Tag Archives: Oilers Prospects

Corey Mitchell, Edmonton Oilers, NHL, Prospects

Chasing the NHL

Greg Chase could be the draft success that the Oilers have been looking for. I’ve touched on this idea before during the summer, but now with the season under way, it seemed like a good time to dig into the subject a bit more.

Heading into the 2013 NHL Draft, Stu MacGregor was at the helm, with many people lauding his drafting ability, dubbing him “The Magnificent Bastard”. But outside of the first round, a majority of which were first overall picks, and a few hits in the second round, there wasn’t much magnificent about the players MacGregor was bringing into the system. The 2013 draft changed that.

Heading into the 7th round, the Oilers had handed out nine jerseys over the course of the two days. As this post is being written, three of those picks (Darnell Nurse, Bogdan Yakimov, and Anton Slepyshev) have made their NHL debuts. This is to say, it was a very good draft for the Oilers that year. But its perhaps the player taken in the 7th round that day that could become the late round pick Edmonton has long awaited.

Selected 188th overall, Greg Chase, a native of Sherwood Park, was coming off a moderately successful season with the Calgary Hitmen of the WHL, posting17-32-49 in 69 games. The following year, Chase would break out, leading the Hitmen in points during his 70 games, with 35 goals, and 50 assists for 85 points. That same year, Chase would make his pro debut following Calgary’s 6 game elimination in the first round of the playoffs. During those six post season games, Chase continued his strong play, with 4 goals and 9 points. Chase would go on to play in the final five games of the season for the Oklahoma City Barons in the AHL, netting one goal.

The following year, Chase would experience some turmoil off ice. After scoring 15 points in 15 games, Chase would be a healthy scratch for the Hitmen, signaling a falling out between the WHL club and the skilled forward. Eventually, Chase would be traded to the Victoria Royals, and would contribute 44 points, including 18 goals, in his 46 games. The Royals headed into the WHL Playoffs that year as a serious championship contender, and would have most likely made it the finals, except for a second round match up with another Oilers prospect, Leon Draisaitl, and a stacked Kelowna Rockets team.

Chase finished out his WHL career with 11 points in 10 post season games, and while Draisaitl and the Rockets would go on to win the WHL Championship, and advance to the Memorial Cup, Chase would once again join the Barons in the AHL, this time for their own playoff push. Chase would dress for four games in the post season with the Barons, collecting one assist.

Greg Chase would enter Oilers training camp in 2015 as a first year pro. And while making the big club was a long shot with the likes of Connor McDavid, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Anton Lander, and Mark Letestu in the fold, cracking the roster on the newly christened AHL Bakersfield Condors was looking to be a tough task as well. It was when the Oilers assigned Draisaitl to Bakersfield that decisions had to be made, and one of those decisions was to send Chase, along with fellow 2013 draftee Ben Betker, to the Norfolk Admirals of the ECHL.

There could be any number of reasons the Oilers chose to send Chase to the ECHL. Perhaps it was just a numbers game, and the addition of a blue chip player like Draisaitl to Bakersfield. Or perhaps it was a bit of a discipline issue. Chase has never shied away from playing with an edge, and it’s possible the issue with the Hitmen in his final year of junior had something to do with the assignment.

Currently, Chase is riding a five game point streak in Norfolk, and leads the Admirals with 3 goals, and is tied for the team lead with 5 points through 6 games. However, after Draisaitl was recalled by the Oilers, the Condors had a hole to fill, and elected to recall Alexis Loiseau. Not that Loiseau is a slouch, as last season he posted 96 points in 68 games with the Rimouski Oceanic of the QMJHL, although he went undrafted, and signed an AHL deal with the Condors.

That being said, if Chase can continue to put up productive numbers with the Admirals, it should only be a matter of time until he dresses for the Condors. And with it looking more and more like Leon Draisaitl won’t be returning to the AHL anytime soon, there should be plenty of opportunity for Greg Chase to show that, at number 188 in the 7th round, the Oilers truly did make a “magnificent” pick.

