JOSH WINQUIST: WHAT’S NEXT?
By Lowetide
7 years ago
When Josh Winquist ended his WHL career (after posting 93 points in 67 games his final year) he went shopping for a pro contract. The Oklahoma City Barons answered the call, and Winquist has been posting offense in the Oilers organization since. Is it enough to get him an NHL contract?
WINQUIST IN THE AHL
- 2013-14: 1gp, 0-0-0
- 2014-15: 46gp, 8-11-19 0.413
- 2015-16: 35gp, 8-22-30 0.857
- Total: 82gp, 16-33-49 0.60
That is solid progress, and offensively Winquist scores well compared to Edmonton’s other prospects in Bakersfield. Let’s compare career numbers in the AHL among Condors prospects:
- Iiro Pakarinen: 43gp, 18-13-31 0.72
- Josh Winquist: 82gp, 16-33-49 0.60
- Marco Roy: 42gp, 8-12-20 0.48
- Bogdan Yakimov: 93gp, 17-26-43 0.46
- Anton Slepyshev: 49gp, 13-8-21 0.43
- Tyler Pitlick: 196gp, 28-57-85 0.43
- Kyle Platzer: 52gp, 8-12-20 0.38
- Jujhar Khaira: 106gp, 14-23-37 0.35
- Kale Kessy: 127gp, 12-12-24 0.19
- Mitchell Moroz: 106gp, 10-9-19 0.18
In fairness to many of these forwards, not all 10 players will be applying for the same NHL jobs. Jujhar Khaira and Bogdan Yakimov will be applying for Anton Lander’s job, while Anton Slepyshev and Tyler Pitlick are chasing Iiro Pakarinen (and may not catch him).
WILL EDMONTON SIGN WINQUIST?
Winquist has enough skill to play on a scoring line in the AHL, but Edmonton’s recent signings (NHL and AHL) may impact his status:
- L Drake Caggiula. 162gp, 62-65-127 0.78 in college
- L Jere Sallinen. 98gp, 16-18-34 0.35 in KHL
- L Joey Benik. 137gp, 59-67-126 0.92 in college (AHL)
- R Patrick Russell. 81gp, 30-36-66 0.81 in college
CURRENT 50-MAN LIST (38)
(Projected NHL players in italics)
- G Cam Talbot
- G Laurent Brossoit
- G Nick Ellis: Newly signed college free agent.
- G Eetu Laurikainen
- D Oscar Klefbom
- D Andrej Sekera
- D Brandon Davidson
- D Mark Fayne
- D Darnell Nurse
- D Andrew Ference, they will buy him out (if able). LTIR is my guess.
- D Griffin Reinhart
- D Joey Laleggia
- D Dillon Simpson
- D Ben Betker
- D Caleb Jones, WHL D. Newly signed, definite slide rule.
- C Connor McDavid
- C Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
- C Leon Draisaitl
- C Mark Letestu
- C Anton Lander
- C Jujhar Khaira
- C Bogdan Yakimov
- C Kyle Platzer
- L Taylor Hall
- L Benoit Pouliot
- L Patrick Maroon
- L Lauri Korpikoski
- L Matt Hendricks
- L Drake Caggiula. A nice addition, let’s not go crazy on projecting him.
- L Jere Sallinen, Newly signed, from KHL.
- L Mitch Moroz
- L Braden Christoffer
- R Jordan Eberle
- R Nail Yakupov
- R Zack Kassian, newly signed.
- R Anton Slepyshev
- R Patrick Russell. Newly signed, range of skills.
- R Greg Chase
WAITING WITH WINQUIST
- R Iiro Pakarinen, RFA
- D Jordan Oesterle. RFA.
- D Adam Clendening. RFA.
- D David Musil. RFA.
- L Luke Gazdic.RFA
- R Tyler Pitlick. RFA
- L Kale Kessy. RFA.
- R Adam Cracknell. UFA.
- R Rob Klinkhammer. UFA.
- D Adam Pardy. UFA.
- D Eric Gryba, UFA.
- D Nikita Nikitin, UFA.
- D Brad Hunt. UFA.
- L Josh Winquist. Minor league deal last season.
- R Josh Currie. Minor league deal last season.
- C Marco Roy. Minor league deal last season.
From the group outside currently, I will guess Pakarinen, Oesterle, Musil (RFAs) and Eric Gryba (UFA) get deals. After that? We wait.
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?
- Joey Laleggia: Timing is Everything
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