MATRICULATION
By Lowetide
8 years ago
The scouting report on Anton Slepyshev implied the Oilers were acquiring a pretty dynamic player, and the coaching staff in Edmonton were excited about him in the fall. It has been a tough season in North America, but is he on track as a prospect?
Let’s forget about the impressive training camp (7, 2-2-4) and the NHL time—the Oilers often keep players they should send to the minors—and look at his progress this season compared to the KHL campaign he posted in 2014-15.
SLEPYSHEV 2014-15
- Boxcars: 58GP, 15-10-25 in regular season
- Breakdown: 14 goals at even strength, one on the power play
- SOG: 129 (11.6 shooting percentage, 2.22 shots-per-game)
- TOI/game: 12:25
- Points-per-60: 2.08
- NHLE (Regular season): 82GP, 17-11-28
We are unable to completely duplicate these numbers, but there is a site that gives us an estimate of AHL time and it can be a helpful guide. Source
SLEPYSHEV 2015-16 (BAKERSFIELD)
- Boxcars: 44GP, 12-8-20 in regular season
- Breakdown: eight goals at even strength, four goals on the power play
- SOG: 104 (11.53 shooting percentage, 2.36 shots-per-game)
- TOI/game: 14:41 (ESTIMATE)
- Points-per-60: 2.33
- NHLE (Regular season): 82GP, 12-8-20
The NHL equivalencies in both seasons seem to suggest we are looking at a complementary offensive player in the NHL. It is important to keep in mind that Slepyshev is young (21) and this is his first North American season—and there was an injury issue. Source
Still, these numbers offer us a guide and based on the math we are getting an idea about him offensively. It would probably be necessary for Slepyshev to bring more than just offense in order to survive at the next level. Let’s go back and see what they were saying on draft day.
COREY PRONMAN, SPRING 2013
- Slepyshev was passed over in last year’s draft, mostly due to
signability concerns. Despite being ranked 17th in last year’s Hockey
Prospectus draft rankings, he falls to 45th this season, simply due to
the depth of the draft class. He is an above-average skater, with
agility and free movement, as his shiftiness makes him hard to check. He
has a plus shot and he knows it, as his mentality is often shoot-first,
even from distance. He can still make plays, and he does not have
tunnel vision, but his playmaking skills are not his best element. His
physical game has progressed, and he has added strength since last
season. He can protect pucks moderately well. He will display physical
effort, although it could be better at times. He also needs to work on
his defensive game.
That pre-draft description by Pronman compares well to the coach’s words last fall:
- Todd McLellan: “Yes. When I look at his game,
and I watched the video again—the video doesn’t lie. He did a lot of the
things we worked on today in the game. He’s a young player but he’s
played pro hockey before. You can see it, he’s been around pro players
for awhile.” - Todd McLellan: “He has the ability to play a
heavy game and use his shot. He’s played with speed guys and with
grinders … he’s getting better night after night and he’s really opening
the coaches’ eyes.” Source
IN HIS OWN WORDS
- Slepyshev on what he needs to do in order to get back to the NHL:
“When the Oilers management sent me down to the AHL to play in
Bakersfield they clearly let me know what I did well and what I needed
to work on. I took what I needed to work on and have been developing
those skills in the AHL. In my time in the AHL, I
have learned to think faster on the ice and make quicker decisions. I
also learned how to play stronger and win battles against the boards. I
now understand what a smart decision in this kind of hockey is and I
understand what an unwise decision is. I am trying to find the keys to
success in this league. I have been working on things that will
translate into points. Points are what I really lack.” - Source
He is 5-6-11 in his last 14 games (NHLE: 82gp, 34 points) and has 38 shots (2.71 shots-per-game) in that time. It is unlikely he will get a playoff series to show more, so the final five games of the year take on greater importance. It will be interesting to see what Slepyshev does in those games, and how Edmonton projects him into the future. At points in the season, he appeared to be close—and management expressed exactly that sentiment. Has a long, difficult first year pro helped his cause?
Slepyshev photos by Mark Williams.
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