Oil On Whyte
Fansided

Recapping free agency so far

By Phil Gretzky

Jun 2, 2022; Denver, Colorado, USA; Edmonton Oilers left wing Evander Kane (91) passes the puck under pressure from Colorado Avalanche right wing Valeri Nichushkin (13) in the second period in game two of the Western Conference Final of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 2, 2022; Denver, Colorado, USA; Edmonton Oilers left wing Evander Kane (91) passes the puck under pressure from Colorado Avalanche right wing Valeri Nichushkin (13) in the second period in game two of the Western Conference Final of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports /

Just yesterday the Edmonton Oilers have inked 24 year old prospect LW Tyler Benson to a one year, $750,000 contract

I use the term “prospect” lightly because in this case Benson is more suspect than prospect. He was drafted in the second round of the 2016 draft and six years later has yet to earn a regular spot with the Edmonton Oilers. Meanwhile, many prospects have passed him by, including Yamamoto, Ryan Mcleod, Evan Bouchard, Stuart Skinner, and a few others who could join that list this year.

Benson got a long audition to start the season but fizzled out as he failed to take advantage of the opportunity, putting up 1-1-2 and a -5 in 29 games played before being sent back down to Bakersfield for the rest of the season where he did his usual stellar job at scoring in the AHL, with 12 points in 18 games.

The problem is, Benson has yet to translate that game to the NHL, and the book on him is his skating needs work too, although he’s been working on that if the scuttlebutt on the guy is true.

I have a feeling this is Benson’s last chance Texaco in the Edmonton Oilers organization as he’s taking a spot down on the farm from other prospects, not including his teammates that have leapfrogged him already.

After all, the AHL is not a place where guys are supposed to play long term unless they’re NHL failures. Sometimes you just have to look at a player and cut your losses. IMO Benson is at that crossroads now. Let’s see if he’s a late bloomer or a true blue draft bust.

Not so fun fact – it always stings looking at a draft in hindsight, but players of note who were still on the board when the Edmonton Oilers took Benson – Jordan Kyrou, Alex Debrincat, Samuel Girard, Filip Hronek, and Dillon Dube. Ouch. To think we could’ve had Alex Debrincat cleaning house with Connor Mcdavid…..oy.

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