The Edmonton Oilers announced today that they have signed Owen Michaels to a one-year entry-level deal. The contract kicks in this season, meaning he is eligible to play in the regular season just like Quinn Hutson last year, who signed a two-year deal last April.
Michaels spent the past three seasons at Western Michigan University, including captaining the squad to the NCAA championship this year.
Michaels scored 13 goals and 26 points in 39 games this season, after scoring 18 goals and 36 points in 42 games last year.
He shone in the Frozen Four this year, scoring two goals in each of the semi-final and final, resulting in him being named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. Michaels is also up for the Hobey Baker Award this year, the award for the top NCAA player. If he wins, he will be the second Hobey Baker winner in a row to become an Oiler after last year’s winner, Isaac Howard.
Where will Owen Michaels fit into the organization?
Michaels is described as an excellent support skater who gets the puck to the right areas. His competitiveness and drive, traits the Oilers scouting staff highly covet, help him stand out in big moments.
With a logjam of forwards in the NHL, it is unlikely Michaels sees any real ice time with the Oilers this season, unless it is a situation like with Hutson in the final games when starters are being rested.
Michaels appears to have been given a trial period to see if he will receive another contract for next season. With it being a late one-year deal, he has the next few weeks to show what his game can translate to at the professional level.
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