The Edmonton Oilers need McDavid, Draisaitl and Central California if they are to win a Stanley Cup (NHLI via Getty Images)Losing a two goal lead to the Stockton Heat on Friday night summed up the Bakersfield Condors season perfectly. For the 20-27-5 team from Central California it’s been a year of transition after reaching the second round of the AHL playoffs last season. This go round the playoffs are a distance dream for the Edmonton Oilers AHL affiliate, as they sit second from last in the Pacific Division and Western Conference respectively, 16 points out of the returning to the post season. While it’s still mathematically possible, realistically the Condors will be planning for next season and renewing their push for the Calder Cup. That will likely be without a few players ready to make the step up.
Evan Bouchard and Tyler Benson have both been given time with the Edmonton Oilers this season and with a number of UFA’s coming up, along with being close to the current salary cap, should see General Manager Ken Holland using these players to fill out the depth chart next season. The Oilers will save money with Brandon Manning and Markus Granlund in their last contract year. Both are currently playing in the AHL for the Condors, so keeping them on board would be a baffling decision by Holland if he was to do so.
The money saved, plus whatever increase comes to the salary cap, will likely be used to re-sign Defenseman Ethan Bear who has averaged 21:49 of ice time and registered 21 points so far this season. They’ll also have to make decisions on goaltender Mike Smith, Defensemen Mike Green, Matt Benning and William Lagesson and forwards Tyler Ennis, Patrick Russell, Riley Sheahan and Gaëtan Haas. There’s also the question of trade deadline acquisition Andreas Athanasiou who will become a restricted free agent.
This should create space in the Oilers for depth players like Benson, Bouchard and possibly even Josh Currie who is leading the Condors with 41 points in 54 games. He will have to sign a new contract however as his current deal ends this summer. This in turn creates space in the Condors organization for more prospects including defenseman Philip Broberg if he doesn’t make the NHL team as well as center Raphaël Lavoie who has tore up the QMJHL with the Halifax Mooseheads and more recently the Chicoutimi Saguenéens since his trade.
And this is the thing for Bakersfield, like all AHL teams their main objective is to prepare and coach players with the end goal being the NHL, while still remaining competitive. With the Oilers having two elite players in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl the Condors are not expected to unearth the next big thing, but with the money currently set aside for those two plus others Bakersfield will be expected to produce quality NHL players who can play limited minutes without hurting the team both on the ice and financially off the ice. If they get something more it’s an added bonus.
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A perfect example is Kailer Yamamoto and the way he has played for the Oilers since his call up this season, averaging a point a game with 11 goals and 13 assists in 24 outings. And not every player will put up those numbers, because not every player will play with a red hot Draisaitl, but the ones called upon will be expected to keep Edmonton competitive. Speaking of competitive, the Condors will also expect to be a lot better next season because as John Wooden said “Winning breeds Winning” and Oilers certainly need to do that with McDavid and Draisaitl coming into prime years. Bakersfield will need to help them.
