RELEASE: Oilers sign Jake Chiasson to entry-level contract
Forward has scored 10 goals and 26 points in 29 games with the WHL's Saskatoon Blades following a January trade from the Brandon Wheat Kings
by Press Release @EdmontonOilers / EdmontonOilers.com
EDMONTON, AB - The Edmonton Oilers have signed forward Jake Chiasson to a three-year entry-level contract commencing with the 2023-24 season.
Chiasson, 19, was the club's fourth-round selection, 116th overall, at the 2021 NHL Draft.
The Abbotsford, B.C. native began his fourth full season in the Western Hockey League with the Brandon Wheat Kings and recorded 10 goals and 18 assists over 37 games before being traded to the Saskatoon Blades in January. Through 29 games with the Blades, he's tallied 10 goals and 16 assists.
The 6-foot-2, 187-pound, right-shooting forward has 40 goals and 60 assists over 170 WHL appearances to date and will return to Edmonton this summer when the club hosts its annual Development Camp following the 2023 NHL Draft.
RELEASE: Oilers acquire Bjugstad, Dineen from Coyotes
Edmonton acquires the veteran centre and left-shot defenceman from Arizona for prospect Michael Kesselring and a third-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft
by Press Release @EdmontonOilers / EdmontonOilers.com
EDMONTON, AB - The Edmonton Oilers have acquired forward Nick Bjugstad and defenceman Cam Dineen from the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for a 2023 third-round pick and defenceman Michael Kesselring.
As a further condition to the deal, Arizona will retain 50 percent of Bjugstad's remaining contract worth an average annual value (AAV) of $900,000. The 30-year-old is slated to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2022-23 NHL season.
Bjugstad has recorded 13 goals and 10 assists for the Coyotes this season to go along with a plus-7 rating. The Minneapolis, MN native is an 11-year NHL veteran, having suited up for 599 games split among the Florida Panthers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Minnesota Wild and Arizona Coyotes.
The 6-foot-6, right-shot centre has recorded 123 goals, 137 assists and 260 points since being drafted by the Panthers in the first round (19th overall) at the 2010 NHL Draft. Bjugstad has been a consistent scorer over his career with six seasons of double-digit goal totals, recording a career-high of 24 during the 2014-15 campaign.
Dineen is a 24-year-old defenceman who is currently playing for the Tuscon Roadrunners in the American Hockey League. The former 2016 third-round pick by the Coyotes has registered four goals and 31 assists in 50 games with the Roadrunners this campaign.
Kesselring was selected by the Oilers in the sixth round of the 2018 NHL Draft and has 13 goals and nine assists for the Condors in 49 games this season.
The deal is the third move made by President of Hockey Operation and General Manager Ken Holland ahead of Friday's NHL Trade Deadline, having already acquired veteran defenceman Mattias Ekholm from the Nashville Predators and dealt Jesse Puljujarvi to the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday.
RELEASE: Oilers acquire Mattias Ekholm from Nashville
Edmonton acquires the veteran defenceman and a 2024 sixth-round pick from Nashville for Tyson Barrie, Reid Schaefer, a 2023 first-round pick and a 2024 fourth-round pick
by Press Release @EdmontonOilers / EdmontonOilers.com
EDMONTON, AB - The Edmonton Oilers have acquired veteran defenceman Mattias Ekholm and a 2024 sixth-round pick from the Nashville Predators in exchange for defenceman Tyson Barrie, prospect Reid Schaefer, a 2023 first-round pick and a 2024 fourth-round pick.
As part of the deal, the Predators will retain four percent of Ekholm's remaining contract. The 32-year-old Swedish defenceman has three years remaining on his contract following the 2022-23 NHL season at an average annual value (AAV) of $6.25 million.
A 12-year NHL veteran, Ekholm has spent the entirety of his career with the Predators, recording 268 points (62G, 206A) in 719 games and is expected to fill a top-four role on Edmonton's blue line.
Barrie leaves the Oilers as part of the trade having led the club's defence in scoring over his three seasons in Oil Country, posting 25 goals and 107 assists in 109 games. The Victoria, BC product led all NHL defenceman in scoring in the shortened 2020-21 campaign, finishing with eight goals and 48 points in 56 games, and has recorded 10 goals and 33 assists in 61 games this campaign.
Schaefer, from Spruce Grove, was selected in the first round, 32nd overall by the Oilers at the 2022 NHL Draft. The 19-year-old currently has 47 points (23G, 24A) for the WHL's Seattle Thunderbirds.
RELEASE: Oilers acquire Puistola from Hurricanes for Puljujarvi
Puistola was drafted in the third round by Carolina in 2019 and has 38 points in 56 games for Jukurit in Finland's Liiga this season
by Press Release @EdmontonOilers / EdmontonOilers.com
EDMONTON, AB - The Edmonton Oilers acquired forward Patrik Puistola from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for forward Jesse Puljujarvi on Tuesday morning.
