The Edmonton Oilers have a curious case on their hands when it comes to Skyler Brind’Amour.
Drafted by the team in the sixth round of the 2017 draft, he was nothing more than a dart throw coming out of the US National Development Program. He went to the BCHL’s Chilliwack Chiefs for two years and after scoring 23 goals and 68 points in 144 games there, the NCAA’s Quinnipiac University was calling his name.
And now, after a four-year stint there, questions have started to arise about his future. According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman on the 32 Thoughts Podcast, teams could be looking to sign him if he hits free agency.
“One other thing I wanna mention about Quinnipiac is they’ve got some players — Skyler Brind’Amour, Rod’s son. The Oilers have to make a decision.The thing they like best about him is he’s a Brind’Amour. I think Brind’Amour is gonna have to decide if Edmonton if the best path for him, because like I’ve said before, I think the vultures are circling. The way he’s played I think there’s gonna be some teams saying ‘If you go free agency we’re interested.'”
This all comes after Quinnipiac won the National Championship It’s there where Brind’Amour’s game has flourished. While he was rather unproductive in his first two years, his game has ramped up in the last two seasons. In 2021-22, he scored three goals and 20 points in 41 games and this season, he scored 14 goals and 32 points in 41 games.
If Brind’Amour still wanted to sign with the Oilers, there would be a spot for him in the organization. The Oilers have just 45 contracts on the books this season with five open spots. In the American League, the Condors could always use more players and given Brind’Amour’s bloodlines, it would make a stone of sense to, at the very least, see what he could do at the next level.
If other teams are showing interest in him already, that’s a good sign.
Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@thenationnetwork.com.
