The Edmonton Oilers have a reinforcement coming from the minors.
The team announced on Sunday evening that forward James Hamblin has been called up from the Bakersfield Condors on an emergency basis.
#Oilers roster move
Forward James Hamblin has been recalled from the @Condors on an emergency basis.
#LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/eqcFKhXNtC— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) November 6, 2023
The Oilers have an active roster with 13 forwards, six defencemen, and two goaltenders and only $437,054 in open salary cap room, according to Cap Friendly. Mattias Janmark and Connor Brown were both scratched from Saturday’s game because of injuries, leaving the Oilers with just 17 skaters in what wound up being a 5-2 loss to the Nashville Predators. That made them eligible to call up Hamblin on an emergency basis.
Hamblin, a native of Edmonton, signed a minor-league contract with the Oilers after finishing his WHL career with the Medicine Hat Tigers in 2020. He put together two strong seasons with Bakersfield and earned a two-year, entry-level contract with the NHL club in March of 2022.
So far this season, Hamblin has three goals and five points over six games with a plus-four rating. He’s a fast skater who plays well defensively and will give the Oilers another penalty-killing option, which is helpful with Brown and Janmark on the shelf.
For more on James Hamblin, take a look at Bruce Curlock’s prospect countdown article.
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