Breaking News: Oilers Bring Back Versatile Veteran to Fill Gap Left by Injured Forwards
The Edmonton Oilers have made a move to address their growing injury concerns, recalling forward Drake Caggiula from the AHL. This comes as the team faces the challenge of replacing key players sidelined with injuries. Darnell Nurse and Viktor Arvidsson are already out of the lineup, and now Zach Hyman has joined the ranks of the injured, missing the third period of Tuesday’s game against the Ottawa Senators.
While there was some hope earlier this week that Hyman or Arvidsson could return soon, Wednesday’s demotion of Josh Brown suggested that this may not be the case. With injuries continuing to pile up, the Oilers have turned to Caggiula, a familiar face, to provide depth in their forward lines.
Caggiula’s recall marks his second stint with the team this season. The 30-year-old forward previously appeared in two games with the Oilers earlier in November when Connor McDavid was out with an injury. In those two games, Caggiula managed to pick up an assist while playing limited minutes on the fourth line. Despite the short tenure, he showed enough to warrant another opportunity.
The versatile forward has been playing well in the AHL, where he has recorded 9 points in 11 games with the Bakersfield Condors. His strong play in the minors has earned him another shot in Edmonton, where he is expected to slot back into his familiar fourth-line role alongside Derek Ryan. Depending on line combinations, Caggiula could play with either veteran Corey Perry or newcomer Kasperi Kapanen.
The exact impact of Caggiula’s recall on the Oilers’ lineup is still unclear, as the nature and severity of the injuries to Hyman and Arvidsson remain uncertain. Arvidsson, who has been out for the past four games with an undisclosed injury, was initially considered a 50/50 chance to return last Thursday, but his recovery has proven to be slower than expected. With a history of injuries throughout his career, including a shortened season in 2023 with Los Angeles, it’s unclear when Arvidsson will be back.
As for Hyman, the Oilers have been tight-lipped about his injury status, with limited updates following the team’s day off. However, the fact that the Oilers are utilizing their limited cap space to claim Kapanen and call up Caggiula strongly suggests that Hyman won’t be in the lineup for Thursday’s game against the Minnesota Wild.
With two top right-wingers missing, Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch will need to get creative with his line combinations as the team prepares for a tough matchup against the Wild. Hopefully, the team’s injury woes are short-lived, and they can get back to full strength soon.
Fans will be hoping that Caggiula’s presence in the lineup can help stabilize things for the Oilers while they weather this wave of injuries.
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