The Bakersfield Condors have had an interesting season. The team has seen top performers like Anton Lander, Jujhar Khaira, Anton Slepyshev and Jordan Oesterle get NHL auditions, while veterans like Mark Fayne and Jonas Gustavsson have found their way to the farm. The club also has received a 12 game stint from Jesse Puljujarvi, the fourth overall pick from June’s draft.
What’s been going on down on the farm as of late? Let’s take a look, shall we?
The Playoff Push:
The Condors, prior to Tuesday’s loss in San Diego, had won four in a row. The team swept weekend sets from the Texas Stars and Stockton Heat, two teams they are battling for playoff positioning the Pacific Division.
Based off of points percentage, the Condors currently sit tied for 5th in the division with Stockton, trailing the Tucson Roadrunners for the final playoff spot in the Pacific. Bakersfield’s .524 points percentage is slightly behind Tucson’s .588 mark. The Roadrunners have four more points (47 to 43) in one less game (40 to 41).
It’ll be tough for the Condors to get into the postseason, but a strong February should put them right in the chase with the Heat, Roadrunners and Texas Stars for the final playoff spot.
Health by the parent club will be a big factor during the stretch drive. If the Oilers remain healthy, the Condors will likely have Oesterle, Lander, Puljujarvi and Griffin Reinhart in the lineup moving forward. That makes them a much more dangerous team.
The Condors play in just a few hours against the Ontario Reign, then play San Jose and San Diego over the weekend. These next three games will be very tough and come against the class of the Pacific Division.
All-Star Oesterle:
Taylor Beck was originally slated to represent the Condors in the All-Star Game two weekends ago, but he did not attend the game and was replaced by Jordan Oesterle. In his third professional season, Oesterle has emerged as an offensive threat from the point and one of the quickest puck movers in the AHL.
His skating was on full display during the AHL Skills Challenge, and he impressed viewers (myself included) during the three-on-three tournament the following night. Alongside the best in the league, Oesterle proved he belonged.
Less than a week later, the rearguard made his NHL season debut in Edmonton’s 1-0 win over Montreal. He looked solid in the effort and displayed strong puck moving acumen.
Oesterle, who has replaced Brad Hunt on the powerplay this season since regaining his health, has 3-15-18 in 25 AHL games this season and has been, by far, the best offensive defender for the Condors. He is very close to full-time NHL employment in my eyes.
LaLeggia’s Switch:
Joey LaLeggia has shifted from defense to left wing, and according to those close to the team he has been the most consistent winger as of late. Last night against San Diego, LaLeggia skated on the third line with Josh Currie and rookie Patrick Russell. Prior to Iiro Pakarinen’s conditioning stint, LaLeggia was a fixture in the top-six.
Due to his lack of size and his defensive shortcomings, LaLeggia was in trouble as a prospect and I believe was on his way out after this season. Even with his offensive ability, the former NCAA star simply didn’t have the defensive ability to make it to the next level. His transition to wing has given him new life and I believe the change has him back on Edmonton’s radar.
His 10-7-17 in 41 games are quite solid. It’s very rare, but the position change appears to have given him life. He’ll be a big story during the stretch drive.
BREAKING (away): @Jpuljujarvi with his third of the season. #Suomi pic.twitter.com/bqI343Uxtj
— Bakersfield Condors (@Condors) February 8, 2017
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Other Notes:
As mentioned above, Iiro Pakarinen is currently with the Condors on a conditioning stint. The energy forward, who registered 5-8-13 with the Oilers a season ago, was injured in a preseason game in October and has yet to see any NHL action. He has no points in three AHL games thus far.
Henrik Samuelsson, who was acquired from Arizona a week ago, has played in three games with the Condors and has yet to register a point. Samuelsson, who skated on the fourth line last night, needs a strong ending to the season to receive a qualifying offer in my opinion. I’m not sure he has it in him.
Jesse Puljujarvi scored two points, including a beautiful goal, against the Gulls on Tuesday. JP now has 3-6-9 in 12 games and seems to be coming along. He did play with Anton Lander on the powerplay last night, but I’d like to see him draw the Swedish center at even strength too. Jere Sallinen is a good mentor, but he’s likely not the best linemate for JP.
Interesting to note that Griffin Reinhart played on the top pairing with Mark Fayne on Tuesday. Reinhart has been much better for the Condors as of late and I suspect he sees some NHL games down the stretch.
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