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BONA FIDE
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Lowetide
Feb 17, 2017, 21:41 ESTUpdated:
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Anton Slepyshev (photo by Mark Williams, all rights reserved) is one of two Bakersfield forwards—the other being Jujhar Khaira—who appears to have a real chance at a bona fide NHL career.

TWO-YEAR PROSPECTS (FORWARDS)

There are a few forwards who have played parts of the two seasons Bakersfield has been the main minor league club for Edmonton.
  1. Jujhar Khaira 73gp, 18-27-45 (.616)
  2. Anton Slepyshev 58gp, 16-15-31 (.534)
  3. Kyle Platzer 89gp, 7-17-24 (.270)
  4. Greg Chase 49gp, 2-11-13 (.265)
  5. Braden Christoffer 68gp, 2-6-8 (.118)
This is sorted by total points, and includes only prospects who have spent some time in the AHL during each of the two Condors’ seasons. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to identify the most promising players. You have to score, at least a little, in the AHL in order to be considered a legit NHL prospect.

SLEPYSHEV’S PROGRESS

Visually, Slepyshev seems to be making progress in establishing himself as an NHL player. The coach likes him, he may be taking over minutes from other wingers on the club. Consider his last four games TOI:
  • February 5 at Montreal: 9:07
  • February 11 versus Chicago: 13:47
  • February 14 versus Arizona: 14:25
  • February 16 versus Philadelphia: 13:51
Slepyshev received just under a minute less than Zack Kassian last night, with Jordan Eberle getting the lion’s share of the minutes (16:06). Iiro Pakarinen got 10 minutes to bring up the rear. This is potentially important, because Edmonton has:
  • a job opening on RW
  • need an inexpensive option
  • player must have size and speed
  • player must be able to score enough to stay in the lineup
That last one is a moving target, but I have always felt a forward who plays 82 games should at least manage more than 15 points. For instance, Matt Hendricks went 5-7-12 in 68 games a year ago, that is about 15 points in 82 games and would represent the minimum required to stay as a regular. Fair?
Slepyshev is 30gp, 3-5-8 so far this NHL season and appears to be over the offensive hurdle. He has size, speed, and is learning to play in the McLellan system (skate, check, make it difficult on the puck carrier, score every 10 games).
The Russian winger has developed since his draft day, and we can see some strong hints about what he is today from the draft day verbal:
  • Corey Pronman: 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 is a pretty good description of a Todd McLellan winger. The best part of this surge from Slepsyhev is his overall performance with Leon Draisaitl. Although the sample size is painfully small, we are seeing some good things from the duo:
  • Slepyshev with Leon Draisaitl: 2-2-4 in 94:50 (2.53 5×5 per 60); 48.8 Corsi for 5×5 percentage.
  • Slepyshev without Draisaitl: 1-3-4 in 239:55 (1.00 5×5 per 60); 46.2 Corsi for 5×5 percentage.

WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?

Players get derailed for all kinds of reasons. Jesse Puljujarvi could run over this guy next season and eat his lunch, or maybe Peter Chiarelli signs a fantastic KHL winger who is the goods on July 5. That said, Anton Slepyshev has been matriculating toward an NHL job, working hard and impressing the right people.
He has not posted monster boxcar numbers and he has not passed Jordan Eberle or even Zack Kassian. Tyler Pitlick might win the job this fall, and maybe Iiro Pakarinen forces his way up the depth chart.
A window of opportunity has opened for Anton Slepsyhev. Math, verbal and visual tell us the young man is making a case in a (so far) small window. I call it good arrows. Godspeed, Anton Slepyshev.
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