This is the first Bakersfield Condors team. It’s a fantastic team with a searing future. Leon Draisaitl (790 NHL games, 956 points, four major awards), Darnell Nurse (716 NHL games, with a five-on-five goal share of 52 percent (326-299) over the past five regular seasons combined) and a pile of kids who would play in the NHL:
- Leon Draisiatl 790 NHL games
- Darnell Nurse 716
- Tyler Pitlick 420
- Jordan Oesterle 408
- Jujhar Khaira 337
- Brad Hunt 288
- Iiro Pakarinen 134
Tyler Ptlick has two cousins, Rem and Rhett Pitlick. The Bakersfield Condors signed both to AHL contracts yesterday and I think it was a smart move by the organization. I’ll give Stan Bowman credit, but it takes a village and we should acknowledge Kalle Larsson’s contributions to the cause as well.
The Pitlick boys have some things to recommend them. Rem was a third-round pick by the Nashville Predators in 2016. He is 28, has played in 132 NHL games and in his last 77 AHL regular-season games has posted 24 goals and 46 assists (70 points). He’s a 5.11, 186 center and could be described as an upgrade on Drake Caggiula (who signed with Lausanne in the Swiss League).
Rhett Pitlick is a 24-year old undersized winger who played some games in Bakersfield late in the 2024-25 season. He was a 5th round pick by the Montreal Canadiens in 2019. In his last 78 games of NCAA hockey (with two Minnesota schools) he posted 32-44-76 and has some offensive spark, too. Pitlick had six assists in six games with the Condors this spring.
I like the bets, both of them. Ten years from now, Tyler Pitlick may still be the only member of the family to wear Oilers threads, but this is a fine place to be shopping for AHL deals. These two fellows can play, and once in the system, considering injuries and performances spikes and downbears, you never know. The Pitlick boys are not distant bells. That’s the point. They are going to compete for minutes in Bakersfield, and that’s one plane ticket from the show. Well done by the organization.
Evander Kane
The Oilers had two unique wingers (Zach Hyman, Evander Kane) and now have one. Trading Kane was a no-brainer for Edmonton, the club needs room to wheel under the cap. The return is a fourth-round pick, and that’s typically William Lagesson but maybe the Oilers’ scouts hit a big fly.
The thing I want to see is the next unique winger come through the system. This team is aging out now, having won zero Stanley Cups. The wingers who are 30+ next season, even with Kane gone: Hyman, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Mattias Janmark, plus Connor Brown and Corey Perry if they bring him back. More if Adam Henrique plays wing.
For me, a key component for this team is to get younger on the wings. Play Matt Savoie! If he posts 7 goals and 15 points through 41 games and the coaching staff doesn’t think he can stand up to the rigors of playoff hockey, then deal him then. He’ll have more value because he’s in the NHL.
I would not stop there. Savoie and Vasily Podkolzin need some help over in the department of youth. Roby Jarventie should get a look, Quinn Hutson, Josh Samanski, Viljami Marjala, Matvey Petrov and others. Older players who are still young enough to develop into longer-term solutions include Noah Philp, Max Jones and (if he signs) Trent Frederic. The Oilers best winger in the final was 40. That’s not good!
On the Lowdown today, we’ll have Bagged Milk as our feature guest, and talk about Oilers at the draft and in free agency. All starts at noon, Sports 1440!
Matt Copponi signed by Condors to an AHL deal. There is a small chance for this guy. Good to have him in the org.
The thing with Kane/ Kassian and lesser with Maroon and Lucic is that on a high skilled team they can stick out like a sore thumb. The refs already know who’s getting the penalties before the game starts.
With a filthy team like Florida they are all deserving of penalties, nobody sticks out.
One unusual risk with Frederic is that he tries to become the next Kane or Kassian. By that I mean the less physical are looking for him to take care of business instead of taking care of their own business.
I would like to see Frederic as a hard nose type player. I don’t want to see him take on an enforcer role, or be the only person playing rugged. That will lead him to the penalty box and the fourth line.