Puistola, a left-shot winger, was drafted in the third round, 73rd overall by the Hurricanes at the 2019 NHL Draft and has recorded 15 goals and 38 points in 56 games in Finland's Liiga for Jukurit, where he's spent the last two seasons.
At the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship in Ostrava and Trinec, Czech Republic, the 22-year-old led Finland with five goals, 24 shots, and ranked second on the team with eight points in seven games.
Puljujarvi, affectionately named 'Bison King' by fans, departs after spending parts of six seasons in Edmonton following his fourth-overall selection by the Oilers at the 2016 NHL Draft.
The 24-year-old had produced five goals and 14 points in 58 games for the Oilers this season after recording a career-high 36 points (14G, 22A) during the 2021-22 campaign, including 16 post-season contests where the Finn added two goals and an assist.
FUTURE WATCH: Tullio tying it all together
The 20-year-old winger has broken through early adversity to break out offensively in the second half of his first professional season with the Bakersfield Condors
by Jamie Umbach @JamieUmbach / EdmontonOilers.com
EDMONTON, AB - Patience, pride and painstaking persistence at honing his craft in preparation for playing in the National Hockey League help make up the ethos of forward Ty Tullio.
The Lakeshore, Ont. product has never had it easy as a smaller forward with ambitions of making it to the highest levels, but with his determination and professionalism toward navigating the ranks as a young pro, he's never backed away from the challenge.
"I'm not the biggest guy. I'm not the strongest guy on the team," he said. "But I definitely think my work ethic is something that I've kind of had my whole career and my whole life as something my parents kind of brought upon me growing up. It's kind of never left my side."
Now, more than halfway through his first full professional season in Bakersfield, these strong character traits engrained in Tullio are what's helping him tie it all together during his most-productive stretch for the Condors following a tempered start to his rookie pro campaign.
After posting eight points over his first 28 AHL games, Tullio has seemingly turned a corner in the second half of this season, posting nine goals and 17 points in his last 20 contests. The winger found himself a healthy scratch on a few occasions early in the season, but has since risen from the adversity to accrue more valuable minutes for Bakersfield and help drive offence when given the opportunity.
"For myself, it was kind of just a lot of hard work, a lot of dedication, and there were a lot of ups and downs for sure at the beginning," he said. "But I think now I've kind of really put myself in a steady position and I just look to keep going."
FUTURE WATCH: Lavoie, Tullio post hat tricks in Condors victory
The pair of Oilers prospects became the first Bakersfield Condors players to record hat tricks in the same game after posting four-point nights in San Diego on Sunday
by Jamie Umbach @JamieUmbach / EdmontonOilers.com
SAN DIEGO, CA - "It's a shame it's on the road because the hats would've flooded Mechanics Bank Arena," Ryan Holt, voice of the Bakersfield Condors, said Sunday night in San Diego.
Oilers prospects Ty Tullio and Raphael Lavoie each recorded hat tricks and four-point nights for the Condors in an 8-4 victory over the Gulls to close out a four-game road trip with three wins.
Forward Seth Griffith followed suit with four assists on the evening, while Noah Philp contributed three helpers and now has 16 points (8G, 8A) in his last 20 contests with the Condors, including 10 points in his last eight games. Two assists for Tyler Benson in the victory stretches the Edmonton product's point streak to five games (1G, 5A).
Tullio set up Justin Bailey for a power-play goal 3:35 into the game before closing out the opening period with a one-timer from between the hashmarks for his 10th goal of the season -- becoming the sixth Condor this campaign to reach double-digit goals.
Lavoie cut inside on his backhand and sniped his first of three second-period goals through netminder Olle Eriksson Ek's five-hole at the end of a commanding shift from the Chambly, QC native and his linemates that came with just over two minutes gone in the middle frame.
The Gulls tied the game at 3-3 off a shorthanded tally from Bryce Kindopp just past the seven-minute mark, but an unstoppable one-timer from Lavoie with the man advantage just 19 seconds later put any sort of doubts on a Condors winning result to rest.
Tullio scored his 11th and 12th goals of the season, securing his first professional hat trick inside the final four minutes of the second period, before Lavoie's marked the first time in Condors club history where two players have recorded hat tricks in a single game with his 15th of the year off assists for Xavier Bourgault and Yanni Kaldis before the intermission.
To make a historic night even more historic for the Condors, Lavoie added his fourth of the night and 16th of the season on a late power-play opportunity with 50 seconds remaining in regulation, becoming the first player in Bakersfield's AHL history to score four goals in a game.
With the victory, the Condors are 11-5-3 in their last 19 contests, picking up steam as they finish off 15-of-22 games on the road this upcoming weekend with a back-to-back set versus the Texas Stars after they host the Gulls in Bakersfield on Tuesday night.
