HOLTY’S BLOG: GRIFF GOES TO VEGAS

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We basically survived the hottest inhabitable place in North America and lived to tell the tale this week. Condors staff along with the rest of the AHL crew spent the early part of the week in Phoenix where it was roughly 120 in the shade at all times. More on that in a bit.

You may think I’m exaggerating on how hot it was, and that’s fine, but as I’ll remind you, it’s my blog and I’ll do what I want.

Now for the blog…

– If you missed it last night, and it took a little bit with that awards/pick/awards/skit/infomercial/skit/awards format, Griffin Reinhart was selected by Vegas in the Expansion Draft.

– A lot will be made of Griff simply because he was drafted fourth overall and then acquired for two draft picks, but from what I saw this past year, he had a very good season, he improved his game, and as Peter Chiarelli noted he’s ready to play in the NHL. The Oilers are deep on the blue line and are only getting deeper this season with some really good young prospects making their way to Condorstown as well.

– Vegas got a chance to select a good player, or leverage their position to get a good player from every team and Edmonton was no exception. That’s the point of the draft. Nobody wants to see a team win eight games like the 74-75 expansion Washington Capitals, who only won ONE road game.

– Does Reinhart leaving affect next season’s Condors? I don’t believe so. He was eligible for waivers meaning he could have been claimed if the Oilers tried to feed him down to Bakersfield. The team will be young on the back end with new prospects Ethan Bear, Caleb Jones, and Ziyat Paigin expected to be in California. Long story short, I think the Oilers will fill that spot Reinhart would have taken had he not been selected and it will keep things status quo.

– Next up is the NHL Draft tomorrow and Saturday, live on NBCSN at 4 p.m. PT. The Oilers will pick 22nd. I would expect them to be a little more forward heavy/focused given the depth on D.

– According to CapFriendly, the Oilers currently have 33 of a possible 50 contracts for next season. It’s unlikely they’ll get to 50 contracts, but as I mentioned in a previous blog, there are still NHL contracts to be had by free agents who will end up in Bakersfield. July 1 is the opening of free agency.

– Other news made this week was the addition of the Wichita Thunder as the Oilers/Condors ECHL affiliate. They’re led by Malcolm Cameron who was a finalist for the Condors head coaching position back in 2011.

– As many know from the Condors ECHL days, the Thunder can expect 2-3 forwards, 1-2 d-men, and a goaltender this year.

– After surviving the heat in Phoenix, the #HoltySabbatical is underway on the East Coast and the lock of the week is that I will golf this weekend.

Until next time Condorstown…

Ryan Holt aka Holty is the Voice of the Condors and enters his seventh season with Bakersfield in 2017-18. Golf and food will be two keys for the sabbatical. Follow him on Twitter @CondorsHolty for more nonsense or shoot him an e-mail rholt@bakersfieldcondors.com with questions, comments, or blog ideas.