not really part of his game. Philp is a bottom-six centre through and through, and should be ready to slot onto the fourth line right away.

Philp could also be the Oilers' answer to their troubles on the third line, where Adam Henrique has struggled. That would be a much more difficult task, but this is a player who almost made the team out of camp after taking a full season off. Philp is a gamer, and has earned his chance.

RW Jacob Perreault

After watching his younger brother Gabe win his second straight gold medal at the World Juniors, the elder Perreault is champing at the bit to get his first opportunity in the NHL.

That it's even a slight possibility is a win for Perreault. As recently as November, the 22-year-old was pointless in the AHL after a brief stint with Trois-Rivieres of the ECHL. But the 2020 first-rounder has found his spark again since being acquired by Edmonton, with seven points in ten games as a Condor.

At his best, Perreault is a chippy and hard-working pest with a knack for goal-scoring. While he's had a rough go of it so far in his professional career, he might be turning a corner in Bakersfield. While he's not as close to the NHL as Savoie and Philp, Perreault is certainly a name to keep an eye on for the future.

The Oilers seem ready to call someone up for good. They certainly have a need: they're still searching for more secondary scoring and a stabilizing presence in their bottom six. While their farm system may not be the envy of the league, it still harbours enough talent to bolster the NHL team in the second half of the season.

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