Kristians Pelss Will Return To Edmonton

Pelss will be back to chase down Nugent-Hopkins and the rest of the WHL.

Photo By Lisa McRitchie, all rights reserved.

When we last checked in on Kristians Pelss, he signed a try-out contract with Dinamo Riga of the KHL.  Though our intrepid Latvian contact Didzis Rudmanis told us the deal was a formality in order to participate in Dinamo's training camp, he also noted that Pelss would be good enough to make the team on Riga's fourth line.

Now comes official word from DELFI Sports that Pelss will not stay in Latvia, and that instead he will return to Edmonton to play with the Oil Kings for the 2011-2012 season.  According to the report, Pelss appeared in one pre-season game against Novosibirsk, and the coaches were fully satisfied with his performance in training camp, but he's decided to return to North American.

The decision is a big one for the young winger, turning down a guaranteed salary to return to billets and buses for a last-place organization can't be easy, but Pelss is committed to making it work in North America, a great sign for the Oilers and an encouraging sign for fans who have watched the Oilers' developmental organization falter for a number of years.  Though Pelss is only a seventh-round draft pick, his commitment to the organization in the face of a contract offer from his own team might be seen as a demarcation line in the attitude of young players towards the organization, the team and management.