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Last week, the Condors opened the second half of their 72-game schedule, and currently sit third in the AHL’s Pacific Division with a 22-12-6 record
Published Jan 27, 2026 • Last updated 2 hours ago • 5 minute read
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The Edmonton Oilers’ Josh Samanski (81) battles the Anaheim Ducks Olen Zellweger (51) during first period NHL action at Rogers Place, in Edmonton Monday Jan. 26, 2026. Photo by David Bloom /PostmediaArticle content
Josh Samanski is the latest bit of produce to be harvested from the farm by the Edmonton Oilers.
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Called up in place of Isaac Howard in time to make his NHL debut against the visiting Anaheim Ducks on Monday, the German-born forward isn’t the first nor the last one to be plucked from the Bakersfield Condors of the American Hockey League, whose primary job is to develop talent for if and when the opportunity arises to perform in the NHL.
Of course, as one of 32 AHL teams in competition for the Calder Cup, the Condors are also looking to reap what they sow in the standings and put on a good show for their fans. Winning is still the name of the game after all.
Last week, the Condors opened the second half of their 72-game schedule, and currently sit third in the AHL’s Pacific Division with a 22-12-6 record, six points behind the division-leading Ontario Reign.
And they hit the second half running, carrying momentum over on a stretch that has seen them go 8-0-1 to open January before dropping their past two games.
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But, just like in Edmonton this season, things started off at a much slower pace.
“We had a lot of new players, and a group of new players from Europe, as well,” said Condors head coach Colin Chaulk. “So, we felt that it would take some time for this team to really see what we had. We wanted to make it fun, and we wanted to be offensive and attacking.
“So, that was our main focus in the beginning, and we found out that we could score. And that was our focus point.”
Ike Howard (53) of the Edmonton Oilers shoots the puck against the Calgary Flames at Rogers Place in Edmonton on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. Photo by Shaughn Butts /Postmedia
With 139 goals in 40 games, the only AHL team that’s put more pucks in the net than the Condors is the Belleville Senators. By one goal. And they’ve needed four more games to do it.
But the Senators are a cautionary tale this season, having also given up a league-high 155 goals.
“We also found out that we were giving up too much,” said Chaulk, whose squad has tightened up from early on to now sit 23rd out of 32 teams with 126 goals-against. “That’s what our players really valued, was offence. So, we had to continue to keep that attack mentality and always pressure to make a fun, exciting brand of hockey. And also be a little more responsible without the puck.”
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Off the ice, the team has also grown closer together.
“Just the relationship building, it takes about 20-25 games, in my experience in the American Hockey League, to see what kind of team you have,” said Chaulk, who is in his fifth season as bench boss of the Condors. “Are you a rush team? Are you a grind-’em-out offensive team? Do you live on the power play? What’s your identity?
“We took some time to find that, and now we’re playing good two-way hockey.”
And through it all, AHL teams not only have to deal with injuries and their own guys filling in on the lineup, but they also have to deal with players getting called up to the NHL, quite unexpectedly at times, which causes a change of plans.
“Generally speaking, one of your high-end players is getting called up,” Chaulk said. “It’s extremely difficult in the minor leagues to win. Our mindset is we want to give ourselves a chance to win every game, we want to be competitive, we want to be in games and that’s the message.
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“We’re not talking about winning, we’re talking about doing what we’re supposed to do and that’s the main focus. And really, what that is, is developing. You’re trying to develop those learning moments.”
Edmonton Oilers forward Quinn Hutson battles with Winnipeg Jets defenceman Ville Heinola and forward Morgan Barron during third period preseason NHL action at Rogers Place in Edmonton on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia File Photo
Bakersfield’s loss, of course, can be Edmonton’s win, as the likes of Howard, Quinn Hutson, Connor Clattenberg and now Samanski, have had opportunities with the Oilers to showcase some of the fresh young talent coming down the pipeline.
“It’s about development. And if you’re developing properly and you’re living by your process, then you have to believe that the competitiveness and wins will come,” Chaulk said. “We’re seeing this team get a little bit better.
“And I will say that in the five years that I’ve been in Bakersfield with our coaches and players, the team has gotten a little bit better each year. We’re seeing a little bit more growth a little bit sooner. Part of that is we have some highly skilled offensive players. Management’s done a great job of finding (Viljami) Marjala, (Atro) Leppanen, Samanski.”
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And that’s been easier said than done for an Oilers club that’s been light on draft picks after pushing the pedal to the medal over their current Stanley Cup window.
“The trade for Howard brings a high-end player to the American league a year earlier,” Chaulk said of former first-round draft pick Sam O’Reilly, of the Ontario Hockey League’s Kitchener Rangers, who is younger and not as far along in his development. “O’Reilly, we would have saw him next year.
“All of those things help the minor-league affiliate. And at the end of the day, those experiences are going to help the NHL team. And that’s our main job, we need to get the Vincent Desharnais, the Ryan McLeods and the Matt Savoies, the Dylan Holloways and the Philip Brobergs, and the Stuart Skinners and the Calvin Pickards.
“They’ve got to go up and help the big club. That’s our job. And it’s hard to win down here when you’re in that mindset.”
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