It’s been some time since fans of the Edmonton Oilers had a Kailer Yamamoto sighting.
And it’s also the case that Yamamoto has not started the season in the right league ever since the Oilers drafted him, always making the Oilers roster when he should have been ripening on the vine in the WHL or AHL.
Friday night in Bakersfield all that changed.
Yamamoto not only looked healthy and happy coming off the wrist injury that kept him out of last year’s AHL playoffs and this year’s NHL preseason, he also started the season in Bakersfield right where he belonged on the top line with solid vets Brad Malone and Joe Gambardella.
The line was dangerous all game, Yamamoto in particular, as he took steps at regaining the crown as the most promising Oilers forward prospect in the system. That may sound overly competitive to frame things in such terms, but there’s now a heated battle in Bakersfield within the Condors to see which of the many talented prospects rises to the top fastest and firstest.
There are numerous promising players on the roster and all of them had good moments in Bakersfield’s 2-1 win over the San Diego Gulls on their 2019-20 opening night.
Yamamoto was more assured with the puck than any Condor not named Evan Bouchard. He made numerous sharp plays and seemed a step ahead of the play all night. He scored a great goal on a scramble play in the first.
Just as importantly, Yamamoto was entrusted with pesky and useful Luke Esposito as the main PK forwards on two pressure-cooked kills late, late, late in the third. Yamamoto even got the final key clearance in the game to finish off the San Diego comeback.
Other prospects?
Tyler Benson combined with Evan Bouchard on two cross-seam passes, with Josh Currie on the end of the last one to score a glorious goal in the first (see below).
Benson was sharp with the puck all game, and again set up Currie for a slot shot with a brilliant saucer pass late in the third. On the power play, Benson was out on a unit with Cooper Marody, Currie, Caleb Jones and Brad Malone.
Sam Gagner also had his first game for the Condors and was dangerous with the puck all game, perhaps the second most dangerous Condors attacker after Yamamoto. He was on a second power play unit with Evan Bouchard, Ryan McLeod, Joe Gambardella and Yamamoto. In the clip below he sets up Benson cross-seam.
Ryan McLeod, Kirill Maksimov and Dmitri Samorukov all had their first AHL games and all did well enough, playing decent two-way hockey most of the game, though McLeod, Samorukov and Caleb Jones all lost slot battles on the only Gulls goal. Coach Jay Woodcroft trusted McLeod and Maksimov on the penalty kill, a good sign for them. McLeod and Maksimov were on a third line with brainy and hard-working Gagner, a good place for them to start their pro careers.
Evan Bouchard had a great night, combining with the Benson and Currie on their gorgeous goal and moving the puck with confidence and assurance all game long. He did get beat on one first period rush for a Grade A chance against but that was his only big defensive mistake all game. In the clip below we see him take the puck end-to-end. He may not always look fast, but he certainly moves fast.
Caleb Jones also looked good, forcing the play and skating miles.
In net Shane Starrertt was super solid, making a number of excellent saves.
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October 05, 2019 at 11:36AM
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