Edmonton Oilers Re-Sign Barons Players

The Edmonton Oilers have a busy off season ahead of them as they try to rebuild. They have a new general manager in Peter Chiarelli, and an opportunity of a lifetime with their first overall pick, who will more than likely be Connor McDavid.

Despite woes on the ice in Edmonton, the Oilers have a decently strong farm system with the Oklahoma City Barons advancing to the western conference semi finals of the American Hockey League playoffs this season. They fell to the eventual western conference champions the Utica Comets.

However, the Oilers must have liked what they saw out of their farm team, because they are bringing back some of their roster players.

Today the Oilers announced they had resigned two Barons players to one year contracts; defenseman Brad Hunt and forward Andrew Miller.

Hunt actually saw some time in Edmonton, with the 26 year old forward appearing in 11 games. He had three points overall in his time with the big club. Miller, also 26 years old, played nine games where he picked up six points.

Miller had a very solid season with the Barons, scoring 60 points in 63 contests in Oklahoma City. There is a chance he is a part of the Oilers roster this season to see if he can add a scoring touch. The roster could be completely different than it is now if Chiarelli makes some more moves.

Miller was overlooked out of college, where he played in Yale, and was signed by the Oilers as a free agent. He’s a player who has made a niche for himself in the AHL is a terrific shooter and player on the power play. When he was in the NHL for a short time, he played on the same line as Taylor Hall.

More likely, Hunt will spend most of his season in the AHL and Miller will see time there as well. The Oilers are moving their minor league affiliate out west as a part of the AHL’s new California/western division, where they will be known as the Bakersfield Condors.

Hunt is a puck moving defenseman with some offensive skill. He might not be totally NHL ready, but if the Oilers are planning on throwing $7 million at Dougie Hamilton like its rumored, they might as well give this defenseman a shot.

Edmonton have more moves to make this off season, but locking up two of their stud AHLers was the first step.