Edmonton Oilers leaving door open for Noah Philp to return to the team

The Edmonton market was taken aback weeks ago when news broke about 24-year-old prospect Noah Philp retiring.

The news caught many by surprise as it’s often extenuating circumstances, such as a serious injury, that force players in his age range into retirement. Nothing has been reported about Philp’s reasoning for stepping away from the game, and in a statement, he said he was doing well and was grateful for the opportunity he received.

Now, it sounds like the Edmonton Oilers will be leaving the door open for Philp to return to the team.

On Bob Stauffer’s radio show, Oilers Now, Oilers GM Ken Holland said that the team would be issuing a qualifying offer to Philp in a move that will allow the team to retain his rights as a player.

Philp signed a one-year contract with the team ahead of last season after wrapping up three years at the University of Alberta. He appeared in 36 games over two seasons — one lost to COVID — scoring 20 goals and 38 points. In the USports post-season, he added another seven goals and 16 points in 10 games.

Last year, he played with the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors and while he had a slow start to the season, he ramped it up in the back half of the year. By season’s end, he scored 19 goals and 37 points in 70 games.

Oilersnation prospect writer Bruce Curlock has felt strongly about Philp as a prospect. In his season-end profile of the player, Curlock opined that Philp was a legitimate NHL prospect:

He’s not a top six player and likely wouldn’t fit most top nines. However, Noah Philp can play a 4th line role in the NHL. He’s a right-shot center with great size and hockey sense. He can score enough to ensure that his line will not be underwater on goal share. These are the players that the Oilers will need for years to come given the salary cap challenges of trying to keep McDavid and Draisaitl together.