The Edmonton Oilers recalled a trio of players from the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors on Tuesday.
Forwards James Hamblin and Raphael Lavoie, as well as defenceman Philip Kemp, are all joining the team as they prepare for their second-round series against the Vegas Golden Knights.
All three had solid seasons for the Condors this year. Lavoie was the most notable scoring 25 goals and 45 points in 61 games this season. After a sluggish start, he was electric down the back half of the season and was a force to be reckoned with. He’s a player who will be challenging for a spot with the NHL club next season.
Hamblin appeared in 52 games scoring 10 goals and 28 points, and had a bit of an up-and-down season. He was on pace for as many points as he had scored in 2021-22, but played in 12 less games this season. He did get some NHL time this year playing in 10 games between Nov. 28 and Dec. 30 taking 12 shots on goal and averaging 8:52 in ice time.
Kemp, meanwhile, took a step forward this season in his progression and was second in Condors scoring among defencemen with six goals and 21 points in 71 games. He’s a big, right-shot defenceman — one of the only in the Oilers system as it stands — and could challenge for NHL minutes in the future.

Snoop’s youth hockey league

A day after Snoop Dogg threw his name into the ring to join a bid to buy the Ottawa Senators, he detailed his desire to do even more, should he be part of the winning bid.
Snoop, who joined LA-based entrepreneur Neko Sparks’ bid, was on ESPN’s First Take with Molly Qerim and Stephen A. Smith where he said he wanted to build a youth hockey program.
“I’ve been watching hockey for about 25 years now. And I’m watching more and more kids that look like me play the game,” Snoop said. “But I’m not seeing it being offered to the kids over here in America. I know how big it is in Canada. So this opportunity came in order for me to like be a part of the ownership of Ottawa Senators. So I jumped on it.
“The plan that we have is to also go and build a snoop Youth Hockey League outside of Canada,” he continued. “So kids in urban communities can learn about hockey, can play the sport and find ways to get into this great thing that’s called hockey. Because right now the NBA, and the NHL is having some great playoff games, and the kids need to know that there is an option to play hockey.”
It wouldn’t be his first foray into youth sports, either. He started the Snoop Youth Football League in 2005 which has been a massive success.
“When I started the Snoop Youth Football League in 2005, moving the clock up to today, we’ve sent over 20,000 kids to Division 1 (NCAA) programs,” Snoop said. “We got so many graduates. And just recently CJ Stroud, the No. 2 draft pick, is a kid out of our football league. So we’re watching the great works that is done in these communities that were gang-ridden, that had single parents that were sort of kind of like poverty-stricken. But now through football and sports, we find a way to become more family and more organized and to find ways to do things.”

Bergeron, Marner and Hischier named Selke Finalists

The nominees for the Frank J. Selke Trophy have been named: Boston Bruins forward Patrice Bergeron, Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner and New Jersey Devils forward Nico Hischier. The award is handed out annually to the best defensive forward.
Here’s some of what Daily Faceoff’s Naftali Clinton wrote:
With Bergeron’s Boston Bruins out of the playoffs, two of the finalists still have a shot at the Stanley Cup. Marner and the Toronto Maple Leafs are facing off against the Panthers in the second round, while Hischier’s New Jersey Devils are set to play the Carolina Hurricanes.
Bergeron has owned the Selke Trophy for much of his career, taking it home five times in his career. He already owns the record for the most Selke Trophies won by an NHL player. If he wins it again, he’ll make the record all the more unreachable for anyone else in the NHL.
Marner has never won a Selke but earned votes for this award in five consecutive seasons, but until this year he has never been a finalist. Hischier has never been a finalist for any NHL award, but was seventh in voting for the Calder Trophy in his 52-point rookie campaign.
This season, Bergeron scored 27 goals and 58 points en route to the greatest regular season performance by any team in NHL history. Marner set career-highs in assists and points this year with 30 goals and 99 points and is hoping to bring the Stanley Cup back to Toronto for the first time since 1967. Hischier had a revelatory season, setting a career-high in every major category, including goals, assists, points, and the fewest penalty minutes. The Swiss forward scored 31 goals and 80 points, sitting second on the Devils behind Jack Hughes.

Hughes, Point and Kopitar named Lady Byng finalists

More trophy finalists were named Tuesday, as nominees for the Lady Byng trophy were named. New Jersey Devils forward Jack Hughes, Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brayden Point and LA Kings forward Anze Kopitar were all named as nominees.
Here’s some of what Daily Faceoff’s Mike Gould wrote about them:
Hughes, 21, collected a franchise record 99 points (43 goals, 56 assists) while adding just six penalty minutes in 78 games with the Devils during the 2022–23 regular season. He added three goals and five points in seven games to help the Devils advance past the New York Rangers in the first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Point, 27, set new career-best marks with 51 goals and 95 points in 82 games with the Lightning in 2022–23, spending just seven minutes in the penalty box over that stretch. After helping the Bolts reach the last three Stanley Cup Final series, Point picked up four points in six games in the team’s quarterfinal loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Kopitar, 35, previously won the Lady Byng Trophy in 2016. The Slovene forward took just two minor penalties in 82 games during the 2022–23 regular season, also recording 28 goals and 74 points. He racked up seven points (two goals, five assists) over the Kings’ six-game playoff series loss to the Edmonton Oilers.
Although all three of this year’s Lady Byng Trophy finalists are forwards, the award is not limited by position. However, only four defensemen have captured the award since it was introduced in 1925: Bill Quackenbush (1949), Red Kelly (1951, 1953, 1954, 1961), (Brian Campbell (2012), and Jaccob Slavin (2021).
Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@thenationnetwork.com.