The Edmonton Oilers Have Called up 3 More Players From The Bakersfield Condors

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Sky
April 27, 2023 (3:31 PM)

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The Edmonton Oilers have announced that they are adding extra depth to their playoff roster by calling up three players from their AHL affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors. The Oilers are now able to bring up as many players as they need, after the Condors were eliminated from the Calder Cup Playoffs. The three players the Oilers have chosen to recall are defenseman Markus Niemelainen, defenseman Cam Dineen, and forward Brad Malone, who will be viable options for the Oilers' playoff push.

Niemelainen, a third-round pick for the Oilers in 2016, is a big, physical, defensive defenseman, who has played 23 NHL games this season. He has 43 career NHL games under his belt and played 30 AHL games with Bakersfield this season, scoring seven points while playing a shutdown defensive role for the team.

Dineen, a third-round pick of the Arizona Coyotes in the 2016 NHL Draft, was acquired by the Oilers with Nick Bjugstad at the trade deadline. At 24 years old, he is more of an offensive defenseman, having scored six goals and 47 points in 69 AHL games this season. Although he did not make any appearances in the NHL during the 2022-23 season, he suited up for 34 games with the Coyotes in 2021-22, chipping in seven points.

Malone, a 33-year-old veteran forward, has 217 games of NHL experience and had 21 points in 41 AHL games with the Condors this season. At 6-foot-2 and 217 pounds, he is a big winger who plays a physical style that could come in handy on a fourth line should injuries occur down the line for the Oilers.

While it is likely that these players will make up the "black aces" group for the Oilers, skating and practicing with the team during the postseason but unlikely to play any games, injuries and illnesses can happen during a long playoff run. Niemelainen, Dineen, and Malone are the insurance policy for the Oilers, who will undoubtedly benefit from the added depth they bring.