Condors: Key Additions/Losses, Injuries, Players To Watch To Begin 2022-23

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BAKERSFIELD, CA - The Bakersfield Condors open their 25th season of hockey in California Saturday night when they host the Abbotsford Canucks (VAN), and they will do so with quite a different roster than the one they ended their 2022 Calder Cup Playoffs run with.

If you missed it, here's our Condors' season preview article --> Previewing the 2022-23 Bakersfield Condors

Five Players To Watch

Forward James Hamblin

Undrafted left wing earned a two-way NHL contract in March, before the end of a second AHL campaign that saw him finish with 21 goals and 35 points. He made a big impression in training camp for the Edmonton Oilers and was not reassigned to the Condors until Monday. The Condors will be looking for continued development from the Edmonton native, who certainly looks to be in line for a recall to the Oilers this season.

Forward Xavier Bourgault

First round pick of the Oilers in 2021 (22nd overall), the 6-0 172-pound right wing begins his pro career with the Condors. Bourgault finished his junior play with a team-high 36 goals for the Shawinigan Cataractes and led the team in the playoffs with 12 goals and 22 points. Bourgault has strong puck handling skills, speed and, as his junior stats show,  a strong shot. Will be interesting to watch his progression this season. Is an NHL look in the cards? Possibly.

Defenseman Michael Kesselring

Sixth-round draft pick of Edmonton in 2018, played 21 games in 2020-21 on an AHL deal after leaving Northeastern University and inked an 3-year deal with the Oilers in March, 2021. Had 13 points in 55 games and a bout with Covid last season. A lanky 6-5, 220, Kesselring impressed in two preseason games with the Oilers and Condors GM Keith Gretzky repeatedly mentioned him when asked about improved players.

Defenseman Philip Broberg

First-round draft pick of the Oilers in 2019 (8th overall), Broberg split his rookie season between Bakersfield (31 games, 23 points) and Edmonton (23 games, 3 points). He was on Edmonton’s season-opening roster for salary cap reasons but did not do enough in camp to earn a roster spot. He has been sent down to Bakersfield to refine his game as the Oilers start the season with a thread-bare six D-men. How soon he earns a recall to the Oilers is up to him.

Forward Klim Kostin

A first-round pick of the St. Louis Blues in 2017 (31st overall) Kostin was acquired by the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday in a trade for defenseman Dmitri Samorukov. Kostin, 23, played 40 games (9 points) with the Blues and 17 in the AHL with Springfield (6 points) last season and signed a 1-year extension with the team in July. The big winger (6-3, 191) gets a fresh start in Bakersfield.  He joined the team on Thursday.

Key Losses

The Condors lost their No. 2 (Cooper Marody, 55 points) and No. 3 scorers (Adam Cracknell, 47 points). They also lost goaltender Stuart Skinner (2,21 GAA, fourth best in the AHL, and .920 save percentage, fifth best) who has graduated to the Edmonton Oilers.

Key Additions

Veteran center Greg McKegg (325 AHL games, 233 NHL games) comes to the Condors via a recently signed two-year, two-way NHL deal with the Oilers. He played 43 games with the New York Rangers last season and is starting his 11th season.

Goaltender Calvin Pickard signed a two-year deal with the Oilers in July and is expected to be the No. 1 in net for the Condors as he starts his 11th pro season (279 AHL, 116 NHL games).

Interesting late addition is veteran D-man Jason Demers who was signed to a PTO. Demers, who has played 699 NHL games, was in Edmonton camp on a PTO.

Key Injuries

The Condors start the season without forwards Justin Bailey (who played for Vancouver and Abbotsford last season), Tyler Benson, Raphael Lavoie and Carter Savoie. Defenseman Vincent Desharnais is also out. Expected return dates vary from as few days to mid-November.

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