University of Alberta Golden Bears captain Josh Prokop signs tryout with Oilers’ AHL affiliate

The Golden Bears to Oilers pipeline has another entry, as University of Alberta captain Josh Prokop has signed an amateur tryout with Edmonton’s AHL affiliate.

The move was made official on Thursday, and Prokop made his pro debut Friday night for the Bakersfield Condors in their 8-2 win over the Calgary Wranglers.

Prokop, 25, notched an assist in the game, adding a shot on goal and two penalty minutes after tripping up a Wrangler in the third.

The Edmonton native just wrapped up a four-year stint with the Golden Bears, scoring 53 goals and 113 points in 104 games. He wore the ‘C’ in his final two seasons with the University, but leadership roles were nothing new to him. Prior to arriving at the University in 2021-22, he had wrapped up a three-year WHL career, his final season of which he captained the Calgary Hitmen scoring 10 goals and 24 points in 21 games in the 2020-21 season.

Prokop missed Saturday’s game due to maintenance, as Condors play-by-play man Ryan Holt said he was injured late in the college season.

Another fresh face arrived in Bakersfield this week, too, as Oilers prospect Brady Stonehouse made his pro debut in that Friday game, also dressing for Saturday’s game against the Tuscon Roadrunners. Stonehouse had two shots on goal in those games, playing on the fourth line in both games.

Oilers radio man Bob Stauffer said earlier this week the team is expected to be active in the Europe and College free agent pools, potentially signing “three or four” free agents from over seas, and “maybe a player or two out of the NCAA.” One player the team has reportedly signed already is German forward Josh Samanski, a 6’2′ left-shot who scored 14 goals and 40 points in 52 games with the DEL’s Straubing Tigers this season.

With the Oilers prospect pool — and their draft capital — depleted as the team’s traded much of them for players who could help the NHL roster, it’s no surprise the team is looking at these routes to grab players who, in theory, are closer to playing games with the big club than not.