Oilers signed under the radar NCAA player to tryout, now suddenly having breakout year
Photo credit: Brad Rempel, Brad Rempel/The Minnesota Star Tribune
Oilers general manager Stan Bowman has been busy over the past couple of weeks as he signed former Montreal Canadiens draft pick Rhett Pitlick to an amateur tryout with the Bakersfield Condors.
Pitlick, who is the brother of Canadians player Rem Pitlick has been showing signs that he will be a good pick up for the organization as the analytics continues to trend upward.
Pitlick spent several years with the USHL and NCAA
The 24-year-old left winger who is 5 foot 9 and 161 lbs had played in several organizations including the Omaha Lancers, Muskegon Lumberjacks and the Tri-City Storm of the USHL along with three years with the University of Minnesota and Minnesota State University all the NCAA.
He has shown improvement in his game as he has moved up in the ranks as he had played for Minnesota State University where he played 39 games, scoring 13 goals with 27 assists for 40 points and had 14 penalty minutes and was a + 32.
The Oilers amongst many other NHL teams continue to scour the NCAA ranks as several players have emerged from those teams that have been impactful. It also gives the Oilers a chance to stock up their prospects without making a trade or costing other draft picks.
Bowman trying out NCAA center who Oilers drafted in 2023
Bowman and the rest of the Oilers organization continues to evaluate Pitlick, the team has also signed Boston University centre Matt Capponi to a tryout as they decide whether to give him a three-year entry level deal.
Capponi was drafted by the Oilers in 2023, seventh round 216th overall. He had spent three years with Merrimack College from 2021 through 2024 and this year he has been with Boston University where he played 40 games, scoring six goals with 18 assists for 24 points.
He has joined the Condors but remains unsigned to an entry level deal as the team continues to evaluate him.
Many expect the Oilers to continue these kinds of evaluations as the team looks to get younger and to bring new talent into their depth.
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 20 | 669 ANSWERS Oilers signed under the radar NCAA player to tryout, now suddenly having breakout year Do you think Oilers General Manager Stan Bowman is doign a good job with the team? | ||
| Yes | 205 | 30.6 % |
| No | 464 | 69.4 % |
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