Journeyman forward Brad Malone may not be playing on an NHL contract for the next two years, but he will be content to stay in the same place for a while longer. The 30-year-old forward will remain in the Edmonton Oilers organization by signing a two-year AHL deal with the Bakersfield Condors, the affiliate announced. After playing with four different organizations over five year span, Malone has now spent three years with the Oilers and has two more years with their farm team to look forward to.
Malone, a standout college player at the University of North Dakota, has always been a productive AHL player. A fourth-round pick of the Colorado Avalanche in 2007, he recorded 36 points in 67 AHL games as a first-year pro in 2011-12. The mark still stands as a career-best, but eight years later Malone was poised to break that mark this season with 31 points through 49 games prior to the suspension of the season. Over his career, Malone has also been a valuable NHL depth piece, contributing 85 points in 161 games with Colorado, Edmonton, and Carolina Hurricanes, with whom he scored a career-high 15 points in 2014-15.
However, Malone did not see any NHL action this season (so far) for just the second time in his pro career. He will be on the wrong side of 30 as of next month and it is clear that he is not going to become an NHL regular at this point in his career nor do the Oilers see him as worthy of a contract slot as a depth piece either. He remains a valued veteran presence in Bakersfield and can still produce and perhaps he can earn another NHL contract if he keeps his play up. For now though, he will settle for a familiar place to play and will have to work to prove that he can still be an Oiler in addition to a Condor.
Bugsy’s been a solid Condor, as Jay has attested to on several occasions. Good on him for getting another two years, with, hopefully, a couple of call-ups, from time-to-time.