Previewing the 2022-23 Bakersfield Condors

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BAKERSFIELD, CA - There is no direct flight from Bakersfield to Edmonton, but expect a lot of traffic going to and from the two cities this season.

At least in terms of hockey players.

The Oilers are up tight against the NHL salary cap (within $165 on their opening-day roster) and that's for just 21 active players, two short of the maximum number allowed. That means there are precious few extra bodies (make that just one extra body).

As it stands to start the season there is a thin line in Edmonton between being able to ice a full lineup and being instantly short a player. In fact, the Oilers played a man short (due to two injuries) in their season-opening game on Wednesday night.

It takes a true 'capologist' to understand the nuances for a multitude of situations but know this: there will be lots of movement between the U.S. and Canadian oil cities this season.

The Condors open their 25th season (West Coast Hockey League, ECHL and AHL) on Saturday at home with a new head coach and two new assistants.

Colin Chaulk, who was named interim head coach last February when head coach Jay Woodcroft and assistant Dave Manson left for Edmonton, shed the interim title when he was named head coach in June. Over the summer he added longtime NHL player Josh Green and Keith McCambridge (11 playing seasons, 13 coaching seasons) as assistants.

"There were two areas I wanted the assistants to have. I wanted some NHL experience and I wanted some AHL head coaching experience... and we felt like those guys were the best fit that could come in and work with our group and be in the inner circle," Chaulk said of his assistants.

The first week of training camp was void of many players who will be in that lineup as the Oilers waited as long as possible to make cuts.

Among those to recently join the Condors are forwards Mattias Janmark, and James Hamblin, defenseman Philip Broberg and goaltender Calvin Pickard.

New to the organization, and starting out in Bakersfield, is forward Klim Kostin, who was acquired in a trade with St. Louis for defenseman Dmitri Samorukov on Sunday.

The Condors are looking to improve from a fourth-place finish last season in the highly competitive Pacific Division (the top five Pacific Division teams made up half of the AHL’s top 10 last season).

Leading the way up front will be veteran Seth Griffith, who led the team with 80 points (30g, 50a) in 64 games last season.

Those late additions from the Oilers will be looked upon for offensive help as well as leadership.

Janmark has 420 NHL games and none in the AHL. Hamblin, who had 21 goals in his second season with the Condors, surprised many with a solid training camp in Edmonton and was among those cut on the final day.

Among the new faces to the Condors is center veteran Greg McKegg, who signed a two-year deal with the Oilers after playing 43 games for the New York Rangers last season. McKegg, 30, has played in 233 NHL games, all but three games at that level over the past four years.

Former Condors captain Brad Malone and McKegg were battling for a fourth-line role with the Oilers with Malone prevailing in the early competition.

Among the top newcomers is rookie right wing Xavier Bourgault, Edmonton’s first round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft. He will celebrate his 20th birthday on Opening Night. Bourgault is a proven scorer at the junior level and his best asset as he enters pro play could be his puck handling skills. There will be a lot of eyes on him this season.

Pickard, who starts his 11th pro season, is expected to get most of the work in goal. Third-year player Olivier Rodrigue and rookie Ryan Fanti are battling for the backup job and both remain with Bakersfield to start the season.

Defense should be the strong suit of the Condors, at least early in the season, as they return numerous players.

"They're big, have good sticks, know how to play and are more mature," Chaulk said of his defenseman. "And we have a veteran presence in net understanding his role."

Big-hitting Markus Niemelainen (6-foot-6, 190 pounds), who impressed in Edmonton’s training camp, could be an early recall but will be on hand opening night.

Broberg (6-3, 199) was recalled to Edmonton on Friday. Likely to be back in Bakersfield at some point as the Oilers are sure to want to see Niemelainen in action as well. Both players are waiver exempt.

Michael Kesselring (6-4, 190) had a strong showing in Edmonton and looked good in preseason AHL games and Phil Kemp (6-3, 202) has taken strides from last season.

And a late addition will bring a true veteran presence to the blueline.

Jason Demers (699 NHL games) was in Edmonton camp on a PTO, was released then signed a PTO with the Condors.

As for what he expects from his team, Chaulk said: "We just want to play with energy. What we're looking for is compete, blue collar, hard skills. That's been the message every day. We'd like to test our will, really push our will to the limits on a nightly basis."

The Roster

Goaltenders (3): Ryan Fanti, Calvin Pickard and Olicier Rodrigue

Defensemen (9): Adam Brubacher, Jason Demers, Yanni Kaldis, Philip Kemp, Michael Kesselring, Darien Kielb, Markus Niemelainen, Alex Peters and Slater Koekkoek

Forwards (18): Justin Bailey, Xavier Bourgault, Samuel Dove-McFalls, Filip Engaras, Luke Esposito, Seth Griffith, James Hamblin, Mattias Janmark, Dino Kambeitz, Klim Kostin, Raphael Lavoie, Greg McKegg, Graham McPhee, Noah Philp, Drake Rymsha, Carter Savoie, Devin Shore and Ty Tullio

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