Holloway Up, Hamblin Down As Oilers Prepare For Battle Of Alberta

Breadcrumb Trail Links

Cult of Hockey

Published Jan 20, 2024 • Last updated 10 minutes ago • 4 minute read

Edmonton Oilers’ Dylan Holloway is stopped by Calgary Flames’ goalie Jacob Markstrom during third period action at the Heritage Classic, in Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium Sunday Oct. 29, 2023. The Oilers won 5-2. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia

Game Day 42: Edmonton at Calgary

So much for not changing a winning line-up.

Article content

Edmonton Oilers turned that time-honoured concept on its ear on Saturday morning, outright demoting a player who has been in the line-up for all 12 games of the club record win streak but for the 19 that preceded it. James Hamblin has been an everyday player on the club since being called up in early November before Game 11. Without spending a single night in the press box, Hamblin suddenly finds himself reassigned to the Oilers top affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors of the AHL.

Advertisement 2

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters.
Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account.
Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.
Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.
Support local journalism.

SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters.
Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account.
Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.
Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.
Support local journalism.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

Access articles from across Canada with one account.
Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.
Enjoy additional articles per month.
Get email updates from your favourite authors.

Article content

Into his spot comes Dylan Holloway, deemed ready to return to the NHL after a successful 4-game assignment with the Condors where he has been auditioning at the centre position after playing the entirety of his pro career at left wing.

Holloway recall The well-chosen picture in the club’s tweet announcing the move shows Holloway entering the scene at the last Battle of Alberta, in which the Oilers topped Calgary Flames at the Heritage Classic in late October. Not only will the locals be playing that same opponent tonight in Calgary, for the first time since they will revive the special uniforms created for that occasion.

The Oilers won that game 5-2, a sliver of sunshine in a dark stretch that saw them lose 4 in a row leading into the showcase, then another 4 straight in its aftermath. It was during the latter run that Hamblin got the call, making his NHL season debut in Game 11 to replace the injured Connor Brown. He kept his spot for the next 31 games in large part because Holloway got banged up in Game 14 in Kris Knoblauch’s debut behind the bench. The 2020 first-round pick spent an extended stint on Long Term Injured Reserve, and only returned to the ice last weekend in Bakersfield in a dry run at the centre position.

Headline News

Thanks for signing up!

Article content

Advertisement 3

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Article content

Fair to say that trial was a resounding success. Holloway scored a point in each of his 4 games (2-2-4), fired 18 shots on net, and was a dynamic presence in all 3 zones. To many observers including, apparently, the Oilers themselves, he did enough in that one busy week to demonstrate he’s ready to take the next step.

That he replaces Hamblin and not, say, Adam Erne on the Oilers is a logical move on a couple of levels. The first is that Hamblin is waiver-exempt and can be assigned directly without risk. The second is that his departure opens up the most logical spot for Holloway to play right now, namely fourth-line centre. If he succeeds there, he may get the bump to 3C in due course but probably not straight away.

For all of his tantalizing promise, Holloway has yet to make a definitive statement in the NHL. In 65 games over the past 2 years, he’s averaged a couple of ticks under 10 minutes per game, virtually all of it at even strength, and on the wing. He’s mustered a modest 4 goals and 6 assists to this point. He was showing promising signs this past fall, especially in Jay Woodcroft’s swan song at Seattle in which Holloway scored his first of the year and posed 11 minutes in penalties including a fight instigated by an opponent who didn’t appreciate the youngster’s physical play. Alas, before he could gather any significant momentum, he got hurt in the very next game in an out-of-control crash into the boards. Just like that, an old bugaboo — injury — brought Holloway’s progress to a screeching halt.

Advertisement 4

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Article content

Two months later, he’s back and raring to go.

As for Hamblin, he filled the 4C role these past 2½ months in a competent but decidedly unflashy manner. He aaveraged 7:55 per game, virtually all of it at even strength, with boxcars of 2-1-3, +3. A highlight was his first career goal at Tampa Bay, triggering a celebration honouring his late mother, Gina, that garnered national headlines.

TAMPA, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 18: James Hamblin #57 of the Edmonton Oilers (C) celebrates his first NHL goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena on November 18, 2023 in Tampa, Florida. Photo by Bruce Bennett /Getty Images

It was a rare moment in the spotlight for a depth player whose main function was to saw off his minutes, a job he performed well. An undrafted player who the Oilers signed to an AHL deal at 21,the 5’9, 176-pound Hamblin played well enough in Bakersfield to earn an NHL pact 2 years later. He got a 10-game trial during an injury bug last season, and now 31 more in 2023-24. So far.

But for now he’s back in Bakersfield, who as fate has it host the Flames affiliate, the Calgary Wranglers, tonight. Seems unlikely that he’ll be there in time for the game.

What does it mean for the Oilers? With this exchange they got bigger, faster, more dynamic, and more skilled. What Holloway has yet to prove is his reliability as a 2-way player, and he will get his next chance to do so at a more challenging position. It’s not new to him; he played pivot extensively if not exclusively in his 2 seasons at University of Wisconsin, and has the range of skills needed for the role. Now comes the time for him to prove he’s up to the task, and that he can stay healthy in the process.