When the CBJ drafted Josh Anderson from the OHL’s London Knights in 2012, I wasn’t particularly pleased with the pick. Considering he’s actually played NHL games, and seems certain to be at least a fourth line NHL player, I suppose he’s proven me wrong (although the two guys I preferred aren’t too shabby either). He’s worked his way into my good graces through working hard and getting better. He’s always had good size and been a pretty good skater for that size. What I didn’t see in his draft year was any sort of puck skills that would be relevant at the NHL level.
Well he has those now, developed steadily over the past four years. On a per game basis, Anderson upped his goals, assists, and points every year in the OHL. Even better, he more than doubled his goals, assists and points from his first AHL season to his second. He was a vital player in the Lake Erie Monsters run to the Calder Cup as well, scoring 7 goals, 5 assists for 12 points in just 15 playoff games.
Anderson has also managed to chip in at the NHL level already. He’s got 18 NHL games under his belt (6 in 2014-15, 12 in 2015-16), picking up a goal and 4 assists with the Jackets. Now improvement at the OHL and AHL level is one thing, but the leaps he’s taken in his limited NHL action is what has me more excited to see him get a longer look this year. In his first stint back in the 2014-15 season, Anderson managed to pick up some fans through big hits. However, he picked up those hits by chasing them, constantly getting out of position, and looking like the game was moving much too fast for him. During his 12 games last season, we saw fewer big hits, but we also saw a positionally sound player who knew where he needed to be and what he needed to do to succeed at the NHL level with his skill set.
As a fourth line right winger, the bar with the CBJ is pretty low for actual on-ice play, considering that spot has long been held by fan favorite Jared Boll. Anderson has more offensive talent, is more positionally sound, and is capable of making hits on actual players, not just the glass/boards where a player had previously been. The fancy stats don’t say too much so far, as Anderson hasn’t really played enough games yet. Per Corsica.hockey, he has a Corsi% of 46.13% with CBJ, with ranks 15th of the 24 forwards with at least 200 minutes of action over the last two seasons. This nestles him right between legends Rene Bourque and Brian Gibbons. However, this is still MUCH better than Jared Boll’s 36.04% which is of course last among CBJ forwards and fourth last among all NHL forwards. Safe to say Anderson will be a huge improvement over Boll in nearly every way.
Future Outlook
The Jackets currently have 12 forwards on one-way contracts for next season, although this does include the likely to be IR’d David Clarkson. That leaves somewhere between two and four NHL roster spots to be claimed by youngsters. Expect Anderson to be heavily involved in that battle, and almost certainly end up on the right side of the fourth line come opening night.
Age: 22 (05/07/1994)
Position: Right Wing
Shoots: Right
Height/Weight: 6’3″, 221lbs
2015/16 Team: Lake Erie Monsters (AHL), Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL)
Likely 2016/17 Destination: Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL)
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