He’s got nearly 600 National Hockey League games to his credit over nine seasons and, at 30 years of age, Kyle Calder isn’t ready to call it quits.
But, after playing the last seven seasons exclusively in the NHL (plus a lockout year in Europe) Calder’s path back to the highest level of hockey has landed him in Bakersfield and the ECHL.
Calder, who found himself without a job this season after playing the last two seasons for the Los Angeles Kings, was signed by Anaheim last week and assigned to the Condors.
Technically, the ECHL is two steps below the NHL as 29 NHL uses the American Hockey League as their AAA affiliate. But the Anaheim Ducks are the lone NHL team without an AHL affiliate and have stocked the Condors with top-level prospects, including goaltender Jason Pogge, who has been on recall to Anaheim for the past week.
Now the Condors are the recipient of a gifted player, who may have something left to give at the NHL level and can certainly be a mentor toward the numerous young Anaheim prospects in Bakersfield.
 Calder was invited to Anaheim’s training camp on a try-out basis, but was released in late September.
“I talked (with Anaheim) a little after camp and they showed some interest,” Calder said after being the last player off the ice following a practice session on Tuesday. “I just kept skating and was working out by myself. The opportunity came and I took advantage of it.”
Calder said there were other jobs out there, but called this “the right fit.”
Certainly it’s close to his home in Southern California, which is undoubtedly a key factor. And it’s just over two hours away from Anaheim, should the Ducks come a-callin.
Until that time Calder says he plans on being a mentor for the numerous Anaheim prospects assigned to Bakersfield season. And, he plans on having fun.
 “I’ve had a lot of success and a lot of fun, it’s an enjoyable game,” Calder said. “It’s something I've done my whole life. Hockey has always been a passion of mine and I just have to treat it like that. It’s a blast out here.”
Bakersfield got a little “love” from ESPN.com on Monday (item No. 5) about the Ducks not having their own AHL affiliate. “It's not a healthy situation,” Murray told ESPN.com. “I hate it, I hate the feeling of it.”
In other news, goaltender Justin Pogge was in a backup role for Anaheim on Tuesday night against the Pittsburgh Penguins as J.S. Giguere remains on injured reserve.
The Ducks are calling Giguere “day-to-day” which means Pogge is “day-to-day” which means Condors coach Marty Raymond might have to find a goaltender as the Condors have play Las Vegas three times in three days starting on Thursday.