Oilers forward Noah Philp opens up on coming back from retirement at 26 years old

One of the best stories of the Oilers season so far has been the emergence of Noah Philp, an undrafted hometown prospect who came out of retirement at 26 years old to make the NHL team.

Philp began turning heads at training camp this season, and fought to earn a few NHL games and a current call up before the trade deadline.

Noah Philp opens up about experience of coming back to play after retirement

The Oilers signed Noah Philp to an AHL contract in 2021, after he played with the University of Alberta. After a full promising season with the Bakersfield Condors, Philp retired for personal reasons and missed the entire 2023-24 season.

In an new interview with Sportsnet, Philp opened up about the process of his NHL comeback.

"I hadn't stepped on the ice, obviously, in a while and I was just kind of thinking, 'I wonder if I still got it. I actually felt way better than I thought, That was around the time when I thought, 'I think I could do this again.' That I really wanted to."

- Noah Philp

Philp spoke about the initial doubts subsiding quickly as his belief in making the NHL was fully supported by his family, the community of Canmore, and the Oilers.

I didn't really know how Edmonton would respond. But then, obviously when I heard that they'd be willing to give me another chance, I was very pleasantly surprised. What an amazing opportunity and pretty great of them to give me that chance and belief.

Philp began training with his brother, friends, and local youth at the Canmore Rec Center daily. The support he received from the community and family was integral, but Philp clearly has been grinding for this chance.

"It felt like the whole community was on my side. Canmore, as a whole, I'm so proud to say that I'm from there."

Philp looked incredible during Oilers training camp, but management still sent him to the AHL with the intention of allowing him more frequent ice time to pick up his game after missing time.

Now that he's called up on the NHL roster with a few weeks left before the trade deadline, Philp's auditioning for the 4th line center job for the playoffs this year.

It's been a remarkable turnaround for a young player retired one year ago, and it's been fully deserved. Oil country will surely be rooting for Philp while he's an Oiler and afterwards.