Maybe it’s rep for Kane but Frederic did pretty well in playoffs regarding penalties. He was 3rd but drew at least as many – I looked it up last week and don’t exactly remember but I think he drew more than he took. Add to that his system play was excellent. He is a way better all round player than Kane Kassian and Lucic. He seems to have more game sense than Kane and Kassian and although he fights he seems to know when to do what, like Perry normally
I won’t be surprised if they re-up Perry so there are two forwards that know the dark arts well
I really thought Frederic and Kane would be the difference makers in the series, Kane was targeted by the Refs and Frederic was always a half-step short. I expected Kane to be dealt out of conference but I think Bowman did him a solid and sent him back home where he’ll see PP minutes and will score 22-25 in a contract year.
Why in the world would they increase the regular season to 84 games?!?
Ruin all records. Terrible idea.
It probably rhymes with honey.
The season has been 84 games previously. 1992-94.
No star player is going to play 84 games. Oilers and Panthers showed off the load management model this year and everyone is going to copy.
And so they should. 84! Egad.
Play all the home games (fans are paying for it), skip a road trip or two. Save the regular season wear and tear for the season that matters.
Time to get a new # on my Pitlick jersey!
No hypothetical trade scenarios for McDavid today? Thank Gord.
Yesterday’s proposal-McDavid to the Leafs for a handful of forwards and a loaf of 3 week old banana bread?
I did NOT want to have to start huffing ether*again*
If the new CBA shortens the maximum length of contracts, Does that give McDavid and Bouchard the nudge they need to sign for the full 8 years while they can? Probably doesn’t make a huge difference being they are taking just one year off the max.
Probably not, and I think there’s a solid case that they are both better off signing a shorter term deal, and then signing the max term deal when they’re around 30 given how much the cap is going up over the next few years.
There was an earlier comment, since removed, stating that 4 year contracts for McDavid and Bouchard are seeming likely. Where did this come from, is this what’s being said in local media?
2 Mutts posted earlier about 4yrs x 10M for Bouch seeming close after reporting 8 yrs x 10 a couple days ago, so take that with however much salt you prefer. Lebrun in the Athletic seemed to speculate 4 yrs x ~9 M for Bouch but didn’t seem as much of a rumor and just an idea.
Haven’t seen any reporting from credible sources on terms or $ for Connor, all just speculation at this point.
There was also the suggestion that shorter deals meant doom on the horizon. Don’t agree at all.
From previous: The idea that the max term deals are an inherently good thing needs to die a fiery death.
The NHL’s ridiculous contract limitations mean that you can’t use them to the advantage you would in other leagues, dropping your cap hit and allowing teams to build a true powerhouse.
If they could give McDavid either an absolute ton of deferred money, or even better, a percentage of ownership, as part of his contract, that would be wonderful and mutually beneficial.
The NHL doesn’t believe in such things. They want middling porridge rather than truly great teams.
I think other teams have been able to build powerhouses without needing to utilize things like back-diving contract, deferred money, etc.
it gets easier when you aren’t spending a material portion of your cap every year on buyouts/buried contracts, or carrying several bloated/albatross contracts on your roster
As per Frank Seravalli, some big NHL changes are coming tomorrow.
an 84-game regular season/4-game preseason
no player dress code
lowering maximum contract lengths by one year
the LTIR loophole closing
no deferred salary
full-time EBUGS see what shakes out u guess
We might finally see the players show off some personal style!
Like f-ugly sweats and other juvenalia? Ugh.
A dress code.
An off-ice behaviour code.
A little structure and expectation for young guys with too much money is a good thing, for all of us.
Not one of those things related to contracts is a positive.
A bigger factor isn’t listed above and its a cap on the amount of the contract that can be signing bonus to 60% – that hurts teams like the Oilers as well.
They are going the wrong way in terms of number of games played. Season should not be more than 65 games. Just my opinion.
I agree. Season is too long. Playoffs need to be done by memorial day.
Mo Money!!
Mo Problems!!
Agreed. Ask professional soccer about adding more games/more tournaments, etc.
The no dress code thing is long over due.
About 20 years ago, I met with a bunch of GMs and scouts who were interested in drafting me, but none of them did after I made it clear that I would exclusively be wearing my “I ❤️ to Fart” t-shirt on game days.
Here I thought there would be a comment on the new Bellenciaga Durags.
Wish they would start the season a couple weeks earlier, and shorten the number of regular season games, not add more.
I don’t think these are coming tomorrow – they are presenting an agreed upon framework for the new CBA but the current CBA does not expire until after this coming season (and I don’t think the fullsome new agreement is finalized).
