The Edmonton Oilers American Hockey League affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors have started off the New Year on fire. Through the first five games in 2026, they are 4-1-0 and won their first four games this year. Over their past ten they are 7-3-0, thanks in large part due to some very impressive showings.
Despite making back to back Stanley Cup Finals appearances, general manager Stan Bowman and before him, CEO of Hockey operations Jeff Jackson have done well to improve the club's prospect pipeline.
The team has acquired multiple high end prospects in trades but Bowman over the roughly 18 months since he took over at the helm has scoured the globe adding multiple free agents to the pool. As a result, of the Condors' top seven point producers, five are prospects acquired by Bowman with three of the top four being prospects signed in the past calendar year.
Quinn Hutson
The Condors' leading scorer and NCAA standout winger, Quinn Hutson has spent time up and down with the Oilers in recent weeks. As a Condor, he has scored at a high rate potting 22 goals, 14 assists for 36 points in 29 games. Although he has scored one goal in four NHL games this year and looked to be getting ready to carve out a role.
His season really took off when the Oilers sent Isaac Howard down to the Condors in November but since his recall, Hutson has maintained his high level of play. Over his last four games he has scored six points (four goals, two assists). Due to the Oilers cap crunch, they were forced to send him back down to the Condors until further notice.
Hutson has shown that his scoring prowess from collegiate hockey has been able to translate to the professional ranks. As of right now, he has been able to provide the Oilers with organizational depth but hopes to crack the NHL roster on a full-time basis and become a secondary scorer for the team this year and/or beyond.
Josh Samanski
After being one of the top scoring young forwards in Germany's top tier professional league the DEL over the last few seasons, Josh Samanski was signed by the Oilers to a two-year entry-level contract at the end of last year.
Since his signing, he has impressed at the Oilers rookie camp and now as a top-six forward for the Condors. In 34 AHL games this year, the 6'3 centre has scored seven goals and 20 assists for 27 points on the year.
Samanski has risen his stock through his play in recent years. So much that he was named to the Men's German national team for the 2026 Winter Olympics, Samanski is proving himself as one of the best German forwards on the globe. Combining his frame and scoring ability, he looks to be a legitimate prospect for the organization.
Connor Ungar
The Oilers signed the 24 year old Connor Ungar after a successful stint with Brock University of the Canadian USports league capturing rookie and goaltender of the year honours. He spent all of last year with the Fort Wayne Komets of the ECHL and began this year back in the league slitting time with the Komets, Greensboro Gargoyles, and Orlando Solar Bears.
After the Oilers recalled Connor Ingram to help man the crease with the newly acquired Tristan Jarry out, Ungar got called up to the Condors in the AHL. Joining the team after 11 games between three ECHL teams, all stints with a .944 or .945 save percentage, he has been even better with the Condors. In five games, he has a 5-0-0 record with a 1.38 goals against average and .953 save percentage.
He has been an underrated goalie prospect in the system for the last two seasons but is one of the biggest standouts since he was signed as a free agent. He is a big part of the Oilers resurgent pipeline and continues to prove it time and time again.