McLellan: Yamamoto 'deserves the opportunity' to remain with Oilers

The kid is turning heads.

18-year-old Kailer Yamamoto scored his fifth goal in four preseason games for the Edmonton Oilers in a loss to Carolina on Monday, and is making a very strong case to make the team out of training camp.

"It's been impressive watching him," head coach Todd McLellan said after the game. "When he continues to open your eyes, he deserves the opportunity."

Expected to have a cup of coffee with the big club before being sent back to junior, the 22nd overall pick from the 2017 NHL Draft is belying his age and 5-foot-8 frame to make an undeniable impression.

At the very least, it appears as though he'll get a nine-game look before the team has to decide whether to burn a year off his entry-level deal or send him back to the WHL's Spokane Chiefs.

"I don't care who plays on our team," McLellan added. "We need 23 guys to wear jerseys, whether he's 18 or 38, we want to win. It doesn't matter to me what their names are or how big they are, if they can get the job done then they should play."

As noted by Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal, Yamamoto is likely competing with highly-touted prospect Jesse Puljujarvi for the forward spot, and has a clear skate up on the fourth pick of the 2016 Draft.

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