The Edmonton Oilers lost one of their best offensive forwards in Jack Roslovic, which could open the door for a potential call-up.
With reports coming on Monday that Roslovic could be out of the lineup until after Christmas, which is three weeks away, the Oilers could use some reinforcements. So far, they’ve opted to work with what they’ve got, but that could change if things veer off once again.
Connor Clattenburg is an example of how a call-up can shake things up. He wasn’t producing at a high clip by any means in the AHL, but his energy and willingness to throw the body have helped breathe some life into this Edmonton squad.
Edmonton hasn’t typically had many exciting call-up options in recent years. They’ve been a team that has been emptying the prospect cupboard and loading up. While that can help the NHL team win games, it doesn’t bode well for building for the future.
That has changed a bit this season, with a few exciting young additions performing quite well with the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors. Here are the four most promising options that could earn an NHL promotion sooner rather than later.
1. Ike Howard
Ike Howard had high expectations heading into his first NHL season, but things didn’t go quite as planned.
The skill in his game is evident. Howard has an elite shot and has excellent vision in the offensive zone. It just felt like the NHL game was moving a bit too fast for him in his first real taste of pro hockey.
Edmonton opted to send him to the AHL once Zach Hyman got healthy, and he’s looked great down there. The 21-year-old has been firing on all cylinders with the Condors, scoring two goals and adding seven points in five games. That’s the type of confidence booster a player like Howard needed.
He’d be the easiest guy to call up if the Oilers want to add another offensive option to the mix.
2. Quinn Hutson
The younger brother of last year’s Calder Trophy winner may not have the same kind of ceiling as Lane Hutson, but he’s projecting well in his first pro season.
Quinn Hutson inked an entry-level contract with the Oilers as a college free agent late last year and even made his NHL debut in the final two games of the regular season. The 23-year-old filled the net at Boston College last season, and he hasn’t missed a beat in the AHL to start the new year.
Hutson leads the Condors in scoring with 10 goals and 19 points through 18 games. That point total is tied for sixth in the entire AHL and third among rookie skaters. He may not be the most physically imposing player at five-foot-11 and 173 pounds, but he’s found a way to be productive at the pro level.
3. Josh Samanski
Josh Samanski was a standout player in Germany’s DEL last season, but he had a little bit of a slow start coming over to North America.
As expected, there was a bit of an adjustment period for the 23-year-old German. He showed a few flashes in preseason, but nearly enough to crack the NHL roster. Those growing pains have continued into the AHL.
He started hot with eight points in five games with the Condors, but has cooled off considerably since then. Still, he has an NHL-ready frame and seems to have some decent offensive instincts as well. Samanski also has a lot of experience playing at the pro-level, even if it’s in a lower-tier league.
4. Roby Jarventie
Sergei Belski/Imagn Images
It’s been a tough couple of seasons for Finnish prospect Roby Jarventie.
The 23-year-old is entering his second season in the Oilers organization after being traded here from the Ottawa Senators in the Xavier Bourgault trade. Since then, he really hasn’t had much of a chance to prove himself.
Injuries have plagued the Finnish forward for each of the last two seasons, playing in just two games with the Condors last season. Before then, Jarventie was a moderately productive winger who held his own. He got seven NHL games in Ottawa back in 2023-24, notching just one assist.
Things are looking positive for Jarventie this season now that he’s healthy. He’s got eight goals and 13 points through 14 games, meaning he’s just off a point-per-game pace right now.
