I told you all I’d have the Bubbling Under’s defense and goalie controlled expectations for our prospects up and running, and I’m finally making good on that promise. As earlier, last year’s stats are taken from hockeydb, unless otherwise noted.
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Jordan Bendfeld D Stockton/Springfield ECHL/AHL; 2009/10 stats: 52GP 0-10-10 91PIM, 10GP 0-1-1 7PIM
Jordan hasn’t had a lot of positive press in recent years. He was drafted in 2008 when the Phoenix Coyotes (2006) didn’t sign him to an entry level contract. Many among the Oilogosphere thought it was a waste of a pick, and that Bendfeld would be available to be signed as a free agent after the draft. I think that if the Oilers scouting staff saw something they liked, they made a good decision by taking him. His career path is a bit staggered, due to injury in 2008-09. He came back strong last year and played well in the ECHL, earning a call-up at the end of the AHL season where he didn’t look out of place (he was -2 over his 10-game audition). I think we’ll see some nice things from Bendfeld this year. Controlled expectations for Bendfeld are:
- Play more games in the AHL than the ECHL this year.
- Improve work in the defensive zone, with a respectable plus-minus (-5 on the season in the AHL)
- Score a goal in regular season AHL play.
Kyle Bigos D Merrimack NCAA; 2009/10 stats: 36GP 4-7-11 94PIM
I don’t think Bigos is playing in the right league, to be honest with you, and his 94PIM attest to it. NCAA isn’t a league where rough play is tolerated. He’s also not what you’d call a “freshman” as he began his college career at age 20. His point totals are nice, but not something that should be expected at the next level. He’s said to have a plus slap-shot and is a massive man, but I don’t see much of a player here. Controlled expectations for Bigos are:
- Establish a presence in the Merrimack Top-4 defensemen
- Continue to see ample time on the PP, scoring 7-14-20 over the season.
Taylor Chorney D Springfield/Edmonton AHL/NHL; 2009-10 stats: 32GP 4-9-13 14PIM, 42GP 0-3-3 12PIM
Oh boy. This one’s hard to pick. He’s got the most NHL seasoning among the blueline prospects, but he’s among the least ready for the NHL. I’m convinced there’s an NHL career in him, but he’s going to be a PP-specialist 6-7 guy, and he certainly won’t make his mark in Edmonton. The Oilers have brought in some veteran presence and depth for the AHL club, pushing Chorney mercifully farther down the NHL depth chart. I expect he sees a full season in the AHL unless injuries hit. He’s just not ready to defend in the NHL, and that’s kind of his job description. Controlled expectations for Chorney are:
- Learn to play defence, avoid the abysmal minus-column we’ve seen for the last two years.
- Be one of the premier PP quarterbacks in the AHL, scoring 40 points over a full season
- Push his way back to the top of the Oilers recall list when injuries hit
Brandon Davidson D Regina WHL; 2009/10 stats: 59GP 1-33-34 37PIM
A sixth-round pick from the most recent draft, Davidson is known more for how he came to be playing hockey than for what he does well. He’s going back to a Regina Pats team that, with all respect, will be in tight to avoid looking like last year’s Edmonton Oilers. Davidson is going to have to find another level if he hopes to get Regina into respectability. He’s unique in that he doesn’t have much of a track record, so last year’s impressive stats could either be a fluke or a start of nice things to come. Controlled expectations for Davidson are:
- Continue his development as a two-way defenseman, having one of the best +/- stats on the team and scoring around 40 points.
Troy Hesketh D Minnetonka HS USHS; 2009/10 stats: 24GP 2-15-17 47PIM stats link
I really don’t know what to think of Hesketh. When he was drafted, he was completely unheralded, but we liked the size package. A year after his draft, he hasn’t done much to impress me. He really shouldn’t be thought of as an offensive defender, but you’d expect any significant prospect to put up monster numbers against high-schoolers. He did show good defensively (his +37 was tied for 2nd best on the team), but he actually regressed in his points totals from the previous year. Not what we should like to see from a 3rd rounder. He’s playing for Fargo in the USHL this year, and has committed to the University of Wisconsin next season. Much like Kyle Bigos he’ll be starting his NCAA career at 20, not ideal. Controlled expectations for Hesketh are:
- Have a Jeff Petry-esque season in the USHL, emerging as one of the best defensemen in the league
- Be among his team’s top defensemen in +/-
Martin Marincin D SlovakiaU20 2009/10 stats: 35GP 2-4-6 71PIM stats link
I’m expecting big things from Marincin this year as he transitions to WHL hockey in Prince George. He’s got a good young team to play with, featuring a game-breaking forward in Brett Connolly and another high draft pick in Jesse Forsberg, so I’m expecting he will improve his offensive game while keeping his defensive awareness in check. For some reason, his 2008/09 stats were much better than his 09/10 were. Hopefully there was an underlying issue, and it wasn’t a regression in his offensive game. Controlled expectations for Marincin are:
- A full season of WHL hockey as a Top-4 defenseman
- Strong defensive play while allowing his offensive game to blossom, 35 points from the blueline
- Participate for Team Slovakia in the December U20s.
Johan Motin D Springfield AHL 2009/10 stats: 55GP 1-5-6 33PIM
Johan Motin didn’t have the greatest season in the AHL last year, but it’s important to remember that this was just his 19-year old season. He plays with the presence of a much older player, and I think he’ll be a strong option for the Oilers in the coming years. In coming over last year, Motin left the SEL where he’d played for the previous three seasons (ahem, that’s something similar to what Magnus Paajarvi did, just for comparison). He’s in the mix for the Barons this year, but will have to battle this year to earn a spot on a very veteran-rich blueline. Controlled expectations for Motin are:
- Play a full season of AHL hockey with improved defensive play
- Continue to put up just enough offense to remain relevant in today’s NHL
Jeff Petry D Michigan State NCAA 2009/10 stats: 38GP 4-25-29 26PIM
Petry, considered one of the shiniest gems in our stable of blueline prospects, had a strong bounce-back season with Michigan State. He emerged as a leader on his team, while developing into a shutdown presence and a powerplay quarterback, all in just his Junior season. After a late-season call-up, Petry showed well in the AHL and kept his status as a blue-chip prospect alive. With the expansion Barons this year, it’s really tough to tell where Petry stands on the depth-chart, but expect he’ll get the organizational “leg-up”. Controlled expectations for Petry are:
- A full season of AHL hockey working on his shutdown game
- A constant presence on Oklahoma’s PP, contributing 30 points (5G 25A)
Alex Plante D Springfield AHL 2009/10 stats: 49GP 2-7-9 122PIM
Plante’s stock rose faster than any of Springfield’s D last season. It was public knowledge that Plante was a work-in-progress kind of prospect before last season, but it looks like that project is nearing completion already. Plante spent the entire season in the AHL last year and took on tougher competition as the year went on. He stepped up when the coaches asked and showed more room to grow, earning a call-up when injuries hit hard. He’s a big body and loves to use his size to punish smaller players, and has some offensive upside from junior that has yet to establish itself. Injuries are a HUGE concern for Plante. Controlled expectations are:
- A healthy season in the AHL as one of the Barons top defensemen
- Push for time on the PP, scoring 20 points (3G 17A)
- Be one of the first defensive call-ups to the Oilers
Uh...It’s late. And I have to work at 5:30AM tomorrow morning. Goalies to follow tomorrow. I hope...
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