The Edmonton Oilers have announced the signing of Josh Archibald. He signs a one-year, one-way deal worth $1 million. Archibald should be a solid depth forward for Edmonton. The Saskatchewan native will be joining a Canadian NHL team for the first time in his career.
The #Oilers have signed forward Josh Archibald to a one-year contract. The Regina, Saskatchewan native tallied 12 goals & ten assists for 22 points in 68 appearances with Arizona in 2018-19. pic.twitter.com/OxjXM568OL
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) 16. júla 2019
Edmonton Oilers Sign Josh Archibald To One-Year Deal
Archibald was the 174th player selected (sixth round) at the 2014 NHL Draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins. However, he played only 14 games in Pittsburgh. In December 2017, the Penguins traded him with Sean Maguire and Pittsburgh’s sixth-round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft to the Arizona Coyotes for goaltender Michael Leighton and Arizona’s fourth-round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft. Following the trade, Archibald played 39 games with the Coyotes in the 2017-18 season.
This past season, the 26-year-old forward appeared in 68 games scoring 10 goals and 12 assists for 22 points. Playing mostly in a bottom-six role, he provided solid production and secondary scoring. Archibald averaged just 13:34 of the ice-time per game last season. His possession numbers include 43.5 percent CorsiFor with a relative Corsi of -6.3. However, he started 61 percent of his shifts in the defensive end of the ice. Archibald also delivered 161 hits. He has been a solid bottom-six presence, gathering points while also playing a physical game and taking heavy defensive matchups.
What Does This Mean For The Future
The Edmonton Oilers were still looking for some depth options up front. Signing Josh Archibald fills some of these needs. Archibald is definitely a low-risk signing for Edmonton. He has been able to produce and be reliable at the bottom-six position. Another important aspect of the signing is Archibald’s ability to kill penalties.
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