Oilers News: Devin Shore out on injured reserve, Ryan McLeod called up
By Jim Lynch
The Edmonton Oilers announced a roster move on twitter on Monday morning. Devin Shore has been placed on injured reserve while Ryan McLeod has been recalled from the Bakersfield Condors of the AHL.
Shore has played in eight games this season and has a goal and an assist through that time. He has been a nice part of the bottom six that has been revived this season. Shore has been a big part of the defensive game of the Oilers. He has spent time on the penalty kill and has ten hits and four takeaways so far this year.
The team is going to need someone else to step up in his absence, luckily Ryan McLeod will be called up to the league and could get a chance to center a line. McLeod has some size at 6’2”, he can be physical and has the speed to make it in the NHL. While he did not start with the team this season he has played in two games in the league this year.
McLeod has played in seven games in the AHL this season with the Condors and has a goal and four assists during that time. He can take advantage of this opportunity up in the NHL right now. If McLeod gets in the lineup he can force Tippett and company to keep him in if he plays well.
I wouldn’t mind seeing McLeod playing with a guy like Warren Foegele and Zack Kassian during the next few weeks. Foegele and Kassian have started the year off strong with some impressive numbers, maybe they can benefit from a young McLeod looking to make an impact on the roster. Worst comes to worse they split up the line after a few games and send McLeod back down to the AHL.
If it does work however the team would have another line they could turn to in hard positions. McLeod is not going to spend all season in the AHL, at some point they are going to want to keep him up in the league or move on from him in a trade. Maybe this opportunity will be his big break he needs to make the league and stay around full time.
Edmonton Oilers’ Coach Dave Tippett commented on the injury of Devin Shore yesterday, check out those comments here:
Edmonton is back in action on Tuesday against the Detroit Red Wings, their first of a long road trip to come after spending a lot of time at home the first few weeks of the season.