We’re just days from the Edmonton Oilers’ training camp roster taking shape, and general manager Stan Bowman’s comments this week point to a pretty quiet camp on the invite and late-signing front. That matters because it gives us an early read on both the NHL group and, by extension, what Bakersfield could look like in 2026-27.
The Condors sit at the heart of Edmonton’s depth plan. They’re the safety net, the pipeline, the place where the Oilers expect usable players to be ready when the call comes. And on paper, this looks like a Bakersfield roster built more for grinding, killing penalties and holding water than lighting up the scoreboard.
That doesn’t mean there isn’t talent. It just means the scoring load may fall on a pretty small group.
Ike Howard was the Condors’ top offensive force last season, finishing at better than a point per game. The expectation is that he stays with the big club this fall, which would leave Colin Chaulk looking for someone else to carry the attack. The good news for Bakersfield is that there are a few real options.
Quinn Hutson is back after scoring 30 goals. Viljami Marjala returns after piling up 43 assists.
Atro Leppänen, a puck-moving defenceman, produced 38 points in 53 games. The Oilers also brought in Eduards Tralmaks, who scored 26 goals with the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins, and late-summer addition Aku Räty arrives after a strong offensive season in the Finnish Liiga.
If Howard does wind up back in Bakersfield, that changes the ceiling fast. It would give the Condors a real difference-maker and likely a short-term one at that, since his path points back to the NHL.
Seth Griffith, who owns the franchise lead in most offensive categories, is also returning on an AHL deal. The cleanest-looking first line heading into camp is Tralmaks-Marjala-Hutson, and both Tralmaks and Hutson have a shot to get past 35 goals if they stick with the club.
The Condors’ single-season goals mark is 30, set by Griffith in 2021-22 and matched by Hutson last season.
Center is where things get especially interesting. Marjala looks like the clear favourite for the top line, but the rest of the depth chart is going to be sorted out on the fly.
Owen Michaels arrives as a college centre who will turn pro this fall. He shoots right, brings a useful two-way game and, at 24, has a bit of an edge in experience over the other younger arrivals.
William Nicholl is another first-year pro, a quick two-way pivot with some offensive touch who looked good in a late-season look with Bakersfield. Tucker Robertson adds a different profile: a right-handed centre with 140 AHL games under his belt and a reputation as a hardworking, defence-first depth option.
The situation gets thinner because injuries to Matt Savoie and Mattias Janmark mean Josh Samanski, who was last year’s top AHL centre, should make the Oilers this fall. That leaves Bakersfield exposed at the position, especially with Michaels and Nicholl still without real pro experience.
Robertson, even without an NHL contract, is still a legitimate AHL piece. Chaulk may have to juggle lines all season, and Edmonton could be forced to add help later on.
On the wings, the Condors should have enough pieces to build a second scoring line early, but it will take some sorting out. Räty and Griffith will battle for the second-line right wing spot behind Hutson, and both bring real offense.
On the left side, Max Jones could grab the second-line job behind Tralmaks unless he remains with Edmonton. A year ago, Jones looked better in the NHL than in Bakersfield; if he carries that version of his game back to the AHL, he could take over the top-line left wing spot.
Connor Clattenburg also stands out as a useful fit for this group. He’s the kind of old-school player who can agitate, fight, and still chip in offensively, and with the Condors focused on developing younger talent, he should have a meaningful role.
James Stefan and Brady Stonehouse are both in that in-between zone - good enough to push for AHL jobs, but also candidates to spend time with the ECHL Fort Wayne Komets. Both are on NHL deals.
The AHL-only wing options include Daniel D’Amato, Ethan Keppen, Simon Tassy, Hunter Johannes - listed at 6 feet 4 and 225 pounds - and Josh Davies, who is actually a centre.
Defence could end up being a strength, but only if the roster survives camp intact. A few quality blueliners will need to clear waivers, and if they do, Chaulk should have a solid group to work with.
Alec Regula, a right-shot defender, and Spencer Stastney, a left-shot defender, both look like players who could be vulnerable to demotion. Bowman will likely try to protect the organization from losing them, which could mean a trade for one or both.
If they do land in Bakersfield, they’d be top-four options right away.
Leppänen is the offensive engine on the blue line, while Damien Carfagna brings strong two-way play and should eat important minutes. Both are lefties, and both look like they’ll be leaned on heavily.
Riley Stillman returns, though injuries and inconsistency were part of his season last year. Tomáš Cibulka, a newcomer from the Czech league, is the wild card in the mix and projects as depth for now.
On the right side, Josh Brown is back in a shutdown role and could see NHL action this season based on management’s summer comments. Beau Akey is another right-shot option, one with mobility and good coverage ability, though the organization doesn’t seem to frame him as a future solution just yet.
He’s listed at 6 feet and 173 pounds on the AHL website, which may be part of the concern about his size. Samuel Sjölund, John Gormley and Zach Bookman are all on AHL-only deals.
In goal, Bakersfield has more bodies than open starts. Connor Ungar and Samuel Jonsson are both prospects who need real work, whether that’s in Bakersfield or Fort Wayne. Matt Tomkins gives the group a veteran AHL starter, Nathaniel Day is another prospect in the system, and Eemil Vinni joins as a 2024 Oilers draft pick on an AHL-only deal.
The best guess has Tomkins and Ungar in Bakersfield, Jonsson heading back to Fort Wayne as the better prospect, and the others moving through the ECHL. That’s a crowded crease, but for a farm team, it’s the kind of competition Edmonton can live with.
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