Dineen Hopes To Continue Growing Game With Condors

BAKERSFIELD, CA - As far as Edmonton Oilers fans were concerned, it was just a couple of minor leaguers as a piece of a bigger move ahead of the NHL trading deadline.

First reports on March 2 had the Edmonton Oilers, looking to bolster their bottom six forward group, acquiring forward Nick Bjugstad from the Arizona Coyotes for a third-round draft pick.

But for fans of the Bakersfield Condors and Tucson Roadrunners it was a big deal.

Then came the details, which included American Hockey League players - defenseman Michael Kesselring was heading from the Condors to Arizona and Tucson defenseman Cam Dineen was headed to the Oilers organization and the Condors.

The well-liked Kesselring (a sixth-round pick of Edmonton in 2018) was having a breakout season as a second-year pro. The 6-foot-4, 190-pound 23-year old had 13 goals (most in the AHL among blueliners at that time) and nine assists in 49 games for Bakersfield.

Word is, the Coyotes had been eying Kesselring for some time.

He went right from the Condors to to the Coyotes, playing his first NHL game on March 3 against the Carolina Hurricanes (16:04 TOI and 1 hit) before being assigned to Tucson the next day.

Meanwhile, the 5-11, 188-pound Dineen, who led Roadrunners defensemen with 35 points (four goals, 31 assists), came to Bakersfield.

"I wasn't expecting it at all actually," he said of the trade, following Bakersfield's 6-5 win over Texas on Wednesday. "It caught me off guard. I was a little shocked. But I've played against these guys a ton and I know a lot of them, familiar faces so I knew right away I was going into a good spot with a good opportunity."

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The 24-year old Dineen (a third-round pick by Arizona in 2016) is in his sixth pro season, all of which was spent in the Arizona organization before the trade. He played 34 games with the Coyotes (seven assists) last season.

Dineen had a pair of assists in the win over Texas, including one on the game-winning power-play goal - a shot by Seth Griffith redirected into the net by Justin Bailey.

"Obviously he's a power play guy and I think you see the poise he had on the goal there, just waiting for Griff to get to a spot," Condors coach Colin Chaulk said of Dineen. "His poise, getting shots through, taking an extra half a second, looking for a lane. Those are things that he helps our team win."

Dineen has been paired with Yanni Kaldis since arriving in Bakersfield. Kaldis (six goals, 17 assists in 41 games) had a lot of power-play time before Dineen's acquisition.

"Yanni Kaldis is a very similar player but Cam brings another element as well," Chaulk said. "It's a nice compliment to those guys being together."

"Obviously power play," Dineen said of his role with the Condors. "I'm going to try to help those guys out, move the puck. I think on the back end too, just move the puck up, get the puck into the forwards' hands. That's my strength. Just kind of solidify things back there."