JOEY LALEGGIA: TIMING IS EVERYTHING
By Lowetide
7 years ago
Joey Laleggia was drafted out of Denver (NCAA) but the Oilers would have had their eye on him back when he played for the Penticton Vees of the BCJHL. Laleggia has skill—he led Condors rookies in points this season—but he also turns 24 in June. Is there an NHL window for Joey Laleggia?
When Laleggia signed with the Oilers last spring, there was no shortage of positive verbal about him. Despite being 5.10, 185 and despite the fact he would be an AHL rookie at 23, the words were positive:
- Craig Button: “LaLeggia has become a top
defenceman for the Pioneers and is one of the best college defencemen in
NCAA hockey. He’s very steady, smart, is able to play lots of minutes
in important situations and can contribute in multiple areas. He reads
the play extremely well, jumps into the attack and generates a lot of
opportunities.” Source - Denver University coach Jim Montgomery: “There’s
two ways I think he’s become better. Defensively, he eats people up now
with the way he plays his position and uses his legs and stick to
defend. The second thing, I’ve just been really amazed by his will to
win here, expecially in the last six weeks. He’s raised his mental game
and his intensity to another level.” Source
THE 2015-16 SEASON
It was an unusual year. Laleggia led all Bakersfield Condors rookies in points but he had a difficult time settling in defensively. Part of the issue came from the sheer number of blue who had a similar skill set—veteran Brad Hunt is an impact power-play savant at that level, and Jordan Oesterle has tremendous speed—and part of it came from team needs being put ahead of development. In December of his rookie season, Joey Laleggia was asked to play forward, and he did successfully.
Bottom line: He had a solid AHL debut, posting 27 points in 63 games. The coach gave him playing time too (estimated 18:50)
and that is somewhat unusual for new pro players. The coach also said nice things about him:
and that is somewhat unusual for new pro players. The coach also said nice things about him:
- Condors Coach Gerry Fleming: “He’s
tenacious on the puck, strong on the forecheck, he’s such a good skater
that he creates separation in the zone which frees up the other guys,
and he takes the puck to the net.” Source
The season appears to have been a success, right down to the exit interview with the media:
Interesting interview and worth the time. Laleggia talks about the adjustment period and being happy with the in-season progress. He talks about the goal of making the NHL being front and center for him and that he has more progress to make.
THE PROBLEM
Laleggia was born one day before Jordan Oesterle. One day!
Oesterle has made more progress as a pro and looked good during his late season NHL audition—an audition that came despite the availability of several other defensemen in Bakersfield.
- WheatNOil: Jordan Oesterle’s ability to get the puck out with control is head and shoulders over every other defenseman and it’s not close!
Oesterle has maintained his skills fairly consistently game to game
too. He has not had a single game with lower than a 50% Controlled Zone
Exit rate, while also having three games at 100%, more than anyone else.
He’s very good at getting the puck out and you can count on him to do it consistently. Source
This is NHL time he is talking about here. In comedy, and in life, timing is everything. Jordan Oesterle was not drafted, signed with the Oilers a year before Joey Laleggia, and has played in 23 NHL games, showing well. Laleggia has some things that make him interesting as a prospect. Here are even-strength point-per-game totals for Condors blue this past season:
- Jordan Oesterle 0.395 points-per-game
- Brad Hunt 0.339
- Dillon Simpson 0.304
- Griffin Reinhart 0.300
- Joey Laleggia 0.274
And here, via AHL prospects, is estimated points-per-60 (all situations):
- Brad Hunt 2.003
- Jordan Oesterle 1.707
- Joey Laleggia 1.336
- Griffin Reinhart 1.216
- Dillon Simpson 1.205
- AHL Prospects
Paraphrasing the great Mary Wells, Jordan Oesterle appears to have beaten Joey Laleggia to the punch. He is not a young prospect, he does not have the complete range of skills. He is the modern prototype (puck moving D), but he appears to be blocked at this time.
One advantage Laleggia does have? A contract. There is one more year left for him, while Oesterle is a restricted free agent. From here, the smart bet is a new contract for Oesterle, possibly NHL time next year and Laleggia getting more playing time in Bakersfield and getting another year older.
We don’t know what we don’t know—Laleggia appears to be a determined sort and he has skill so could surprise. This is an uphill battle for the chance to make it to the NHL. He should hope that Brad Hunt is not re-signed and that Oesterle is part of a big package for a RHD over the summer. It could happen.
Photos by Mark Williams
Previously in the series:
- Dillon Simpson, Distant Bell
- Rookie of the Year (Condors)
- Anton Slepyshev, Matriculation
- David Musil, Take it to the Limit
- Jujhar Khaira,The Tenacious Warrior
- Jordan Oesterle, Gusterly Oesterle
- Bogdan Yakimov: Where in the World?
Recent articles from Lowetide