The new CBA (four years) would be in force September 2026.
I am VERY hopeful that Jarventie was healthy heading in to the summer and was able to full hockey train (as opposed to rehab).
No doubt he’ll start the season in the AHL (he played two games last season after missing the second half the season before), however, based on his two games last season (best play on the ice by far in one and very good in the other), he is a legit NHL prospect and all but ready.
If he can just play games and games and games, I think he could be an NHL option for the second line by the time the calendar turns.
Samanski is intriguing by what I’ve read but I have no opinion as I’ve never seen him play.
Hutson, based on what I did see (in NHL and a few tidbits in the NCAA), well, I would be surprised if we see him in the NHL this season.
It’s too bad he got injured in his first game. I thought he was long gone but him and his agent must believe he has the goods and if so will get a opportunity in the bottom six.
Fingers crossed. We desperately need a player like Jarventie to break through.
If Mcdavid wants to win he should really sign a contract 4 x 12.5. I realize it’s hard to turn down millions, but if winning is the priority he can’t be worried about who makes more then him. Also if Mcdavid wants to sign a 4 x 16 I would really look at a trade.
Unfortunately won’t happen as I think there’s also pressure from the players association to push salaries higher. I’m with you though, if, as they say, their number one priority is winning they should take less but they won’t. One could argue that $14M for Drai, $17M for McD, and $10.5M for Bouch are taking less and although I agree, based on how good they are, in the collective it’s just too much until the cap reaches $130-$140M.
You don’t have to look to far to see how Florida’s cap is structured and realize why they have the depth they have. I know there are tax benefits in Florida but despite that they have numerous value contracts. Perhaps got lucky on some but it’s also a culture they created. Bennett is likely going to be the next example of that. He could command $10+M in the open market, maybe more, but have a feeling he’ll sign for $8×8 in Florida because of said culture and desire to win.
McDavid, Drai, and Bouch coming in at $40M to start the 2026-2027 season with the cap only at ~$105M makes it basically impossible to ice a 3rd, especially 4th line, 5/6D, or goalie of high quality.
If they don’t win it all because they produce 0pts in games 5/6/7 of the SCF it’s not the coaches nor the GM depth signings fault. It’s because they’re missing a $5-6M player somewhere on the roster that can help get it done.
Like the injured Hyman and RNH?
Yes and no. It’s the another $5-6M player, or upgrade at other position (i.e. goalie), they currently don’t, nor will, have.
The NHL has a hard cap. Pushing cap hits higher for the best players that represent 10% of their membership materially hurts the earning power of the other 90% of their membership. The PA wants the cap to rise for sure, but I don’t see any scenario where they want the best players to be paid more. That thinking materially hurts the vast majority of the membership. The PA didn’t care when Crosby took a significant home town discount, and they won’t care if McDavid does either.
This assumes all teams spend to the cap each year (which they do not). You’re only cannibalizing the salaries of other players if each team spends to the cap.
If it creates cap-crunches where good teams can’t afford to keep a roster together, and some of their players leave in free agency to take more money than their original team could afford to offer them from a team that wasn’t already spending to the cap, the total amount of $ paid to players increases.
Also, if the best players get paid more, because the way players/agents/teams negotiate is through comparables, it raises upper-bound on what players can reasonably ask for.
I think the reason the P.A. didn’t care when Crosby took a discount (and I think there probably was some consternation behind the scenes), was because he was not in his prime years at a point where his next contract would/could push the envelope or set a new upper-bound for player salaries.
Good point. What I don’t get is after they go 0-fer in the last two games, they say winning is #1 over anything else, then turn around and sign $14M, $17M, and $11M dollar deals. We all know they can command that salary, possibly more, based on their production but the unfortunate reality is the cap of a single team cannot, until those deals are 50-60% complete and the cap catches up.
Dont get me wrong, its an absolute treat to watch these guys play and I’m incredibly grateful to have them and be competitive but also realize that we have to live with below average goaltending or some other weakness and if that hole eventually gets patched, another will be created somewhere else.
I think he’s a lock for the team and, while we won’t know for sure until he plays in the NHL, he is fully ready and fully ready to make an impact.
I say that based on AHL viewings but knowing that one cannot prove NHL readiness in the AHL – only in the NHL – he’ll get that chance.
