Connor Clattenburg already got a brief look at the NHL last season, and now he’s back at Oilers Development Camp trying to turn those five games into something bigger.
The fifth-round pick in the 2024 draft is still very much in the early stages of his pro career, but the identity is clear. He plays with an edge, welcomes the rough stuff and brings a style that feels built for another era. After wrapping up his major junior run with the Flint Firebirds, he became a full-time pro with the Bakersfield Condors last season and has now reached his third Oilers Development Camp.
“My main goal is just to make the big squad and stay around here,” said Clattenburg at Oilers Development Camp. “I’m going to do everything I can to play at the next level and just keep pushing myself, pushing guys around me to just make me better.”
His first NHL call-up came early last season when Edmonton needed a spark during a difficult seven-game road trip that ended against the Florida Panthers. Clattenburg said the whole experience hit fast.
“That whole week was just pretty crazy,” said Clattenburg. “I didn’t know any of that was going to happen, and to have my family there to watch it all happen and play the former Cup champions was pretty cool for the first one.”
He didn’t just make an appearance. The 20-year-old brought energy, stayed up with the club for four more games and quickly became a player fans noticed.
His home debut against the Dallas Stars produced his first NHL goal, along with nearly 13 minutes of ice time in a lopsided loss. He later dropped the gloves with Frederick Gaudreau in Seattle, his first NHL fight.
“Going to that Dallas game, I was just fired up to play, and I got that opportunity, and it was just a dream come true,” he said. “That’s when you realize that you’ve made that level, and it’s pretty fun to celebrate with the family.
“It was unreal here, and I’ll never forget it.”
The next stretch was less smooth. An eye injury cost him most of December, and after being sent back to Bakersfield, he was set back again just a week later when he broke his hand and needed surgery.
Still, he got a meaningful dose of pro hockey. In 32 games with the Condors, Clattenburg posted two goals and four points while piling up 131 penalty minutes across nine fighting majors.
“It was a big difference to jump into pro hockey and learn from the higher-level coaches and just have a lot of bigger guys around me, a lot of vets,” said Clattenburg.
“Just learning from those guys, seeing what they do each day, it really made a difference in my career last year. I know the injuries kind of derailed me a bit, but it’s just part of the game.
You’ve got to put your head down and just keep working. I’ve dealt with that, I’ve learned from that, and I’m just ready to go this year.”
Clattenburg is still a raw player, with only 38 professional games under his belt, but he’s clearly earned his way into this conversation. He also admitted to Tony Brar of OilersTV two years ago that he had doubts growing up about whether he could reach this level.
A big part of his progress has come under Condors head coach Colin Chaulk, who recently signed a contract extension to remain in Bakersfield. Clattenburg credited Chaulk, a former pro, for pushing him and helping him keep moving forward.
At six-foot-two and 215 pounds, Clattenburg is still filling out physically. He knows the next step is about more than just being hard to play against. His skating and puck skills have to come along with the toughness if he wants to stick in the NHL.
“You’ve got to get better at all parts of your games and it’s just each little step at a time,” he said. “My puck handling is one thing I want to really improve, and it’s just going to take my game to the next level.
My skating too. If I improve that, it can really change the game a little bit.
So, just working on those things to take the next step.
“I’m excited for this next camp. I’m confident and I’m ready to rock when it comes.”
In Other News...
Why Kapanens Oilers Fit Suddenly Feels A Lot More Real
Kasperi Kapanens return to Edmonton on a one-year, $2.6 million deal gives the Oilers another familiar piece for the bottom six, and it comes with a little more context than a routine depth signing. His history with Mike Babcock in Toronto matters here, because that was the stretch when Kapanen flashed the most complete version of his game and earned a bigger role than just a speed-and-skill winger.
The fit also feels more real because it is not just about what Kapanen has already done, but where the organizational overlap is headed. He is expected to reconnect with Babcock in the 2026-27 season, alongside other former Maple Leafs already in the mix, which gives this move a longer view than a simple one-year bet. For Edmonton, it is another sign that the roster is being built with some very specific familiarity in mind. [Read more 🡒]
Connor McDavid Suddenly Faces A Real Concern Under Edmontons New Coach
Connor McDavid is heading into a season where the biggest question may not be how dominant he can be, but how much room a new coach will give him to keep piling up points. Mike Babcocks reputation for a tighter, more defensive approach has prompted some early speculation about whether Edmontons offense could be asked to trade a little flash for structure, even if McDavid still looks capable of producing at an elite level.
The concern is less about whether he remains the engine of the Oilers and more about whether the ceiling shifts at all under that style of play. Some around the league are already wondering if a more controlled system could shave a bit off McDavids peak totals, leaving Edmonton to balance its best players brilliance against the demands of a different kind of hockey. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Still Have One Roster Question Fans Can't Ignore
A cluster of recognizable names is still sitting on the NHL market, and that keeps the conversation alive for a team like Edmonton, which is always looking for another way to sharpen its attack. Anthony Mantha, Patrick Kane, Patrik Laine, Vladimir Tarasenko, Michael Bunting and Eeli Tolvanen all remain unsigned, giving the Oilers a menu of different skill sets to consider as they weigh how best to add scoring without disrupting the core.
Tarasenko stands out because he brings the kind of complementary offense and playoff seasoning that can fit beside elite talent without demanding a major commitment. Edmonton appears to be shopping for a quick fix rather than a long-term bet, which makes this a narrow search, and one that still leaves a familiar question hanging over the roster as the market keeps moving. [Read more 🡒]