The Oilers continued their signing of NCAA free agents by inking right-shot forward Patrick Russell to a 2 year ELC.
Russell, a native of Birkenrod Denmark, has played the last 2 years at St Cloud State. He’s listed as 6’1… and 205 pounds.
This past season, as a 23 year old, he scored 20-21-41 in 41 games played.
The Oilers are clearly trying to boost the skill on the farm with signings like these. There’s no denying that the Bakersfield Condors are lacking quality prospects at the forward positions. Their most productive players are AHL veterans, after them it’s a 21 year old on an AHL contract and THEN Jujhar Khaira.
That’s not enough talent pushing the big club. There are far too few options when injury strikes and it has everything to do with failing to draft forwards after the 1st round. It’s not just the occasional Mitch Moroz bonehead call. It’s everybody not named Tobias Reider failing to take significant strides and really pushing for NHL jobs since this rebuild started..
I don’t want to harp on the Reider deal much longer, but the critical failures of the scouting staff post-Round 1 only accentuate how terrible the trade and situation that lead up to the trade were. At the time, he was the best forward prospect not on the fast-track to the NHL and the Oilers failed to make him happy with the organization then failed to receive anything useful for him in a trade. Killer.
At any rate, the club has no choice but to restock the cupboard with players like Russell and Caggiula since the draft has proven to be a bust for the Oilers. And, that’s exactly what they should be doing. If anyone suggests the Oilers already have a competent top 6 so they don’t need anymore skilled forwards, then they aren’t looking at the logistics of running a franchise. There always needs to be someone coming. There always has to be options for injuries.
Just because the Oilers need defensemen right now, it doesn’t mean the team can put everything on hold and refuse to sign forwards that can provide depth. Quality organizations are constantly finding and developing guys who can at least provide cheap options for the bottom 6.
My expectations for Russell are incredibly low. I believe he'll get a chance to play top 6 minutes for the Condors and whatever else he can do after that is gravy.
Thank you to everyone who has helped me along the way, especially St. Cloud. It's a dream come true to become part of the @EdmontonOilers.
— Patrick Russell (@PRussell63) May 9, 2016
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