The Bakersfield Condors have been struggling with injuries, inconsistency and an overall weak and inexperienced roster. That has led to Condors dwelling at the bottom of the Pacific Division with a 6-8-1 record, but the good news is the Condors are still only six points back of the division leading Tuscon Roadrunners.
The Condors will be getting some much needed veteran scoring help with both Anton Lander and Mark Fayne being assigned to the farm club.
The Condors will also be getting stronger with the return of some key players to injury. Jordan Oesterle, Jujhar Khaira and Griffin Reinhart are back on the roster and will give the Condors a much needed boost.
The biggest story of the year has been the goaltending. Nick Ellis and Laurent Brossoit have provided a strong tandem that can be relied on to steal games from time to time. It’s a good thing because the Condors have not been able to provide much scoring support.
CURRENT DEPTH CHART
Ryan Hamilton – Anton Lander – Taylor Beck
Scott Allen – Jujhar Khaira – Josh Currie
Joey Benik – Kyle Platzer – Patrick Russell
Mitch Moroz – Jere Sallinen – Braden Christoffer
ex: Kris Newbury, Greg Chase, Joel Rechlicz
Griffin Reinhart – David Musil
Joey Laleggia – Dillon Simpson
Jordan Oesterle-Mark Fraser
ex: Ben Betker, Frankie Simonelli, Mark Fayne, Bryce Aneloski
Laurent Brossoit
Nick Ellis
FORWARDS
Ryan Hamilton is a long time veteran of the AHL and he produces like one. Hamilton has absolutely no future in the NHL, and one wonders if the Oilers would be better off letting a young prospect play Hamilton’s role. Either way, Hamilton is a steady veteran AHL player.
Anton Lander finds himself back in the AHL, where he has always produced big points. This is likely Lander’s last dance in the AHL as I expect him to flee back to Sweden after this season.
Taylor Beck is pacing with the best of the best in the AHL and it’s proving that he wants to play in the NHL. He didn’t get much of a chance off the bat with the Oilers but they will have to notice him. Could be another version of Tyler Pitlick.
Scott Allen is 26 years old so he should be able to play in this league and while he hasn’t been consistent, he has produced some points and is one of the most productive secondary scorers on the club.
Jujhar Khaira started the season like a bat out of hell but he dealt with injuries early on as well. When Khaira is in the lineup he has been a force, and that offense is very important because he looks like he is well on his way to becoming a developed prospect and NHL player.
Josh Currie has seen some time at centre as well as the wing, and he went from healthy scratch to secondary scorer. He’s had to work for everything he has been given, and he doesn’t seem to want to go away quietly.
Kyle Platzer, Mitch Moroz and Braden Christoffer are notable Oiler prospects that have not been producing like an NHL prospect should. Platzer’s situation looks like it’s a matter of ice time, while Moroz and Christoffer play their roles well, but will need more offense to get a chance in the NHL.
The Condors have employed AHL veterans like Joel Rechlicz, Kris Newbury and even Kellan Lain in favour of prospects like Platzer and Greg Chase. I’ve voiced my concern over this area but it also shows that the previous regime of Oilers management didn’t stock the cupboards very well.
DEFENSE
Griffin Reinhart has been injured for most of the AHL season and that can’t be a good thing for a player in likely the most crucial season of his career. When Reinhart was in the lineup he was showing a mean streak and he needs to bring it back when he returns to the lineup.
David Musil looked like an outsider from the beginning of the season as a healthy scratch, but the 31st overall pick of the 2011 Draft has become the most reliable defenseman on the club. It’s unfortunate that Musil won’t have an NHL future with the Oilers. Expect a trade.
Joey Laleggia had an outstanding first AHL season last year, but has been unable to improve so far this season. While his offense hasn’t been there, Laleggia has been focusing more on his defensive game, but coach Fleming has stated that Laleggia has not been able to become a stronger defender.
Dillon Simpson plays a smart, structured and steady game that resulted in an NHL call-up this year. Simpson has been missing his common “D” partner in Oesterle.
Jordan Oesterle was supposed to challenge for an NHL spot but he was outplayed in camp by Eric Gryba and Matt Benning. Oesterle has also dealt with injuries and the team obviously missed him. His return to the lineup is coming.
Mark Fraser has done what everybody expected he would do. He provides a steady hard-hitting AHL prescence and that’s where his game belongs. Far away from the NHL.
Ben Betker has also seen a lot more time in the AHL after splitting between the AHL and ECHL last season. Betker won’t get any headlines but if he stays out of the coach’s naught notes, he has done his job. Filled in admirably so far.
GOALIES
Laurent Brossoit is starting to see the crease more than his backup, and Brossoit is once again putting up strong AHL numbers. He’s well on his way to NHL employment soon. Brossoit has a 3-6-0 record, but his strong 2.59 and .920 numbers prove he needs more support from his team.
Nick Ellis could be the biggest surprise on the team. While he had great numbers in collegiate hockey last year, I don’t think anybody expected him to have the numbers he has so far. Ellis has almost split starts with Brossoit and has turned in a 3-2-1 recor with a 2.45 GAA and .930 save percentage. Ellis will be the starter next season and looks to have an NHL future.
WHAT WE NEED TO SEE THE REST OF THE WAY
-One of Kyle Platzer, Mitch Moroz or Braden Christoffer needs to start scoring. I think Platzer just needs better linemates to produce because he has a strong two-way game and his junior career proved he could score. Moroz and Christoffer don’t need to score crazy numbers, but they need to chip in on offense from time to time. 30 points at the end of the year is the only way these guys earn another contract.
-Taylor Beck’s strong play, coagulated with the Oilers new motto of rewarding strong perfromances should see Beck in the NHL at the end of the year.
-Griffin Reinhart needs to become a dominant force in this league to warrant a chance in the big leagues this year. He’s been passed by Simpson and Benning, and with Kris Russell playing his role in the big leagues, he needs to prove he’s worth remembering.
-Move out the dead weight. Peter Chiarelli needs to find a way to shed some of the dead weight on the Condors roster to get Chase, Platzer, Moroz, Oesterle etc. more playing time.
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