FEATURE: Gretzky gives scouting reports on depth additions

EDMONTON, AB - Much like the 2020-21 NHL season, the start date for the upcoming American Hockey League campaign has not been finalized, but the Oilers are making sure the Bakersfield Condors will be ready when the time comes.
Much of the affiliate squad's roster will be dedicated to Edmonton's up-and-coming prospects, but as Assistant General Manager Keith Gretzky said on Monday's episode of Oilers Now on 630 CHED, the Condors will also need a veteran presence.
"You want to give the young kids a lot of ice time, but they're going to have to earn it," Gretzky told Bob Stauffer. "We wanted to add some experience and leadership to the locker room, having our young kids understand what it takes to be a pro player and how hard you have to work."
Between the pipes last season, Bakersfield relied exclusively on prospects and finished with a 21-27-8 record, with Shane Starrett, Stuart Skinner and Dylan Wells all having less than 100 professional games under their belts.
Gretzky said an organizational priority when free agency opener earlier this month was adding a veteran number three netminder, and the Oilers ended up signing a one-year deal with Anton Forsberg, who has played 48 NHL games and 185 AHL games over the past seven seasons with Columbus, Chicago and Carolina.

The 27-year-old slots in behind Mikko Koskinen and Mike Smith on the NHL depth chart and will also assist with the develoment of Skinner and Wells in Bakersfield. The Oilers loaned 2018 second-round pick Olivier Rodrigue to the Austrian Hockey League for his first pro season, while Starrett is no longer with the organization, signing an AHL contract with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
"He has a chance to still come up and give us games in the NHL," Gretzky said of Forsberg. "But for Bakersfield, if he comes down, we have somebody back there with experience that can carry the load while the young goaltenders continue to develop."
The Oilers also signed forward Alan Quine to a one-year contract for a player that can either fill a bottom-six role on the NHL squad or be a key contributor in Bakersfield. The 27-year-old scored 46 points in 38 games with the Stockton Heat in 2019-20 and also had one goal in nine regular season appearances with the Calgary Flames before suiting up for three games during the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
"He was one of the best players we played against," said Gretzky, who was in attendance for most of Bakersfield's games last season. "If he gets sent down from Edmonton, it's a big addition for us."
Another depth signing up front was the addition of Seth Griffith on a two-year, two-way contract. Gretzky and the Boston Bruins drafted the now 27-year-old in the fifth round in 2012, and he's gone on to play 79 NHL games and 376 AHL games with Boston, Florida, Toronto, Buffalo and Winnipeg's organizations.
"He's an offensive player, he's quick, he's darty, he's very smart and he can move the puck," Gretzky said of Griffith, who tallied 41 points in 58 games with the Manitoba Moose last season.
One month before NHL free agency started, the Oilers signed another veteran forward, Adam Cracknell, to a one-year, two-way deal. The 35-year-old spent the 2019-20 season with Kunlun Red Star of the KHL, scoring 24 points in 52 games, and he's also appeared in 210 NHL games and 530 AHL games during his lengthy career.
"He was one of the first guys we looked at," Gretzky said of the early September signing. "He can play any spot up front and his leadership is off the charts."
The most recent 2020-21 update from the AHL came on July 30 when the board of governors approved moving the anticipated start of the regular season to no earlier than Friday, Dec. 4. The ECHL, which includes Edmonton and Bakersfield's afilliate, the Wichita Thunder, will begin on Friday, Dec. 11.