A Visit To The Edmonton Oilers Farm Team

James Hamblin

C/RW Hamblin has also taken an unorthodox route to the NHL. He wrapped up his junior career in 2019-20 and went undrafted, so the Oilers signed him as a free agent to a two-way contract. A 21-goal performance last season in Bakersfield meant Hamblin was called up once the bottom six started experiencing injuries this season, and promptly got into 10 games producing no offence but a -3 showed that at the very least he could be a decent middle six forward at absolute worst. I can’t for the life of me find a scouting report on the guy so I’m just making an educated guess at this point. He’s been in Bakersfield since before the new year. Due to the call-up he’s played fewer AHL games than last year but is putting up the offence at a slightly better rate than last season, with 0.58 PPG this season as opposed to 0.55 PPG last season.

Hamblin remains the best option for a bottom-six callup. Needs more seasoning in the long term but he did star in junior so once he’s ready for full-time NHL work the sky’s the limit for him.

Phil Kemp

RD Phil Kemp is currently the best-drafted defensive prospect the Oilers have to offer right now, and if he makes it he’ll join a relatively thin club – seventh-rounders who made the NHL. Kemp was drafted in the seventh round in 2017, and although he was drafted as a stay-at-home guy he’s shown the ability to put up at least secondary offence throughout his career with Bakersfield, which is now in its third season. He’s put up 5-13-18 in 62 games this season with a +10 and 45 PIMs, which means he has a mean streak of physicality in his game.

If he can show that he can produce more offence in the NHL then he may just make Vincent Desharnais obsolete. See his scouting report here.