Oilers Sign and Call Up Linglet

It looks like Dustin Penner's injury will keep him out of the lineup and that Ryan Jones, Ryan Stone and Sam Gagner still aren't ready to return from injury.  Treating all of these injuries with caution is a good approach considering the circumstances.  It also looks like Jordan Eberle is going to be staying in Springfield.  That decision is a bit more curious but the fact that it also affords the Oilers an opportunity to give Charles Linglet his shot at the NHL makes it okay by me.  At 27 years old Linglet hasn't yet played a game in the NHL and he came into the year without an NHL contract (i.e. it was a one-way AHL deal).  In 2008-09 he started the year with the Peoria Rivermen and scored 9 points in 37 games.  His AHL career seemed in doubt until a trade to the Springfield Falcons saw him regain his scoring touch.  This year he's continued his strong play and leads the Falcons in scoring with 74 points in 75 games.  He's one of only three falcons to play at least thirty games and be at least even in the +/- column (he is, in fact, even) and he represented the Falcons in the AHL all-star game.  But he still didn't have an NHL contract until yesterday.  It would have been pretty funny if they waited to call him until today.  There's virtually no way he would have believed them.  It's only a one-year deal but if he plays well, he may be able to get another NHL contract for next year and legitimately compete for a spot on the team.  At 6'2'' and 210 pounds he has the kind of size the Oilers are looking for and if he's a better defender than J.F. Jacques he may earn himself a role as the 12th to 14th forward.  There probably aren't a lot of players that are happy they signed with the Oilers organization over the summer but Charles Linglet (and Dean Arsene) most certainly is.  And with so little to celebrate this season, I will definitely put on a smile today for Charles Linglet.