The Carolina Hurricanes have placed Noah Philp on waivers-again. And while that might not send shockwaves through the NHL, it does raise an interesting question for Edmonton: should the Oilers consider bringing him back?
Philp, a right-shot center, had a brief stint with the Oilers earlier this season after cracking the roster out of training camp. He scored in two of his first six games, showing flashes of potential, but things cooled off quickly. Over his final 10 appearances in an Oilers sweater, he failed to register a point, finished with a -5 rating, and was limited to just seven shots on goal.
Dig into the numbers, and the picture gets a little murkier. According to Natural Stat Trick, the Oilers were outscored 10-3 during Philp’s five-on-five minutes.
That’s over a 140-minute sample where Edmonton was consistently out-shot and out-chanced when he was on the ice. It’s not the kind of impact you want from a depth forward, especially on a team with playoff aspirations.
After being claimed by Carolina in late December, Philp's role didn’t expand. He suited up for just two games with the Hurricanes-both wins-but spent most of his time either watching from the press box or dealing with injury. Now, he's back on waivers, and the Oilers have a decision to make.
But let’s be real: if the idea is to bring Philp back as a 13th forward, it’s hard to justify. Not only would it add a $775,000 cap hit-modest, but still something to consider-it could also create unnecessary friction in a bottom-six group that’s finally finding its rhythm.
Curtis Lazar has been a key part of that success. Like Philp, Lazar is a right-shot center, but he’s brought more consistency and experience to the fourth line. In 31 games, he’s chipped in three goals and five points, while providing steady faceoff work and a reliable presence in the defensive zone.
More importantly, Lazar has meshed well with linemates Trent Frederic and Mattias Janmark. That trio has been quietly dominant in their limited time together.
In just 47 minutes of five-on-five play, they’ve held opponents scoreless while generating 63.3% of the expected goals. They’ve doubled up opponents in shots on goal (26 to 13), and they’re winning the scoring chance battle 29-18, including a 16-8 edge in high-danger looks.
Bottom line: this is a line that’s doing its job-and then some. Disrupting that chemistry to make room for Philp, especially in a limited role, doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.
That said, there is a scenario where a Philp reunion could work. Because he’s played fewer than 10 NHL games and hasn’t been on Carolina’s roster for more than 30 days, the Oilers could claim him and send him directly to the AHL-if no other team below them in the standings puts in a claim. It’s a low-risk move that could add organizational depth, particularly if injuries start piling up later in the season.
But if the plan is to bring him back to the NHL roster immediately? That’s a tougher sell. With the trade deadline on the horizon and the fourth line clicking, the Oilers need to be strategic with every roster spot-and every dollar of cap space.
Philp may still have something to offer, but right now, Edmonton’s focus should be on what’s working. And for the moment, that doesn’t include shaking up a bottom six that’s finally pulling in the right direction.