The Edmonton Oilers worked long and hard over the summer in an effort to improve the quality of the team’s top farm club for 2025-26. Management specifically added several forwards to the system with an eye to increased scoring and better results in all game states.

The Bakersfield Condors reached the 10-game mark on Friday night with a strong effort in a win versus the Henderson Silver Knights. The club delivered another solid performance and won Saturday night against Henderson. Those wins improved the Condors to 5-4-2 after an otherwise lacklustre start to the season.

Coach Colin Chaulk has a challenge ahead of him this season. The team has scored 35 goals and allowed 40 so far this year, and has frankly been chaos incorporated defensively at times. The even-strength goal share (24-28) indicates the problem is happening outside special teams. The power play (nine goals for, two against when owning the man advantage) and the penalty kill (10 goals against, Condors have two short-handed goals) are both high-event but breaking even.

The key for Chaulk and the Oilers organization is developing NHL talent. Those even-strength minutes are important, and with a 46 percent goal share in the game state, there’s work to do. How are the prospect forwards doing? Is there historical precedent for any of the current Condors forwards to project as future NHL players? Here’s a look.

Then and now

One of the key elements in looking at minor-league numbers is to extract special teams scoring totals in order to level the playing field. It’s important because even-strength playing time is the largest game state, and chances are an AHL impact power-play forward isn’t going to get those cherry minutes once arriving in the NHL.

What is the prospect forward doing in the game state he’ll land in should he reach the NHL? The past informs the present.

The 2006-07 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins housed two Oilers prospects (Rob Schremp and Kyle Brodziak) who enjoyed similar offensive seasons. Brodziak scored 56 points in 62 games, while Schremp delivered 53 points in 69 games. However, when looking at even-strength scoring, Brodziak showed more offensive ability in the game state he was destined to play once in the NHL:

PlayerEV Pts-GameEV Plus-Minus

Kyle Brodziak

0.58

Plus 12

Rob Schremp

0.36

0

All numbers via theAHL.com

Schremp was regarded as the better offensive player, but once he arrived in the NHL, the power-play opportunities weren’t available. Meanwhile, Brodziak was a better two-way player (outscored opponents by 12 goals that season at even strength) and was destined to spend his long NHL career as a valued middle-six forward.

NHL teams rarely send their top-end offensive talents to the AHL. A quick look at Edmonton’s top scorers each season (Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins) offers proof. The AHL develops players who can play a complementary role, and looking for even-strength scorers and outscoring should produce a stronger connection between current production in Bakersfield and future NHL numbers. Here’s the list of Bakersfield’s prospect forwards so far this season.

PlayerPts-GameEV Goal Pct

Roby Jarventie

0.71

55

Quinn Hutson

0.36

67

Viljami Marjala

0.36

50

Josh Samanski

0.36

50

Connor Clattenburg

0.2

38

All numbers via theAHL.com

Roby Jarventie is the only Condors forward in the same range as Brodziak from 20 years ago. That’s encouraging, and implies what the eye test confirms: Jarventie is NHL-ready. He can play up and down the roster, but is currently blocked by young (Matt Savoie, Ike Howard) and veteran (Trent Frederic, Mattias Janmark) middle-six options in Edmonton. It’s unknown when he’ll see the NHL again, but Jarventie should be considered a first recall option.

Quinn Hutson is the most interesting player in the group. His resume reads in a way that reminds one of former Edmonton winger Fernando Pisani. They were both 23 when turning pro, had a reputation for strong two-way play and quickly established themselves as reliable players in all situations. Hutson’s foundation skills are identical to the group of forwards who emerge from the AHL as NHL two-way wingers. Pisani was also a shy scorer as an AHL rookie, delivering 0.48 points per game including all game states. Even with his slow start to the year, Hutson is at 0.55 points per game after a strong game Saturday versus Henderson.

Viljami Marjala is new to the AHL and has played opponents to a scoring draw while showing exceptional skill with the puck. He’s in the “Schremp” group as a power-play option (four points in 11 games). Marjala has a knack for finding the puck, has an impressive shot and is a plus passer. Like Schremp 20 years ago, his competition for NHL playing time on a skill line with the Oilers is formidable. It’s possible, like Schremp, Marjala will find his NHL career in another city.

Josh Samanski doesn’t have a notable comparable among Oilers farmhands of recent vintage. That’s because big two-way centres with a range of skills are normally procured as teenagers, and he’s 23. Samanski will need to continue developing as an outscorer and increase offence, but the tools are there. He could be a real find from last season’s European signings.

Connor Clattenburg remains more famous than productive due to his rambunctious playing style. If he ever gets to Edmonton, he’ll be a fan favourite, as he is a throwback to a more physical era in Oilers hockey. There are some lessons to learn, but he does have comparable players (Jujhar Khaira) who made the grade after shy offensive seasons as rookies in the AHL. Clattenburg’s even-strength goal share is not strong; look for that to improve as the season moves along.

Bottom line

Let’s answer those questions.

How are the prospect forwards doing? All are worth tracking, but Jarventie leads the field by a handsome margin. It would be a stretch to imply any of the other prospect forwards listed here are strong candidates for NHL recall this season.

Is there historical precedent for any of the current Condors forwards to project as future NHL players? Jarventie will have an NHL career if he can stay healthy. He’s easily the best player on the ice in Bakersfield and drives possession while also creating offence five-on-five. He’s bona fide.

After that, it’s either uncertain or too soon to know. I like Hutson’s two-way ability in an organization that likes the player type. Marjala’s skill is a delightful surprise, but he’s similar to Schremp (although faster) and is blocked by the Oilers’ impact centres. Samanski and Clattenburg are works in progress and unlikely to see the NHL before 2027.

This group of prospect forwards is an upgrade on last year’s Condors, while none in this season’s pool has the potential Matt Savoie showed one year ago. All those spring and summer signings have made the Condors a more interesting team and should produce at least two NHL forwards down the line. I’ll bet on Jarventie and Hutson.