THE NEXT CHIMERA
By Lowetide
8 years agoOne area in which the Bakersfield Condors must outperform the Oklahoma City Barons? Developing two-way forwards with at least some offensive skills. Edmonton has their Jacks and Kings, but a solid two-way forward who could chip in on offense (ala Jason Chimera, Kyle Brodziak) is badly needed at the NHL level. Is that man Jujhar Khaira? His 20-year old AHL season suggests it unlikely because the offense isn’t there. What about Kyle Platzer? Let’s have a look.
THE DAYS OF YORE
In the olden days, Edmonton did develop some 20-year old players on the farm.
- C Rob Schremp (06-07 SWB Penguins) 69gp, 17-36-53 .768ppg
- C Jarret Stoll (02-03 Hamilton Bulldogs) 76gp, 21-33-54 .711ppg
- C Marc Pouliot (05-06 Hamilton Bulldogs) 65gp, 15-30-45 .692ppg
- LW Jean Francois Jacques (05-06 Hamilton Bulldogs) 65gp, 24-20-44 .677ppg
- RW Kyle Brodziak (04-05 Edmonton Roadrunners) 56gp, 6-26-32 .571
- LW Jani Rita (01-02 Hamilton Bulldgos) 76gp, 25-17-42 .553ppg
- RW Georges Laraque (96-97 Hamilton Bulldogs). 73gp, 14-20-34 .466ppg
- LW Jason Chimera (99-00 Hamilton Bulldogs). 78gp, 15-13-28 .359ppg
- LW Dan Lacouture (97-98 Hamilton Bulldogs). 77gp, 15-10-25 .325ppg
- RW Zack Stortini (05-06 Iowa/Milwaukee) 64gp, 2-8-10 .156ppg
That’s the kind of player you usually see come out of the AHL (Schremp types don’t usually spend years in the minors) and that is the type of player we should look for coming out of Bakersfield. Did the OKC Barons supply any in their five seasons?
- LW Magnus Paajarvi (11-12 OKC Barons) 34gp, 7-18-25 .735
- LW Teemu Hartikainen (10-11 OKC Barons) 66gp, 17-25-42 .636
- C Bogdan Yakimov (14-15 OKC Barons) 57gp, 12-16-28 .491
- LW Josh Winquist (14-15 OKC Barons) 46gp, 8-11-19 .413
- LW Phil Cornet (10-11 OKC Barons) 60gp, 7-16-23 .383
- RW Tyler Pitlick (11-12 OKC Barons) 62gp, 7-16-23 .371
- C Anton Lander (11-12 OKC Barons) 14gp, 1-4-5 .357
- LW Curtis Hamilton (11-12 OKC Barons) 41gp, 5-6-11 .262
- LW Jujhar Khaira (14-15 OKC Barons 51gp, 4-6-10 .196
- C Travis Ewanyk (13-14 OKC Barons) 68gp, 7-5-12 .176
- LW Mitch Moroz (14-15 OKC Barons) 66gp, 5-4-9 .136
- LW Kale Kessy (13-14 OKC Barons) 54gp, 2-4-6 .111
The two 2009 Swedish draft picks have played in the NHL for over 100 games, both men having the identical Achilles (offense). Among those still developing, Bogdan Yakimov has the most promise—although there is a rumor suggesting he may be back in Russia at some point. The first impressions by Jujhar Khaira at the NHL level were very good, but the resume suggests he is either an extreme outlier or a depth player.
THE 2015-16 BAKERSFIELD CONDORS
- R Greg Chase 13gp, 1-4-5 .385
- C Kyle Platzer 25gp, 4-5-9 .360
- C Marco Roy 11gp, 2-0-2 .182
Chase and Platzer are in the ‘Chimera-Lander’ range, which is basically the lowest rung of the possible future role players. A lot of this kind of work is limited by the lack of TOI, but there is some promise in the group that will play for the Condors this afternoon.
One major item to consider: Platzer’s ice time (and possibly that of Chase) should increase as the season moves along. If either prospect can push their production to (say) Kyle Brodziak levels, we may be talking about a future NHL player. Based on history and the numbers, the next Chimera does not reside in Bakersfield at this time.
Miles to go.
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