Barons Of Interest

The season is lost, it’s dark and it’s upsetting in Edmonton. For a ninth season in a row, the Oilers will miss the Stanley Cup playoffs, but down in Oklahoma City, the playoff chase is revving up for a Barons team currently occupying the number two seed in the Western Conference of the AHL.

It’s a small consolation for Oiler fans, but the minor league team is highly successful, and likely on it’s way to another run towards a Calder Cup title. The Barons have yet to appear in a championship, but twice advanced to the Western Finals under now Oiler coach Todd Nelson.

This year, the Barons are led by veterans like Jason Williams and Brad Hunt, but they also have some young prospect of note for Edmonton. While the present is dim in Edmonton, the future down on the farm has some real bright spots.

Bogdan Yakimov C: The big Russian center is starting to find the range down on the farm. Yakimov had a really solid training camp for the Oilers, but struggled to start the year for the Barons. The adjustment period was just that, as Yakimov has settled in and begun producing for the Barons. He’s up to 24 points in 53 games this season, a solid total for a rookie in the AHL.

Yakimov looks to be a solid second/third line center down the road, and is currently holding down that spot for the Barons. He might get a look as the season goes on in Edmonton, but I’d expect it to only be a game or two. I suspect we see Yakimov continue to play a big role for the Barons heading into the playoffs.

I think he’ll need another full AHL season, and I’d say the 2016-17 season is a decent target for a full time debut in the NHL. If Yakimov keeps developing on the farm, he’ll emerge as a real option at the center position in the top-nine. Best part? He’s got skill and he’s got size, AMEN!

Curtis Hamilton LW/RW: Hamilton has 26 points in 52 points, his best season as a pro. Hamilton, for the most part, has stayed healthy, and become a solid winger for the Barons this season. He can put up points, play a physical game, and play on both special teams units. He’s a kind of a jack of all trades player who likely tops out as a bottom-six NHL’er.

As my friend Lowetide likes to say, he comes from the Pisani tree, which would be a nice find for the Oilers. I’d suspect Hamilton plays a big role for the Barons on the wing in the playoffs, and gets another contract this off-season. I think he’s got a chance at a career in the NHL, which is astounding considering where he was at this time last year.

Andrew Miller F: I have no idea if Andrew Miller will be a player at the NHL level, but he’s become a very good AHL scorer in his second season. He’s currently got 50 points in 54 games, and has finally found the range in his second pro season. Miller looks to be the next Mark Arcobello, meaning a solid depth player who can post a little bit of offense.

I’d suggest he gets another contract this summer and a look in training camp next year. Like I said, I’m not sure if Miller ever makes it as a full-time NHL’er, but he looks like he could be a depth option, especially if he keeps producing.

Brandon Davidson D: A 6th round pick in 2010, Davidson has emerged as one of the Barons’ top defensive options. He doesn’t put up a ton of points, and his pro career has been a roller-coaster to this point, but Davidson has finally established himself.

Craig MacTavish really likes Davidson, and I think he has an outside chance of making the roster as the seventh defender in place of Keith Aulie next season. He’s not a sexy name, but he’s a steady shut-down defender that simply does his job. MacTavish loves those kinds of players. Davidson is officially a player of note, and I bet he is leaned on heavily in the AHL playoffs.

Boxcars for shut-down defenders don’t mean as much, but for reference, Davidson has played in 44 games with just nine points to this point.

Laurent Brossoit G: The crown jewel of the Ladislav Smid trade, LB has taken over the crease in Oklahoma City after a stellar rookie season in the ECHL in 2013-14. After setting Bakersfield on fire with his unreal play, LB established himself as a solid AHL back-up in the early goings of this season. Since then, he’s taken over the crease as Richard Bachman has moved up to the NHL due to injuries on the big club.

LB has a solid resume this season, posting a 19-13-1 record with a .917 SV% and a 2.56 GAA. I still think he is going to need another full season in the AHL to establish himself as a high-level starter in the AHL, but he’s certainly on the right path. I think the goal is to have LB be the goalie of the future. So far, so good. I’m really interested to see him the rest of the way.

Martin Marincin D: Marincin will be sent back down to Oklahoma City following the NHL season, meaning we will see him in the AHL playoffs. Marincin has been very good for Edmonton this season, playing against top competition and handing very tough zone starts. I’d like to see him have a strong playoff in the AHL and cement a job in the NHL next season. This will be a huge stretch for him once the post-season hits the AHL.

Other players of interest on the Barons include Jujhar Khaira, Martin Gernat and David Musil, but they haven’t produced enough this season. Gernat’s numbers have gone way down this season, while Musil’s footspeed is a huge issue. Khaira just simply has not produced enough offense at this point, which is alarming.