According to the Oilers’ Twitter account, the team has recalled Brad Malone from the Bakersfield Condors for his first NHL stint of the season. In 41 games with the Condors, Malone has amassed seven goals and 17 assists for 24 points, which currently slots in him sixth in overall team scoring. 

With both Kailer Yamamoto and Ryan Spooner being assigned to the Bakersfield Condors in the days before the bye week started, the Oilers needed to call someone up to fill out the roster and it was Brad Malone’s name that got pulled out of the hat. For the first time this season, Malone will get a chance to ply his craft and try to do what it takes to stick in the NHL. Actually, to me, recalling Malone makes perfect sense given his low $650,000 cap hit and ability to centre the fourth line, probably, as well as any of the other options available. Frankly, it makes a hell of a lot more sense having Malone in the lineup playing under 10 minutes per night or up in the press box than it does for a guy like Yamamoto or Marody. To me, this is the best possible option the Oilers have on their depth chart at this stage to fill in that 13th forward role or chip in with a few minutes here or there.

If we’re going to take Bob Nicholson at his word that the Oilers are finally going to get away from rushing their prospects into the league before they’re ready, then I have to say that the Brad Malone recall is a good start. One recall does not change the way things have gone around here over the past decade, but it’s certainly a step in the right direction and one that actually makes sense. Having Malone with the Oilers makes so much more sense at this stage because of where he’s at in his career. It won’t matter if he plays five minutes per night or not at all because he’s the type of utility player that can do enough to not embarrass himself when he’s on the ice, and leaving him out of any given lineup won’t hurt his development either. To me, Brad Malone makes sense given the role he’s likely to play. To me, this is a guy that can come into town and adequately fill a role when needed without having all kinds of pressure placed upon on him to produce. To me, this is the Oilers making the right choice with a recall even though it will be a minor transaction in the grand scheme of things. The trick will be to see if they keep this kind of thinking going over the long haul. What do you guys think?

During the 2017-18 season, Malone played in seven games with the Oilers and did not register a point.