Condors Open Camp Monday Seeking Same Attacking Identity

The Bakersfield Condors open AHL training camp Monday with a familiar target: preserve the aggressive, attacking identity they established last season.

"As you saw, we were a much different team last year than the year before," said head coach Colin Chaulk, who enters his fifth season in that role. "We definitely want to be an attacking, aggressive team."

That approach helped Bakersfield rank third in the AHL at 3.39 goals per game. Repeating it will require a reshaped group. Only two of last season's top six scorers are currently expected to begin the season with the Condors. AHL All-Rookie Team selections Isaac Howard, who recorded 50 points in 47 games, and Quinn Hutson, who had 63 points in 67 games, are pushing for full-time NHL roles. Roby Jarventie left for Europe, James Hamblin joined the Anaheim Ducks organization and Sam Poulin is no longer in the Oilers organization.

Captain Seth Griffith returns after leading Bakersfield with 67 points last season.

Griffith was among the players at Edmonton's training camp when on-ice sessions began Thursday. The Oilers open their four-game preseason schedule Saturday against Winnipeg, and cuts from Edmonton will gradually fill Bakersfield's roster.

Chaulk said the Condors will likely begin camp with fewer than 15 players. "We need everybody," he said. "We used 40-plus players last year and there were 48 the year before."

Chaulk and his assistants have been in Edmonton, where he said Bakersfield's approach aligns with what new Oilers head coach Mike Babcock is emphasizing. "We want to be a skating team and pressuring all over the ice and that's what Babcock is stressing here in Edmonton."

As for projecting an opening-night lineup before Edmonton makes its cuts, Chaulk is not interested. "There's no sense in all these scenarios and ghost rosters," he said.