The Edmonton Oilers' decision to place forward Noah Philp on waivers has reportedly generated quiet interest from other NHL teams. According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, this move could potentially lead to a trade if Philp clears waivers.

The Oilers are looking to free up space in their forward lineup, especially with players returning from injury. Zach Hyman and Jack Roslovic have recently been activated, and Kasperi Kapanen is expected to return from long-term injured reserve soon. Having multiple players on LTIR has limited the Oilers' ability to accrue cap space for potential trade deadline acquisitions, making it necessary to shed some forward contracts.

Friedman mentioned Andrew Mangiapane alongside Philp as a potential trade candidate. Mangiapane, with a $3.6 million cap hit for this season and the next, hasn't lived up to expectations since being brought back to Alberta last summer. He has recorded five goals and 11 points in 39 games this season, averaging 13:31 of ice time with a -16 rating.

The interest in Philp stems from his ability to play as a right-handed center, a position that is highly sought after in the league. While his NHL production has been limited to two goals and five points in 30 games since the 2024-25 season, he had a strong showing with the AHL's Bakersfield Condors last season, scoring 19 goals and 35 points in 55 games.

If a team claims Philp off waivers, they would need to put him through waivers again if they want to assign him to the AHL. However, if he clears waivers and is then acquired via trade, he would be ineligible for waivers for a certain period.

The Oilers recently activated Philp off LTIR before placing him on waivers. This season, he has played in 15 games for the Oilers, scoring two goals and one assist while averaging 10 minutes of ice time. Before his injury, he rotated between a fourth-line role and being a healthy scratch. Philp is currently on a one-year, $775,000 contract with the Oilers.

In a related move, the Oilers have also placed forward David Tomášek on waivers for the purpose of contract termination. Tomášek initially had some opportunities, including time on the top line with Connor McDavid, but his performance declined, leading to him being a healthy scratch. Terminating his contract will free up $1.2 million in cap space for the team.