Wranglers’ perfect start meets its first real test as Bakersfield visits

CALGARY — The Calgary Wranglers are 2-0, and Friday night at the Saddledome is where we find out how real it is.

The Bakersfield Condors visit for a 7 p.m. MT puck drop in the first of two games at the Dome this weekend — the rematch goes Sunday at 1 p.m. MT — and they are a significant step up from the Abbotsford Canucks team Calgary swept on opening weekend.

Bakersfield, the Edmonton Oilers’ affiliate, opened 1-1-0 with a split at Henderson: a 4-3 loss on Oct. 3 followed by a 3-1 win the next night. Last season the Condors went 37-23-11-1, good for 86 points and fifth in the Pacific Division. The Wranglers, by contrast, missed the playoffs entirely at 23-34-10-5. A 2-0 start is nice. Doing it against a playoff-calibre club would be a statement.

The bigger story is the roster churn that has completely reshaped both ends of the lineup this week.

On Tuesday, forward Connor Zary and defenceman Brayden Pachal cleared NHL waivers and were assigned to the Wranglers. Zary, 25, went unclaimed largely because of his $3.775-million contract — the 2020 24th-overall pick has 39 goals and 48 assists in 193 NHL games. Pachal, 27, is a 2023 Stanley Cup winner (his name was engraved on the Cup with Vegas) whose $1.1875-million hit buries fully in the minors. Whether either actually dresses Friday remains unconfirmed, but their presence alone changes the complexion of the lineup.

Going the other way, the Flames recalled Jonathan Castagna and Aydar Suniev on Wednesday. Castagna earned his first NHL call-up after scoring twice in two AHL games, both in the Oct. 2 home-opening 4-2 win over Abbotsford. Suniev, with one assist in two games, is up for his second NHL stint.

So the Wranglers could ice Zary and Pachal on Friday while playing without two of their most productive young forwards. Head coach Brett Sutter has preached a developmental-team identity all camp — this weekend is the first real exam of that depth.

There is plenty already working. Rory Kerins was named captain before the opener. Kirill Zarubin stopped 31 of 33 in his first AHL start on Oct. 3, a 4-2 win, and told Provectus Media he models his game after Colorado’s Mackenzie Blackwood. Defenceman Axel Hurtig scored twice from the point in that same game — “ice burners,” in his words.

Friday is also part of the Dome Farewell Season, the Saddledome’s final campaign before the doors close in 2027. Every home game this year carries a little extra weight.

This preview is brought to you in part by Animas Painting — interior and exterior painting in Calgary. Reach Rafael at 403-604-5529.