The Edmonton Oil Companies have decided to call up two well-deserved young players from the AHL who have arguably played better than some of the mainstays. Ike Howard and Quinn Hutson are both recalled from Bakersfield and will join the team as they prepare to face the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday.
Of course, the calls will leave speculation everywhere about what happens to the roster following the decision to send Max Jones down on Thursday. Howard has scored 23 points in 16 AHL games after starting the NHL season and is coming off a Hobey Baker-winning NCAA season. Hutson has 32 points in 26 AHL games, scoring his first NHL goal in December, and both players enter the recall on high scoring streaks.
The questions now will be where these two players line up, how often they play and who they replace. Struggling forwards not getting anything done for Edmonton include Andrew Mangiapane, Trent Frederic, Mattias Janmark and Adam Henrique. Some have no-moves, some no-trades, and others, like Mangiapane, are the subject of recent trade rumors.
Mangiapane was recently elevated to the second line following a loss to the Boston Bruins, where he was quickly pulled off Leon Draisaitl’s wing and brought on in limited minutes after the experiment in spotlighting him failed. Mangiapane says he will focus on playing hockey and improving his game with the team despite trade rumors, but he is also reportedly open to a trade if better opportunities arise.
A call to Hutson and Howard suggests his chances in Edmonton will only diminish.
For the Oilers, using Howard and Hutson correctly will be an important part of their transition from the AHL to the NHL. Both have shown they can score, but that doesn’t help, nor are they best utilized when playing less than eight minutes per game on the fourth line.
A call only matters if there is meaningful glaciation. It’s probably best to reserve judgment until we see how they are actually used.
Next: Oilers demote Max Jones and return to lineup
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