Back about three weeks ago, I asked a question on twitter, what do YOU want me to write about? Today, I tackle the first of many questions I received, one of the more interesting ones in my mind.
The tweet comes from @KkevrockK, who asks “Bakersfield is gonna have a wicked team…who’s gonna get pushed down to Norfolk as a result?”
It’s a good question, because Edmonton’s AHL team is shaping up to be a real powerhouse in the new Pacific division. Fans in Bakersfield are certainly going to be treated to quite a show this winter. For Oiler fans, it’ll be fun to see some really solid young players develop.
So, with that said, let’s take a look at each position within the organization and look at who might end up with the new ECHL club in Virginia.
Goaltenders:
We know Cam Talbot is a lock for Edmonton, and we know Laurent Brossoit is a lock to be the number one in Bakersfield. After that? Well, let’s just say nothing is guaranteed. Edmonton will have one of Ben Scrivens and Anders Nilsson back-up for Talbot, meaning the other one is AHL bound to share the crease with Brossoit.
Where does that leave the Admirals? Well I’d expect Eetu Laurikainen to be the starter, while Ty Rimmer backs him up. Rimmer is on an AHL deal, while Laurikainen is coming off of a sensational year over in Europe (.933 SV%). Neither guy is proven in North America, but both are decent bets. I’d say the Admirals will be good in net.
Defenders:
The Edmonton Oilers have ten defenders fighting for NHL employment this fall in Andrej Sekera, Mark Fayne, Oscar Klefbom, Justin Schultz, Eric Gryba, Andrew Ference, Nikita Nikitin, Griffin Reinhart, Darnell Nurse and Brandon Davidson. I’d wager that both Jordan Oesterle and Dillon Simpson play big roles as offensive defenders in the AHL, while David Musil plays a shut-down role.
Brad Hunt will be on the AHL squad as well, leaving a few options for the ECHL squad, options that could contribute down the line in the NHL.
Joey LaLeggia could see some ECHL time, although his NCAA career suggests that the elite puck-mover is ready for the AHL level.
Solid Oiler prospects like hulking shut-down defender Ben Betker, the above mentioned LaLeggia and Martin Gernat could all see some time on the east coast this season. While the Oilers current NHL situation on defense isn’t ideal, their prospect pool is actually really good.
Two higher end guys in Reinhart and Nurse along with some solid other options, two of which could see time with the Admirals. As for Gernat, it’s entirely possible that he is playing for his North American career as we speak, he’ll be motivated to return to his 2013-14 form this year.
Forwards:
The candidates here aren’t sexy names, none of these guys will be an impact player at the NHL level, heck some of them might never make it to the big show. That said, there are a few solid prospects for Edmonton who may slip down to the ECHL level.
For centers, Kyle Platzer is an unlikely but possible candidate. With Jujhar Khaira, Bogdan Yakimov and possibly Leon Draisaitl on the farm, the team may elect to let Platzer start as the top center in Norfolk. Same goes for Alexis Loiseau, who signed an AHL deal this spring.
On the wings, Josh Winquist looked solid in a stint with the Barons last year. He’s on another AHL contract, and is likely to split time between the leagues this season due to the numbers game. Josh isn’t a high end talent, but he’s solid and very smart, a good darkhorse candidate.
Other options include power-forwards Kale Kessy and Mitch Moroz, along with rookie pro Greg Chase, the surprising seventh-rounder from 2013 who is quite the on-ice pest.
Overview:
Oiler fans likely won’t pay much attention to the ECHL’s Norfolk Admirals this season, but it’s likely to be a strong squad. While Edmonton’s top-prospects develop in Bakersfield, the next tier will see some guys in the “AA league”, honing their trade in key roles there.
The team will have a solid goaltending bet in Laurikainen and a prospect who won’t go away in Rimmer. That’s interesting because the goaltending situation throughout the organization is far from settled, each guy will have a chance to move up.
The possibility of the dynamic LaLeggia and the tower Betker heading down should have Oiler fans excited. Both of these guys could be NHL’ers down the line, and having them play big minutes in the ECHL could do wonders for them.
Up front, some role players could get some much needed development time, which they too need. Moroz and Kessy aren’t sexy prospects, but they can be molded into real NHL players with the right teaching and proper opportunity.
If Eetu Laurikainen, Ty Rimmer, Joey LaLeggia, Ben Betker, Martin Gernat, Kale Kessy, Mitch Moroz, Kyle Platzer and Alexis Loiseau all see ECHL time this winter, then the Oilers will have accomplished two things.
One, they would be icing a strong and young team at the ECHL level, and two, they would be giving some prospects key roles to develop into and transition into the pro game with, a big detail.
Remember the days of the prospect cupboard being bare? Not anymore, the Oilers will be seeing some solid prospects visit the ECHL this season, a change from years past.
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