What Happened
Owen Michaels, an undrafted 24-year-old forward who played the past three seasons at Western Michigan University, has stood out at Edmonton Oilers training camp. According to Sportsnet, after pre-season games, new head coach Mike Babcock showed daily video clips of system execution, and Michaels, wearing No. 43, appeared in all the positive examples. His college coach, Pat Ferschweiler, said similarities between Western Michigan's system and Babcock's approach have made Michaels comfortable in the new scheme.
Key Details
- Michaels is 24, undrafted, and had not played above the NCAA level before camp.
- He spent three seasons at Western Michigan under head coach Pat Ferschweiler.
- Ferschweiler coached in Detroit's system with Grand Rapids when Babcock led the Red Wings.
- Ferschweiler cited shared terminology, phrasing, and systems as a factor in Michaels' comfort.
- Michaels is competing for one or two open roster spots with the Oilers.
What It Means
Michaels' familiarity with a system similar to Babcock's gives him an unexpected edge in a tight roster battle. For an undrafted player with no professional experience, quickly grasping the coach's structure could be the difference in earning a contract or assignment. It also highlights how coaching connections and prior system exposure can influence training camp evaluations.
What's Next
Michaels will continue competing for a roster spot as the Oilers move through the remainder of training camp and the pre-season schedule.