The Edmonton Oilers have made a trade. The club has dealt AHL forward Taylor Beck to the New York Rangers in exchange for right winger Justin Fontaine. Both Fontaine and Beck are expected to report to Bakersfield and Hartford respectively.
Beck has dominated the AHL this season, posting 13-37-50 in just 40 games with the Condors. Outside of Anton Lander and recently Jesse Puljujarvi, Beck had been Bakersfield’s best forward this season. That said, Beck played in a handful of NHL games with the Oil this year and simply couldn’t gain any traction with the club.
It became apparent in recent weeks that Beck did not have a future with the Oiler organization, and it is likely that the club would have allowed the pending RFA to test the market again this summer.
As for Justin Fontaine, he comes to Bakersfield having a solid AHL season going on. In 50 games with Hartford, he has posted 9-21-30. This comes after Fontaine dressed in 60 NHL games last season with the Minnesota Wild, posting 5-11-16. He also played in four playoff games with the Wild last season, going pointless in those tilts.
Fontaine adds NHL depth to a position lacking it in the Edmonton organization. As a speedy right winger with NHL experience, Fontaine is set up to possibly get some NHL time during the stretch drive for the Oilers.
He’s quick, he’s got average size, NHL experience and some PK ability. I view this as a depth move for the team and a forward for Bakersfield, but Fontaine could be a depth option for the big club moving forward.
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