In a league full of heralded young prospects, Starrett has taken a much more low-key path, but his play continues to shine for a team that has emerged as a Calder Cup contender in the second half.
The Oilers signed the undrafted Starrett (6-foot-5, 181 pounds) on April 10, 2017 after two strong seasons at the Air Force Academy (NCAA). The 24-year-old needed a season in the ECHL with Wichita in 2017-18 but has claimed the top job with Bakersfield. Paired with rookie Stuart Skinner, a third-round pick (No. 78) by Edmonton in the 2017 NHL Draft, Starrett has started 18 of the past 22 games since Bakersfield's midseason turnaround.
Starrett, 23-4-3 in 33 games, is in a second-place tie in save percentage (.922) to go with his league-best 2.21 goals-against average.
Bakersfield won 17 consecutive games from Jan. 12 to March 1, the second-longest streak in AHL history, and Starrett earned 14 of those victories. The run took the Condors from fifth place in the Pacific Division to a seven-point division lead at 36-17-2-1. Bakersfield is fourth in the Western Conference with 75 points.