Bakersfield Condors preview for the 2025–26 season

The Bakersfield Condors return for another season as the Edmonton Oilers AHL affiliate. The Condors are also set to start their season on Friday, October 11 on the road against the San Jose Barracuda.

Since Oilers training camp is officially over Bakersfield now have their season roster officially set, so lets take a look at their 2025–2026 lineup and prospects.

Who is on the team?

Forwards: Josh Samanski, Matvei Petrov, Viljami Marjala, Roby Jarventie, Max Jones, Quinn Hutson, James Hamblin, Connor Clattenburg, Matt Copponi, Daniel D’Armato, Seth Griffith, Ethan Keppen, Rem Pitlick, Rhett Pitlick

Defence: Beau Akey, Josh Brown, Damien Carfagna, Cam Dineen, Arto Leppanen, Riley Stillman, Luke Prokop, and Mason Millman

Goaltenders: Nathaniel Day, Connor Ingram, Matt Tomkins

(Italics denote Non-NHL deals)

Assigned to Fort Wayne (ECHL) from the Condors

Forwards: Jayden Grubbe, James Stefan, and Brady Stonehouse

Goaltenders: Samuel Jonsson, and Connor Ungar

Season outlook for the team

The Condors finished the 2024–25 campaign with a 32–30–10 record that was eighth in the AHL’s Pacific Division. They also finished with 224 goals for compared to a 233 goals against. Bakersfield ultimately did not make the playoffs, losing a tiebreaker to the Tucson Roadrunners for the final spot.

Roster movement was sure to happen, and boy did it, as around 18 of the team’s regulars from last season are playing elsewhere this season, so expect a re-energized and younger Condors squad.

Key prospect subtractions from last season include Matthew Savoie, and Noah Philip who both made the Oilers out of camp. A large portion of key veteran players from last season went unsigned by the Oilers as well including the likes Drake Caggiula, Connor Carrick, and Olivier Rodrigue.

The Condors look to bring a more offensive flair this season with a heavier emphasis on playmaking scoring, and finishing all elements that players like Quinn Hutson, Roby Jarventie, Josh Samanski, and Arto Leppanen specialize in.

Stable leadership

Seth Griffith returns for another season as captain of the Condors; that combined with James Hamblin’s assistant captaincy means that there are some familiar faces in the locker room. With a new batch of first year AHLers, that leadership could help them develop on and off the ice as professionals.

Transition game should be smoother

With recent roster changes like the assigning of Samanski, Clattenburg, Hamblin, and Jones to the Condors, expect the Condors back check to be a lot more responsible, and physically disruptive. These players are quality two-way players with a higher compete, and physical elements that simply make them harder to play against.

Offensive transition will also shine as another year of development for Dineen, combined with the recent signees of Carfagna, Hutson, Marjala, and the debut of highly touted prospect Beau Akey means that the Condors will thrive with quick, creative playmakers who can spring plays, and identify options.

More goaltending upside

The 2005-born rookie, Nathaniel Day, impressed in his short stint in the ECHL last year, and had another solid OHL season with the Flint Firebirds as well. Expect the athletic, and positionally solid youngster to be a capable option for the Condors between the pipes.

Day has a good mentor in the recently acquired Connor Ingram, as the Saskatoon product has proven he can be a stable NHL 1B. Expect the former Masterton award winner to be a high quality AHL starter and mentor for Day.

It’s also possible that the Condors even see Allsvenskan goalie of the year, Samuel Jonsson, up in the AHL this year in the event of a trade, or injury. There’s plenty to look forward to Oilers fans who also double as goalie fans.

Players to watch with NHL-potential

There is a quite a few players on this years squad who will likely see some NHL time in the near future.

Beau Akey: The shutdown defender with promising transitional upside has high end skating, a strong compete level, and physicality elements that he’ll be looking to hone in the pro-ranks.

Roby Jarventie: The offensive minded sniper-speedster looks to rebound after an injury-shortened 2024–25 season. He already has NHL level shooting, that blends nicely with his puck skills and high end skating.

Quinn Hutson: Another offensive minded player who thrives in playmaking situations. Lots of touch-and-go timing and poise. His hockey IQ shines in addition to his puck skills, and motor.

Josh Samanski: The Oilers have another big German in town. This two-way forward’s physicality shines and slows the pace of play for his opponents, while his senses and skating might just be good enough to play some hockey in Edmonton this year.

Are you going to watch any Condors hockey this season?