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Oilers' Unknown Prospect Shocks Hockey World
7 Oct
Summary
- Owen Michaels, a 24-year-old center, has rapidly exceeded expectations.
- He has secured a spot on the Oilers' roster ahead of schedule.
- Michaels has shown surprising offensive instincts and penalty-killing ability.
Owen Michaels, a 24-year-old center for the Edmonton Oilers, has rapidly exceeded expectations in his professional debut. Initially signed with the expectation of developing with the AHL Bakersfield Condors, Michaels has proven ready for the NHL a full year ahead of schedule.
He impressed coach Mike Babcock during preseason and has seen significant ice time at five-on-five, even contributing on the penalty kill and power play. Michaels' performance in the first three games has been notable, with two goals coming from his ability to find open ice and quickly release shots.
Michaels' emergence is reminiscent of past college signings like Shawn Horcoff, who also made a swift transition to the NHL. Despite a small sample size, his responsible play and surprising offensive flair make him a valuable addition to the Oilers' depleted depth.