FEATURE: Condors talent making an impact with Oilers
Daryl Katz's long-term investment in development paying dividends
by Jamie Umbach @JamieUmbach / EdmontonOilers.com
EDMONTON, AB - Daryl Katz acquired the Bakersfield Condors because he knew that building a successful NHL organization begins from the ground up by developing through the American Hockey League and ECHL levels.
You have to draft talent, and then you have to develop talent.
The Edmonton Oilers Owner and Governor purchased the ECHL's Bakersfield Condors in January 2014 to add another level to the organization's scouting and development pathway, hoping in the coming years that the road to Edmonton for the club's coaches and players would run through California and hockey's hidden gem in the heart of Kern County.
Over nine seasons later, with the Condors and Oilers officially extending their partnership on Thursday with the renewal of their lease in Bakersfield for five more years, we're seeing Katz's vision for the Oilers and his commitment to the city of Bakersfield come to fruition before our very eyes.
"We said long ago down there that we wanted to produce hockey players for the Edmonton Oilers, and we're starting to see the fruits of that labour bubble up to the surface," Head Coach Jay Woodcroft said.
"I think there's been a lot of resources dedicated toward pro scouting, a lot of resources dedicated toward making sure that the next generation of Edmonton Oilers players are going to be good ones, and that doesn't happen without Daryl's vision. It doesn't happen without the structures in place in Bakersfield.
"I just know that it's a partnership that both sides sincerely appreciate."
RELEASE: Oilers, Condors renew Bakersfield lease for five years
Daryl Katz-owned AHL affiliate club will play at Mechanics Bank Arena in Bakersfield for at least the next half-decade
by Press Release @EdmontonOilers / EdmontonOilers.com
BAKERSFIELD, CA - OEG Sports and Entertainment and the City of Bakersfield announced today the Edmonton Oilers AHL affiliate Bakersfield Condors have renewed their lease at Mechanics Bank Arena and will remain in Bakersfield, California for at least the next five years.
The lease was ratified by Bakersfield City Council on Wednesday, February 8. This agreement reaffirms the team's strong partnership with the City of Bakersfield, local businesses, community partners, team sponsors and Condors fans.
"We would like to thank the City and the people of Bakersfield for their continued partnership, passion and support for the Condors," said Stew MacDonald, President and Chief Revenue Officer, OEG Sports and Entertainment. "We are looking forward to continuing to provide affordable family entertainment for fans and working with our community partners to make these next five years the best yet. What a great way to celebrate the team's 25th anniversary!"
FUTURE WATCH: Savoie's hat trick lifts Condors to 5-1 win over San Diego
The St. Albert, AB product recorded his first professional hat trick to earn Bakersfield two important points in the Calder Cup playoff race in the AHL's Pacific Division
by Jamie Umbach @JamieUmbach / EdmontonOilers.com
BAKERSFIELD, CA - Edmonton Oilers prospect Carter Savoie recorded his first professional hat trick or the Bakersfield Condors on Wednesday night in a 5-1 victory f over the San Diego Gulls.
The Oilers fourth-round pick (100th overall) at the 2020 NHL Draft found the back of the net in every period and now has four goals in his last three contests for the Condors after posting only four goals and three assists in his first 29 AHL games, including last season's two-game introduction to the pro level after finishing off his NCAA career with the University of Denver Pioneers as a national champion.
"I think I've learned a lot this year," the St. Albert, AB product said post-game. "Many things have been thrown at us, me individually and as a team, and I've just got to keep learning things, keep on growing my game, growing my confidence and all those little things. So just keep on building."
FUTURE WATCH: Schaefer, Canada claim gold at World Juniors
The Spruce Grove product recorded an assist in seven games for Team Canada, who claimed their second consecutive gold off Dylan Guenther's overtime winner against Czechia
by Jamie Umbach @JamieUmbach / EdmontonOilers.com
HALIFAX, NS - Spruce Grove's own and Edmonton Oilers prospect Reid Schaefer will return from the 2023 World Junior Hockey Championship adorned in gold.
Team Canada staved off a resilient Czechia in overtime 3-2 at Scotiabank Centre in Halifax to win their second consecutive gold medal at the tournament after taking the title at Rogers Place this past summer over Finland -- a final that also went to overtime.
Another local product and former Edmonton Oil Kings forward Dylan Guenther played overtime hero with his second of the game 6:22 into the extra 3-on-3 frame, ending the evening with two goals and an assist and the tournament with seven goals and three assists.
Schaefer, the 32nd overall pick by the Oilers at the 2022 NHL Draft this past summer in Montreal, was held to one assist in Canada's seven games playing a depth role for the Red & White in his first opportunity at World Juniors.
In 22 games with the WHL's Seattle Thunderbirds this season, Schaefer has netted 15 goals and added 12 assists.