We are back with another Bakersfield Condors update and we’re going to start it off with the Edmonton Oilers top prospect Dylan Holloway. He has gotten the opportunity to play centre in between Raphael Lavoie and Lane Pederson. After being out for two months, it was reasonable to assume that Holloway would come back with some hiccups in his game with an adjustment slot. Surprisingly, Holloway has hit it out of the park!
Holloway is ready for the NHL again
Holloway come in with fire in his eyes and desire in his heart as he took off right from the opening shift. He has played two games so far with the Condors and he has been the best player on the ice in both games. He has scored one goal and one assist in the two games he has played.
Now this may seem like average to some fans, but when you watch him play when he’s out on the ice, you see a player take over completely. You see a player setting up plays, driving the net, back checking hard, and playing very good as a centre. There is a lot to like about Holloway in Bakersfield right now. He is showing the Oilers and the fans that he may be ready to try out the third line centre position in Edmonton. I would not be shocked to see him called up to play for the Oilers on Saturday night’s tilt against Calgary.
Other Condors prospects
Here is a review of the prospects that are playing for the Condors at the moment:
Forwards
- Xavier Bourgault has slowed down a bit offensively in his last five games. He has scored only one assist in his last five games and has notched one game and two assists in his last 10 games. It is not like Bourgault has been giving out bad play for the Condors. The chemistry between him and Tyler Tullio is still there but they have slowed down considerably. Sophomores sometimes go through this slump so I wouldn’t ben surprised to see him pick up his point totals in a few weeks.
- Tyler Tullio has also slowed down with Bourgault as he has scored one goal in his last five games and three points in his last 10 games. Both go hand in hand. Tullio was on a great pace after he came back from injury but his offence has slowed down. He still provides the great forechecking he possesses, along with Bourgault, with his penalty killing and hitting.
- In his last five games, Jayden Grubbe does have only one assist. But his play overall, in the last 10 games has been very good and tremendous. He has scored three goals and two assists in those 10 games and he has been carrying the play. He has become an alpha on his line and is attacking the net like a powerforward. In one of the last two games, Grubbe deked and powered his way through both of the oppositions defence and scored a goal. However, it got taken away because he also crashed into the goalie. Grubbe has a high level of confidence right now and it seems like he has passed the learning curve that comes with a junior player making their way into a professional league. I expect to see him give more consistent play.
- Matvei Petrov scored another goal in his last five games and has brought his total up to two goals in his last 10 games. Ever since his injury, his consistency in providing good forechecking and shooting has increased. But it is kind of unfortunate that he is not getting an opportunity to play top-nine minutes. Head Coach Colin Chaulk should be giving him more minutes as this player has lots of potential. He is stuck on the fourth line for now.
- Carter Savoie has continued his strong play. He has scored one goal and two assists in his last five games and is up to six points in his last 10 games. He has shown very good skill, patience, and playmaking on the power play. I am expecting him to continue producing at the rate he is showing. I still wish he would shoot the puck more!
- Raphael Lavoie won’t stop scoring. What more needs to be said about this NHL ready sniper? He has two goals and four assists in his last five games, and four goals and four assists in his last 10 games. He has developed good chemistry with Holloway and I hope one day we get to see both together in the NHL. I do like the grittiness Lavoie continues to show along with the well deserved swagger. He’s going to be an AHL All-Star but I would actually like him to be a top-six forward on the Oilers instead.
Defence
- Philip Broberg continues to impress and he continues to show why he should be in the Oilers top six on defence right now. He has scored four assists in his last five games, and he has become the undisputed #1 defenceman on the Condors. He took over the power play duties and, like I said last week, he is way better at it than Cam Dineen.
- Consistency, solid and steady. Max Wanner reminds me of a more skilled and fast Steve Staios who can play in any position as a defenceman. Wanner has continued to eat up top-four minutes and sometimes with Broberg. He has scored one assist in his last five games, and his penalty killing and defending has been top notch. Honestly, in every weekly update, I feel like I don’t have anything negative to say about this kid.
Goaltending
- Olivier Rodrigue has continued to shine. Unfortunately, with the flooding that occured, Olivier only played one game. But he was very solid in that game as he had to make a handful of big saves for his team and he only allowed two goals. He has continued to show why he deserves to be in the NHL sooner than than later. His GAA has now become 2.44 and save percentage is .926 in the 13 games he has played with Bakersfield.
Photo by Curtis Comeau/Icon Sportswire
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