So far in this NHL season, the Edmonton Oilers have been one of the best teams in the league. This has a lot to do with the play from Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Evan Bouchard. One cannot ignore how the team has been firing on all cylinders to start the year.
One main issue, though, has been how many injuries have already occurred. This team has been destroyed by injuries, yet they are still thriving. It has truly been awesome to see. Even with the great play, there have been players who have not been carrying their weight.
Let’s take a look at some spots that Bakersfield Condors should replace in the regular lineup.
Who should be called up?
Aku Raty, Forward
The first AHLer who could warrant a call-up is forward Aku Raty. The 25-year-old Finn has burst onto the scene early this season. He currently leads the Condors in points with eight in seven games, five of which are goals. Raty has had an interesting journey to where he is in his career. The Arizona Coyotes drafted him in the fifth round of the 2019 NHL Draft. After failing to find consistency in the AHL, the forward went back home to Finland for a year. Here, he regained his confidence and led his team in points.
He is a very hard-working winger who is effective on the forecheck. This is exactly the type of play the Oilers need in the bottom-six. To date, Raty has only played in one NHL game. This could end up being the year he earns another shot in the big league.
Tucker Robertson, Forward
Centreman Tucker Robertson is another solid piece that could earn a call-up. Robertson was drafted by the Seattle Kraken in the fourth round of the 2022 NHL Draft. After dominating in the OHL with the Peterborough Petes, it seemed like Robertson would turn into a solid NHL prospect. Unfortunately, he really struggled to regain his scoring touch at the AHL level. After failing to produce with the Coachella Valley Firebirds, Robertson was dealt to the Philadelphia Flyers organization. He picked up the pace here, scoring 13 goals and 28 points in 63 AHL games.
Robertson signed an AHL contract with the Condors before the new season. With this in mind, Robertson would need to sign an NHL contract and clear waivers before he earns a call-up. This probably makes him less likely to get that chance, but either way, his play cannot be ignored for a 23-year-old.
Damien Carfagna, Defence
An option on the defensive side of call-ups would be Damien Carfagna. The young 23-year-old is in the midst of his second season with the Condors and has really stepped up his play early on. Carfagna went undrafted during his time in college and signed with the Oilers in late March of 2025.
The defenceman made some significant progress in his last year at Ohio State University. This earned him a chance with the Oilers, and I think he deserves to make an NHL debut. He is one of the younger defencemen in the Oilers system. With the way Jake Walman is playing, I think that Carfagna could bring some different energy on the back end.
Connor Clattenburg, Forward
Every Oilers fan remembers Connor Clattenburg. The young forward earned a brief stint in the NHL last season, where he scored one goal in five games. Clattenburg was not brought up to the NHL to score; his strength is being a pest to play against, making it very tough for the other team. I think that right now, Clattenburg could be a great addition to the fourth line. He can bring more to the team than Trent Frederic, and the recent Isaac Howard injury could end up making room in the lineup.
Who must get send down?
Alex Formenton
The most obvious choice of sending someone down is forward Alex Formenton. This signing was pretty much useless in the first place. Considering all of the backlash that came with it, it was not worth it at all. Formenton came onto the team battling for a spot in the bottom-six. He is a fairly good skater who can bring a bit of speed to the bottom of the lineup, but that is about it. Throughout his 14 games in the lineup, Formenton has become less and less of a positive impact. With the number of fans who are fed up with this guy, he should easily be the first to leave.
Trent Frederic
A main depth player on the Oilers who has, once again, been disappointing is Trent Frederic. In 13 games this season, Frederic has just one goal. The most notable part of his season so far was his fight with Jack McBain. This was honestly one of the best NHL fights in a long time that actually helped lead the Oilers to a dominant win in Utah. This was great, and when Frederic does this, he helps the team by doing his part. Unfortunately, he does not do this on a consistent basis. When he is not being that tough guy on the team, he is useless.
His contract is still one of the most shocking signings in recent NHL history, and the worst part is that he has a no-movement clause. This means that he cannot be sent down without his own approval. This likely means that Frederic is not going anywhere, but one can hope.
Jake Walman
The last and most surprising player who should get sent down is defenceman Jake Walman. Going into the season, the Oilers had very high hopes for Walman. It would have been great to see him explode offensively and become a solidified second-line defenceman on the team. However, it has been the exact opposite situation with him. Walman has been an absolute ghost so far this season. It has gotten to the point where he has actually become a healthy scratch. His seven-year contract extension is looking pretty bleak at this point.
Walman also has a no-movement clause, but I actually think he would benefit the most from getting sent down. Even with him having to go through waivers, I think the defenceman needs a brief reset. If he could regain his confidence at a lower level and bounce back, maybe that could rejuvenate him in his NHL career. With his contract and the way he has played, I do not think any team would take the chance. Unless a trade were to take place, which would be extremely interesting.
What do you think of these roster moves? Would they help the Oilers or not make a difference at all?
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