{"id":152484,"date":"2026-01-28T01:01:48","date_gmt":"2026-01-28T01:01:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/152484\/"},"modified":"2026-01-28T01:01:48","modified_gmt":"2026-01-28T01:01:48","slug":"looking-at-which-condor-could-earn-the-next-call-up-to-the-oilers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/152484\/","title":{"rendered":"Looking at which Condor could earn the next call up to the Oilers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Signed in April 2025, the German centre, who will represent his country in the Olympics<\/a>, has gone on to become a vital piece for the American Hockey League\u2019s Bakersfield Condors, scoring seven goals and 28 points in 39 games, while providing strong two-way play.<\/p>\n

He, and many other young players on the Condors roster, have been a big reason why they currently sit in third place in the AHL\u2019s Pacific Division, with their 139 goals for the second most in the 32-team league. The only team with more goals is the Belleville Senators, who have just two more in four extra games played.<\/p>\n

Isaac Howard<\/a>, when he\u2019s been with the Condors this season, has been a big part of their top six, as he has 10 goals and 23 points in 16 games. Quinn Hutson<\/a> is another young player who has had a cup of tea with the Oilers, scoring a goal in four games with the team, while adding 24 goals and 39 points in 35 AHL games. Connor Clattenburg also played some games with the Oilers, but he\u2019s on the shelf with a long-term hand injury.<\/p>\n

With that being said, which other youngsters on the Condors may get a look with the Oilers at some point this season?<\/p>\n

Viljami MarjalaViljami Marjala<\/a> was one of a handful of early 20s forwards brought in by Stan Bowman. Drafted in the fifth-round of the 2021 draft by the Buffalo Sabres, Marjala\u2019s only tenure in North America was with the Quebec Remparts of the Qu\u00e9bec Maritimes Junior Hockey League in 2020-21 and 2021-22, before returning to his home nation of Finland for the next three seasons.<\/p>\n

The 2023-24 season saw the left winger score 17 goals and 40 points in 60 games, as well as three goals and nine points in nine playoff games. Marjala\u2019s scoring declined dramatically in 2024-25, but he finished the year with eight goals and 52 points in 54 games, with two goals and three points in five playoff games.<\/p>\n

Well, Marjala has found his scoring touch one again in the AHL, as he\u2019s potted 10 goals and 36 points in 40 games this season. Although he\u2019s listed as a left-winger by HockeyDB, Marjala has been playing centre with the Condors this season. It wouldn\u2019t be surprising if he also gets a look at some point this season, especially if injuries occur down the stretch.<\/p>\n

Roby J\u00e4rventieWhile Roby J\u00e4rventie<\/a> is a Finnish forward just like Marjala, J\u00e4rventie isn\u2019t new to the Oilers organization, and he\u2019s already had a cup of tea in the NHL, albeit with the Ottawa Senators.<\/p>\n

Drafted in the second round of the 2020 draft by the Sens, J\u00e4rventie had a productive 2022-23 season when healthy in the AHL, and got off to a strong start in the following season. That earned him a look in the nation\u2019s capital, where he had an assist in seven games.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, injuries began to take over from there. After the Oilers traded Xavier Bourgault and Jake Chiasson for the Finnish forward (and the fourth used to select David Lewandowski), J\u00e4rventie played just two games with the Condors in 2024-25. It looked as if his career in North America had come to an end, as it was reported he signed in Finland, but the Oilers managed to re-sign him, and it paid dividends.<\/p>\n

This season, the 23-year-old left winger has 12 goals and 24 points in 34 games, all while playing mainly on the third line. By calling up J\u00e4rventie, the Oilers could bring in some bottom six scoring internally. At the very least, he deserves a look at some point this season.<\/p>\n

Atro Lepp\u00e4nenSticking with the Finnish players on the Condors, Atro Lepp\u00e4nen<\/a> is a defenceman who made waves in the pre-season. A strong puck mover, he benefited from being older than the competition in the two NextGen games the Oilers played in pre-season.<\/p>\n

Still, at the age of 27 years old, the left-shot defenceman could receive a call-up at some point this season. Last season, he led the Finnish league (SM-Liiga) with 63 points in 60 games, scoring 21 goals. Again, he\u2019s a defenceman.<\/p>\n

Lepp\u00e4nen has been productive with the Condors, albeit not nearly at the same level. In 28 games this season, he has three goals and 20 points, the most points for any defenceman on the Condors.<\/p>\n

Right now, he\u2019s behind Riley Stillman on the pecking order, as the 27-year-old had NHL experience before this season. A lot would need to happen for Lepp\u00e4nen to find his way on the roster, but being a puck-moving defenceman is never a bad thing.<\/p>\n

Other defencemen I considered for this spot are Damien Carfagna and Beau Akey, but both players are still at least one season away from even mentioning a call-up.<\/p>\n

Connor UngarIt\u2019s been a long time since the Oilers had a goaltending prospect to be excited about, but the undrafted Connor Ungar<\/a> has made a lot of noise this season.<\/p>\n

Spending his 2023-24 season at Brock University, yes, a Canadian university, the 24-year-old posted a .932 save percentage and 2.15 goals against average in 26 games, leading to the Oilers signing him in March of 2024. The netminder\u2019s first professional season wasn\u2019t remarkable, as he had a .903 save percentage and 2.74 goals against average in 35 games, but he\u2019s been a whole different beast in 2025-26.<\/p>\n

Despite 11 ECHL games for three separate teams and seven games with the Condors, Ungar hasn\u2019t posted a save percentage starting below .944 in any of his stints. In those 11 ECHL games, Ungar has a .944 save percentage on the dot, which is somehow bested by his .946 save percentage in his seven games with the Condors.<\/p>\n

If he continues to perform as well as he has been, there\u2019s a scenario I could see him make his NHL debut. It\u2019d have to be towards the end of the season, with the Oilers postseason spot secured and the team cap compliant, but why not see what you have in him?<\/p>\n

Next season will be a huge determining factor in whether this season is just catching lightning in a bottle or if he\u2019s the real deal. The Calgary product has a blueprint for this career trajectory, as fellow Calgarian netminder Logan Thompson spent some time at Brock University and cut his teeth in the minor leagues for two seasons before making his NHL debut. He\u2019s now considered among the league\u2019s best netminders and was named to Team Canada\u2019s roster for the 2026 Olympics.<\/p>\n

It may be an unconventional pathway for Ungar, but there is a pathway to the NHL if he continues to perform the way he has.<\/p>\n

Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Oilersnation, FlamesNation, and Blue Jays Nation. Follow her on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.<\/p>\n

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