I think he has a GREAT skill set to play with Drai as he’s very smart and very good at finding soft ice (and has a good shot when fed), good in the “give and go game”, sneaky good in board battle and skilled.
I also think he can play a real solid 3rd line type of game because he is full effort on every shift and very good 2-way – very responsible. He was also on the PK from game 1 to the end of the season in Bako.
I’m sure he’ll play both those roles this coming season and should be a good value contract this season and a massive one next season.
In our short viewings of him this year, he demonstrated the capability even if he wasn’t there yet. Next fall he should be on the roster and play consistently as a development priority.
Agreed – hopefully Knob gives him some real rope to make mistakes and play through some slumps without moving him down (in particular on to the fourth line – I’d have all day from his as Nuge’s RW on the third line, for example, if he’s struggling on Drai’s line offensively for a stint) –
If Evander Kane was likely to score 25 goals and provide solid aggression through the 82 game schedule then, yes, it may have made sense to keep him but I think that’s unlikely.
He turns 34 before the season and has been injured most of the time over the last couple of years (in various forms).
There is standard age regression, power forward regression, aggregate injury regression at play here and I think it makes sense to open up the cap space.
I’m not sure on the speculated Frederic contract but its going to happen – I an confident that Frederic will out perform Kane this season in aggregate – this is because I think Kane will play many less than 82 games and I’m talking “full game” – Frederic is better in all areas but straight scoring and swagger/aggression – PK, 2-way, board battles, skater, versatility, etc.
Kane might score 20 or 25 because he can shoot but he’ll get 10 assists because he can’t make plays.
I told a Canucks fan yesterday that Kane’s floor is still Dakota Joshua’s ceiling.
I don’t see him all of a sudden staying healthy to do that – I mean, after the freak wrist thing, there have been broken ribs and then the hernia/core thing and then the knee thing – given his style and he’s turning 34 this summer….
He can score but with the penalties and weak play in the details I can see why they would move on even if the cap hit was workable
When the details and 60 min effort aren’t there offense can disappear when things get tight. To me Florida and Tampa show how important it is to championships. I hope to see some nice additions at F and improvement as a group at this. Finally hit their full potential
If we’re looking for a proper upgrade to our forwards, I’d love to shop in the Philly aisle. Konecny is probably a pipe dream, but another guy who I’ve always noticed in a good way when we play Philly is Owen Tippett. I think he could complement our thoroughbreds in a great way. The rumours about Maccelli are probably more aligned with the type of “buy-low” find we need though.
I also would love us to try to obtain K’Andre Miller if he could be had for cheap. Bouch-Miller-Emberson/Stecher is a very reasonable right side D. Miller’s stock has fallen but the tools are there. He does need a new contract though I believe. If we could include Kulak in the deal, or later trade Kulak for something else, we’re cooking.
I would have time for Mantha as a UFA as well, depending on the price point.
I really like Tippett as a target but I think we’d need to have Nurse off the books to make the $ work.
What does Kevyn Adams think the ceiling is for Michael Kesslelring?
I have a very high opinion of MK and think he can be a solid middle pair guy. I’m not sure I’d trade a young top line forward for him …
It wasn’t a 1-for-1.
Doan isn’t chopped liver.
An Arvidsson for Maccelli type of deal would have the forward group shaping up quite nicely.
Maccelli McDavid Hyman
Pod Draisaitl Savoie
Frederic Nuge Brown
Janmark Tomasek UFA
UFA Hamblin
Swap Nuge and Maccelli as/when necessary 🙂
Above also assumes Henrique agrees to waive his NMC and is traded.
Assuming Fred signs for $3.75M, Bouch $10.25M, and Brown at $1.75M there would be $4.25M left in cap space with the following 22 man roster:
Macc McD Hyman
Podz Drai Savoie
Fred RNH Brown
Jan Tom X
Hamblin
Ek Bouch
Nurse Wal
Kulak Emb
Stech
Stu
Pic
From the thread: Bakersfield: Home: #7 J. Khaira
Congratulations Jujhar Khaira for winning the Calder Cup.
He’s a tough warrior
I recall being excited to see Jujhar years ago when the Condors visited the Gulls. He stepped on the ice, the whistle blew, and immediately dropped the gloves. He was kicked out of the game and that’s all we saw from Jujhar that night. He made it memorable, I guess 🙂
Good to see him overcome the head shots.