When Connor Brown wasn’t able to play on Saturday, the Oilers were forced to play short a player. In doing so, they created a short-term cap-exempt emergency recall. The team announced that the recall has been used on James Hamblin who has been promoted from AHL Bakersfield.
The 24-year-old made his NHL debut last season with Edmonton, getting into ten games with the big club. He was held without a point but recorded a dozen shots on goal while averaging just under nine minutes per game. He spent most of last season in the minors where he had 10 goals and 18 assists in 52 games with the Condors. This season, Hamblin is off to a good start with two goals and three helpers in six contests, helping him earn this promotion.
Hamblin is in the final season of a two-year, entry-level contract which carries a cap hit of $807.5K. The AAV being that low permitted him to be the recall; teams are limited to bringing up a player making no more than $100K above the league minimum salary ($775K this year) when using a cap-exempt promotion. Once Brown or Mattias Janmark return from their respective injuries, Hamblin will need to be returned to Bakersfield.
The entire Oilers organization is an emergency barely clinging to life. Hiring McDavid’s agent, Signing Connor Brown, No depth, Bad defense, Minor league goaltending. McDavid and Draisaitl are leaving ASAP!!!! This team epitomizes cluelessness.