The Oilers have assigned Kailer Yamamoto and recalled Brad Malone.
After earning 9 games with the Oilers this pre-season, the diminutive forward picked up 3 assists in 9 games and was one of the team leaders in shots per 60 during 5v5 play, but he has yet to score his first NHL goal. Now that he’s been assigned to the WHL, Yamamoto is going to have to wait until next season to net that one.
At his best, the 5’8… 154 pound right winger was earning about 20 minutes on the top 6 with this club. During those games he was a contributor in the offensive zone and noticeable. However, with the team struggling to make its way back up to .500 hockey, the coach had Kailer on a short leash. There really isn’t a lot of sense in keeping a kid, no matter how talented if he isn’t playing.
The way the Oiler brass has managed the salary cap almost dictates that Yamamoto should be preserved as an NHL player until hes ready to make a big impact. His ELC maxes out with bonuses included at just $1.155 million. The team will need that ELC to occur concurrently with the full McDavid 12.5M contract just to make a viable top 6. Three years of cheap and productive Yamamoto will be worth its weight I n gold.
Now KY has had a taste of the NHL and knows where he is deficient. He knows in which areas of his game he has to get stronger. He knows the competition he’s going to face. For a 22nd overall pick to get even 9 games in directly after his draft it’s a huge success. For a kid his size, it’s twice as impressive. Now he gets to be the man in the WHL and likely play for the US in the World Juniors.
Oiler fans will be keeping an eye on the kid for the rest of the year, but I am extremely pleased with what we saw through a month’s play in the NHL.
As for Brad Malone, I think he’s the right call up. He’s earned the right to be the first one recalled with his play in the preseason and the three games he got subbed in for already. He’s a gritty center who likes to head towards the net, even if offense isn’t his calling card. I’ve really liked his crash and bang style.
The expectation from several members of the media who work closely with the Oil was that the team would sign Chris Kelly to a contract once Yamo was moved out. There, of course, is absolutely no reason to waste a contract spot on Chris Kelly, but that’s the expectation anyway. Malone is superior to Kelly in every way imaginable, so Chiarelli will probably sign Kelly later today.
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