Oilers will turn season around, Yamamoto says
As far as predictions are concerned, Kailer Yamamoto is not guaranteeing another gold medal for Team USA at the world junior hockey championship. Nor is he promising he will lead the tournament in scoring.
But the 19-year-old is willing to go out on a limb when it concerns the Edmonton Oilers.
They’re making the playoffs, he said. And who knows, maybe Yamamoto will be back in the NHL by then to join in their pursuit of a Stanley Cup.
“Definitely,” Yamamoto said when asked if he expects the Oilers, stuck in second-last place in the Western Conference standings, to be in the postseason. “I mean, they have so many weapons on that team. I think once they start getting on a streak they’re going to get it rolling. They’ve had some unlucky bounces this year that have just kind of took some games away from them, but I think once they really start to get things going they’re going to be a really dangerous team.”
It’s been six weeks since Yamamoto was sent back to the Western Hockey League after unexpectedly making the Oilers’ opening-night roster and appearing in nine games. During that time, he’s stayed up to date on the team that drafted him 22nd overall in the 2017 entry draft and gave him a chance to play on Connor McDavid’s line.
“I follow them every game,” he said.
Yamamoto feels for them. But he also believes in them. After all, the Oilers believed in him.
Only five foot eight and 154 pounds, the 19-year-old seemed too small even for the WHL. But he not only beat out Jesse Puljujarvi for a temporary spot on the roster, he proved he was a goal or two away from sticking in the NHL.
Since returning to the Spokane Chiefs, Yamamoto has recorded 12 points in 13 games. But he is more concerned with developing into an all-around player.
Yamamoto, who was cut from the U.S. junior team last year, is expected to be a key contributor to the offence this year. He has been playing on a top line with prospects Logan Brown (Ottawa) and Casey Mittelstadt (Buffalo).
“I think we’re really dangerous,” Yamamoto said.