MONDAY FEATURE: Condors' GM Gretzky Enjoys Hands-On Role

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BAKERSFIELD, CA - It didn't happen overnight, but the more time Edmonton Oilers Assistant General Manager Keith Gretzky spent in Bakersfield, the more he came to realize how important it was for him to be around the Bakersfield Condors.

Hired by the Oilers in the summer of 2016, Gretzky was often in Bakersfield during his first two seasons but not on a full time basis.

That changed when Ken Holland became General Manager of the Oilers in 2018 and Gretzky’s role was changed. Holland wanted an emphasis on the Condors, and Gretzky added GM of the Condors to his title.

Now Gretzky has an office in Bakersfield right next to the coaching staff and spends almost the entire season with the Condors - at home and on the road.

"I think it's very important," Gretzky said of role and being around the team on a full time basis. "I didn't realize it at first. It was probably two years ago, during the pandemic, that I realized how important it was being around the locker room every day, seeing everything and being there for them."

As a former player, coach (his first coaching job was as head coach of the Bakersfield Fog) and scout, Gretzky brings a wealth of experience to the job.

He is, among other things, Holland's eyes and ears in Bakersfield, although Holland keeps a close tab on his primary affiliation as well.

"Ken watches every game when the Oilers aren't playing," Gretzky said of his boss. "I know he's watching because he'll text or call."

"This is our future and he's the one who wanted me down here to watch. With all his experience he knows you have to be there, ride the bus, be with the team. When (the players) see you're here every day they know. They know you're all in."

Several current Oilers have percolated with the Condors at the AHL level before heading up, the most recent being goaltender Stuart Skinner, who was up and down with the big club last season.

"Players are going to get opportunities and we want them to be in a position to succeed when they get those opportunities," Gretzky told InsideAHLHockey.com.

Case in point: Edmonton skating coach David Pelletier spent this past week in Bakersfield working with the players.

As for prospects, the Condors have a pair of first-rounders currently on their roster - rookie forward Xavier Bourgault (22nd overall in 2021) and second-year defenseman Philp Broberg (8th overall in 2019) and a handful of other youngsters who could get a shot in the NHL.

"Look at [defenseman Michael] Kesselring," Gretzky said of the Oilers sixth-round pick in 2018. "He’s a prime example of growth from a couple of years ago to last year and now this year. And it's not about the goals with Kess (who leads the team with six) it's about defending, about being stronger, being harder and you see those things."

"We all want these players to succeed, but we know it's a marathon, not a sprint. We all want them sooner than later but in reality it's hard [to make it to the NHL]."

Following back-to-back wins on the weekend over San Diego and Ontario, The Condors have started 7-3-1 and have won three straight - their latest two wins moving them into first place in the Pacific Division.

"We haven't played that great, that's the good news,” Gretzky said. "Our goaltending has been solid. We've had a lot of injuries but we're getting healthier, which is good."

A severe wrist injury to Edmonton’s Evander Kane (a skate slice in Tuesday night's against Tampa) has opened to door for recalls and Mattias Janmark and Klim Kostin were called up to the Oilers on Wednesday.

That means a couple of openings up front for the Condors and larger roles for some players.

"Everybody says  'I need an opportunity,' so here's your opportunity," Gretzky said.

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