Edmonton Oilers recall Ryan McLeod to taxi squad

An interesting move Sunday afternoon as the Edmonton Oilers have recalled C Ryan McLeod to the taxi squad.

McLeod, 21, has played in 28 games with the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors this season scoring 14 goals and as many assists. At the time of his recall, he was fifth in the AHL scoring race and third in goals.

Drafted in the second round of the 2018 draft, McLeod played for EV Zug of the Swiss league before the AHL season kicked off where he scored four goals and 11 points in 15 games.

A dynamic forward, McLeod has had a breakout season with the Condors this year on a line with Tyler Benson and Cooper Marody. The trio has been playing very well in the AHL this year, and McLeod’s the first to get a recall. Saturday night McLeod scored two goals and an assist against the San Diego Gulls.

He’ll have to go through a seven-day quarantine before he can hit the ice, and one has to assume that he’ll get some time in the Oilers top-12 before the end of the season.

The move caught me by surprise as I expected the Oilers to allow him to play out the rest of the season with the Condors. In saying that, however, it appears there may not be an AHL playoffs, so the organization clearly feels he’s better off suited playing, or at the very least practicing, with the big club.

I’m very interested to see what he’s able to do for the Oilers. Can he find a spot in the Oilers top-six and catch lightning in a bottle like Kailer Yamamoto did last season? That’s the best case scenario.