The primary role of a minor-league team is to develop NHL players.
It’s a high-stress job for AHL managers and coaches. No blue-chip prospects this year? So what. Find players, develop them for NHL recall and then do it again.
Winning is important to the AHL Bakersfield Condors, but the club is at the mercy of the parent Edmonton Oilers when it comes to recalls. The hockey Gods have mercilessly rained blows down on the 2024-25 Bakersfield club with myriad injuries and subsequent recalls.
Ran out of players? So what. Find players, develop them for NHL recall and then do it again.
What did the Oilers’ minor-league system accomplish this season? How many Condors saw the light of day in the NHL? Here’s the list, starting with the players classified as NHL rookies by the league.
Matt Savoie
The young winger played his first full pro season in the AHL at age 20. It was quality. His 0.79 points per game reflects a successful season, and represents the highest points-per-game total by a Condors rookie at 20 since Cooper Marody and Tyler Benson delivered career seasons in 2018-19.
Savoie played sparingly in Edmonton (0-1-1 in four games), proving he could match the NHL speed and make plays in a small window of opportunity. He should be a legit option for a call-up during the postseason.
The Condors coaching staff developed him well, as Savoie has thrived in all areas. The organization may want to slow-play Savoie after the Kailer Yamamoto experience, but he’s NHL-ready. He’s a rare top-end skill player to spend an entire year in the minors; Savoie is a prohibitive favourite to be an NHL regular on a feature line next year.
Olivier Rodrigue
Before being returned to Bakersfield on Thursday afternoon, Rodrigue played in two games, including a start this week. His totals (.862 save percentage, 3.10 GAA) aren’t strong, but he made some big saves and played in front of a badly undermanned Edmonton club. Rodrigue is the latest goaltender to make it to the NHL through Edmonton’s system. He joins Stuart Skinner (Oilers starter), Laurent Brossoit and Dylan Wells as Condors prospect goalies who have appeared in an NHL game. The NHL experience moves Rodrigue into an area that allows him more prominence as a recall option, either in Edmonton or another NHL city.
The non-rookie rookie
The NHL rules exclude players who are technically rookies but have aged out of the restrictions stated in the Calder Trophy guidelines. A key Oilers player development piece is part of this group in 2024-25.
Noah Philp
There are very few players in the AHL with the skills of Savoie, so the league’s most commonly successful players are the ones who can refine their abilities, iron out the mistakes and offer the parent NHL team a low-risk, inexpensive option in a complementary role.
Condors coach Colin Chaulk and his staff can have the most impact on the Oilers roster by helping develop players like Philp. Like previous AHL-to-NHL successes who have made the grade with the Oilers, Philp’s AHL performances include impact-level play at even strength, the heart of the game.
He’s a bigger player, a centre, he’s fast enough to disrupt play, strong enough to win battles and smart enough to be in good places on the ice defensively. His 29 even-strength points in 2024-25 in 52 games reflect his success offensively. Although he’s not a similar player-type, the intelligent two-way ability displayed by Philp recalls another Alberta Golden Bears grad who has played for the Oilers recently, Derek Ryan.
Philp is the type of player who finds his way in the AHL. He’s a trusted forward who will cheat for defence. He had several NHL looks this year, playing in 13 games (two assists) with the Oilers. He’s a probable for next season’s roster, representing successful development for the AHL club.
The rest
Josh Brown
Brown was signed as an “NHL 7th/AHL 1st” option and has played that role in eight NHL and 37 AHL games this season. His struggles in coverage while in Edmonton opened up the options to other defenders (Travis Dermott, an example). Brown has been an effective AHL blueliner, and at 31, has great value in a mentor role.
Drake Caggiula
The veteran winger had a strong AHL season (23-28-51 in 59 games) and got into seven NHL games for Edmonton. He’s one of the best scorers in the minors, but a depth winger with some grit and two-way ability for the NHL team. A rugged veteran at 30, there may be NHL games in his future next season as a recall option.
Cam Dineen
He has played in just one game with the Oilers this season, but his Thursday recall suggests he could see more NHL action as the season draws to a close. Dineen is a quality puck-moving defender in the AHL (9-34-43 in 59 games with the Condors this year) but will be deployed in a support role with the Oilers. Third pair, depth minutes and crisp outlets will be the ask from Oilers coaches. He’s 26, and a good enough player to have an NHL career (currently at 35 games in the league).
What was accomplished?
The Condors have had seasons where the recalls had more impact, but the Oilers are a veteran group trying to win a championship. The hesitation to play Savoie (who looked impressive in his audition) or Philp (who’s an NHL player, he just needs a chance) this season should be viewed as more delay than a failure in development.
The Condors did a fine job with both of the still-developing forwards. Savoie was deployed heavily at even strength and on special teams, with the coaching staff making certain a veteran centre with skill and two-way ability was on his line. That wasn’t easy, as injuries (specifically to Lane Pederson) made a strong centre depth chart less able as the season wore along.
Philp commanded more playing time when injuries hit through his own fine play, and delivered (15-15-30 in 52 games) while outscoring opponents at even strength. His season represents exactly the type of campaign that earned a ticket to the NHL for minor leaguers over many years.
What wasn’t accomplished? The biggest disappointments this season involve Roby Jarventie not getting a recall, but that was due to injury. It’s also unfortunate Phil Kemp didn’t get another NHL look in what will be his walk year.
Bottom line? The Condors didn’t screw up Savoie’s development, in fact he had a strong year. Philp found his game again and his foot speed returned as the new year arrived. The Oilers have another goaltender to ponder in Rodrigue and are already signing pieces for next year’s team.
Will the Condors management and coaches return for 2025-26? Too soon to know. The development staff can point to successes, though, even if those players didn’t see much time in the NHL in 2024-25.
(Photo of Olivier Rodrigue: Perry Nelson / Imagn Images)