The Oilers’ Bakersfield group doesn’t have a flashy headliner up front, but there are still a few names worth watching closely as the season unfolds.
William Nicholl is the lone 20-year-old forward in the Condors lineup, and the read on him is pretty straightforward: there’s something there, but the payoff likely comes later. He brings speed and two-way ability, and if he reaches the NHL, it sounds like that arrival would be closer to the back end of his entry deal than the front of it.
Beyond Nicholl, the forward group is described as a pretty ordinary one. Josh Samanski was stronger a year ago, though that came with Ike Howard on his wing, and skill tends to drive a lot of that.
Quinn Hutson is producing at a level that makes a recall feel unlikely. Viljami Marjala adds some extra value because he’s a center, but even that doesn’t make him a likely Edmonton option this winter.
Eduards Tralmaks did get a bump up the depth chart this week, and he made the most of it with two goals. Aku Raty is the top recall candidate from the group, at least in this view, even if he isn’t seen as a unique player or a clear upgrade. The point is simpler than that: he’s playing well when he’s in the lineup.
The more encouraging part of the system sits on the blue line. Damien Carfagna is being called the top defensive prospect in the organization, ranked third overall behind Ike Howard and Samuel Jonsson, and he’s been excellent since arriving in Bakersfield.
Carfagna is 23, one year older than Czech defenseman Tomas Cibulka, who could be close to his equal. Both skate well, and both are described as composed players with a wide range of skills.
Atro Leppanen is back in action, and there’s hope Carfagna returns soon as well.
Samuel Jonsson’s path has also been a bright spot. The idea that he might head back to Sweden for this season was called nonsensical, especially after he’d already put together two strong seasons. Early in 2026-27, he’s continuing to turn in impressive work with the Condors, and the optimism around his development is clear.
The broader point here is that age-20 AHL production matters, and the Oilers have seen plenty of examples over the years. The organization has had success stories, missed chances, and a few cases where players simply didn’t make the jump to 100 NHL games despite looking promising in the minors. Some were slowed by injuries, some by management decisions, and some by opportunities elsewhere in Europe.
On the Lowdown today, Steve Lansky will join as the feature guest. The conversation will cover the Grey Cup, what used to be on HNIC Toronto broadcasts on Saturday nights, the NL weekend, and McDavid’s record breaking season. The show runs noon to 2pm on Sports 1440 and You Tube.
In Other News...
Flyers Loss Added To An Oilers Trend With Huge Stakes
Connor McDavid and the Oilers have given themselves another early-season cushion, beating the Philadelphia Flyers in overtime to improve to 14-3-3 and briefly move atop the NHL standings with 31 points. It has been a fast start by any measure, and one that puts Edmonton in a familiar place: right in the middle of the leagues conversation before December has even arrived.
The bigger question is what comes next, because this kind of opening has not been new territory for the Oilers. Edmonton has now reached at least 30 points through its first 20 games for the fifth time, and the team has lived through a range of endings after those hot starts. The recent history is what makes this stretch feel so loaded, with the early points piling up and the pressure to turn them into something lasting only growing from here. [Read more 🡒]
Babcocks Return To Toronto Adds Extra Heat For The Oilers
Mike Babcocks return to Toronto gives this meeting a little extra edge, even before the puck drops. Now behind the bench for the Oilers, he is walking back into the building where he once coached the Maple Leafs, a stop that included both real success and plenty of difficult moments. Edmonton arrives with the kind of standing that changes the tone of a road trip, sitting atop the Pacific Division and carrying the look of a team expected to be in the thick of things all season.
For Toronto, the backdrop is different now. Under new head coach Jim Hiller, the Maple Leafs are trying to steady themselves in a crowded Atlantic Division, and any game against a contender already comes with its own pressure. Add Babcocks history with the organization, and this one carries a bit more emotion than a typical regular-season matchup, with the Leafs facing a coach who knows their market well and an Oilers team that has plenty of reasons to treat the night as more than just another stop. [Read more 🡒]
Connor Murphy Is Becoming An Oilers Problem They Can't Ignore
Connor Murphys place in the Oilers blue-line picture is starting to draw more attention than the team probably wants. Edmontons record has kept the focus on bigger-picture success, but Murphys underlying numbers have not matched the clubs standing, and the concern is less about one bad night than a stretch of play that has analysts questioning how much value he is providing at even strength. In a season where the Oilers are trying to stay sharp at the back end, that kind of scrutiny tends to linger.
The wrinkle is that Murphys struggles may not be happening in a vacuum. The second defensive pairing around him has not given Edmonton much support, which makes it harder to separate individual issues from a broader depth problem. With returning players eventually changing the mix and the front office still weighing what the blue line should look like long term, Murphys role could end up depending as much on the teams next move as on his own play. [Read more 🡒]