November 25, 2022 by Ryan Lotsberg

Tyler Benson is currently in Bakersfield on a conditioning stint after the ankle injury he sustained in the preseason. It’s great to see him skating again because he was having an excellent preseason and he was definitely in the mix for a spot with the big club. As the seventh week of the regular season comes to a close, he’s still firmly in that mix.

Benson’s impending return means that the Edmonton Oilers will have a decision to make in the near future. The situation is much less confusing from a salary cap perspective thanks to Evander Kane’s unfortunate injury, but the Oilers are currently using all 23 spots on the active roster.

Benson was hitting everything that moved in the preseason, and he scored a nice goal on a wicked shot against the Winnipeg Jets. He’s got two points in three games in Bakersfield, including an assist on a pretty little backhand pass into the slot on Luke Esposito’s goal on Tuesday night. The question is whether or not Benson’s play in camp before the injury and thus far in Bakersfield warrants his getting an opportunity over some other Oilers forwards.

If Benson was to be recalled, then the obvious choice to go down to Bakersfield would be Brad Malone, who has only played once since being called up a week ago. He’s seen minimal ice time in his three NHL games this year.

Mattias Janmark and Klim Kostin were both recently recalled from Bakersfield. Janmark has played on the first, third, and fourth lines since joining the Oilers. He’s shown bursts of speed, and he’s had a few good scoring chances. Janmark was a bit of a cap casualty to start the season, but I don’t see him going back down to Bakersfield as long the Oilers have the cap space from having Kane on LTIR.

Kostin has impressed me. He’s much bigger than I expected him to be, and he’s playing like it. He’s not afraid to be physical, and he has consistently shown a willingness to go to the dirty areas. Kostin has also shown a willingness to shoot the puck. He’s had some dangerous chances. I think it’s a matter of time until he scores. I don’t think his play has merited being sent back to Bakersfield this quickly.

Devin Shore has already cleared waivers once this season, and I believe that he would clear again if that situation were to arise again. Shore has consistently been the odd man out when Jay Woodcroft chooses to use the eleven and seven lineup. However, Shore has been solid in limited minutes this season. He’s playing the best hockey of his Oilers tenure in my opinion. The bar was set pretty low, but he looks faster this year, and he’s shown more patience with the puck. I could see him sticking around here for the time being.

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The other option to go down to Bakersfield is Dylan Holloway. He’s had a tough start to the regular season after his incredible preseason. He’s had a few bad turnovers and he missed a few games after taking a devastating hit from Ilya Lyubushkin. Most importantly, he’s only averaging less than eight minutes a night. Ken Holland said that Holloway wouldn’t be playing in Edmonton if he’s getting minimal ice time, and that’s exactly what’s happening. Holloway has lost the confidence that was seemingly oozing from his pores in the preseason. He will get it back, but it might be wise to allow him to get that back in Bakersfield where he can play big minutes and feel the puck on his stick more often than he is currently in Edmonton. Holloway doesn’t require waivers to be sent down either.

Holloway plays left wing, which happens to be Benson’s position. I think it makes all the sense in the world to send Holloway down and to recall Benson. The Oilers and the Condors both play games on Saturday. The Oilers are back home against Florida on Monday, and the Condors have a back to back in Abbotsford on Tuesday and Wednesday. I would anticipate that the Oilers will let Benson play Saturday’s game with the Condors, and then recall him in advance of Monday’s game. Holloway could join the Condors in Abbotsford in time for their first game there on Tuesday.

Oilers fans and media have been calling the team out for their lack of toughness since Alex Edler’s hit on Connor McDavid last week. Benson won’t fight anybody, but he seems to enjoy playing on the edge. His smirk in scrums after the whistle is evidence of that. Adding a player that doesn’t mind getting his hands dirty can’t hurt the Oilers. 

Woodcroft has also seen Benson produce offence at the AHL level. The Oilers are missing Kane and Kailer Yamamoto right now, which has forced Woodcroft to tinker with his lines a lot. Warren Foegele, Jesse Puljujarvi, and Mattias Janmark have all had chances to play in the top six recently. Ryan McLeod got a few shifts with McDavid late in Monday’s game in New Jersey. Everyone is a candidate to audition for top six work right now, and I have every reason to believe that Benson could easily earn himself a look in the top six in the near future as well.

Time will tell what lies ahead for Benson, but I believe that he will get an opportunity with the Oilers sooner rather than later.