 

Corey Mitchell, Edmonton Oilers, NHL, Prospects

Oilers Prospects Recap – Oct. 26 to Nov. 1

Caleb Jones

Welcome again, Oilers fans, to the Prospects Recap. This week saw some notable moments for Edmonton Oilers prospects, including Ziyat Paigin getting his first goal since being traded to HC Sochi in the KHL. Also this week, Ben Betker and Greg Chase continue to try and impress in the ECHL, especially with openings in Bakersfield followiing the recalls of Darnell Nurse, Leon Draisaitl, and Brandon Davidson. In the college ranks, William Lagesson had a pair of games, as UMass Amherst took part in the Capital City Classic, while prospects Aidan Muir and Tyler Vesel faced off in a weekend series. And who is the prospect of the week?

 

[table id=35 /]

Season Totals: 7 Games Played, 1 Goal, 0 Assists, -2, 4 PIM

 

[table id=48 /]

Season Totals: 6 Games Played, 0 Goals, 1 Assist, -5, 2 PIM

 

[table id=37 /]

Season Totals: 13 Games Played, 2 Goals, 5 Assists, +3, 13 PIM

 

[table id=38 /]

Season Totals: 11 Games Played, 2 Goals, 8 Assists, +6, 6 PIM

 

[table id=39 /]

Season Totals: 6 Games Played, 2 Goals, 3 Assists, Even, 4 PIM

 

[table id=49 /]

Season Totals: 6 Games Played, 3 Goals, 2 Assists, -1, 12 PIM

 

[table id=40 /]

Season Totals: 11 Games Played, 1 Goal, 6 Assists, +2, 6 PIM

 

[table id=50 /]

Season Totals: 9 Games Played, 2-6-0, GAA 4.86, SV% 0.839, 0 Shut Outs

 

[table id=42 /]

Season Totals: 8 Games Played, 1-7-0, GAA 4.53, SV% 0.867, 0 Shut Outs

 

[table id=43 /]

Season Totals: 26 Games Played, 6 Goals, 7 Assists, -1, 16 PIM

 

[table id=44 /]

Season Totals: 8 Games Played, 0 Goals, 4 Assists, +3, 0 PIM

 

[table id=45 /]

Season Totals: 6 Games Played, 0 Goals, 2 Assists, +3, 6 PIM

 

[table id=46 /]

Season Totals: 3 GP, 3-0-0, GAA 2.34, SV% 0.903, 0 Shut Outs (Does not include Oct. 31 game)

 

[table id=47 /]

Season Totals: 11 Games Played, 1 Goal, 2 Assists, +2, 2 PIM

 

Prospect of the Week – Caleb Jones: 2 Games Played, 0 Goals, 2 Assists, +2, 0 PIM

Corey Mitchell, Edmonton Oilers, NHL, Prospects

Oilers Prospects Recap – Oct 12 to Oct 25

After a few weeks away, we’re back with stat packages for all the Oilers prospects not in the AHL.

[table id=35 /]

Season Totals: 5 Games Played, 1 Goal, 0 Assists, -1, 4 PIM

 

[table id=48 /]

Season Totals: 5 Games Played, 0 Goals, 1 Assist, -5, 0 PIM

 

[table id=37 /]

Season Totals: 11 Games Played, 2 Goals, 3 Assists, +1, 13 PIM

 

[table id=38 /]

Season Totals: 10 Games Played, 2 Goals, 7 Assists, +5, 6 PIM
[table id=39 /]
Season Totals: 4 Games Played, 1 Goal, 3 Assists, +1, 4 PIM

[table id=49 /]

Season Totals: 5 Games Played, 3 Goals, 1 Assist, -2, 12 PIM
[table id=40 /]
Season Totals: 9 Games Played, 1 Goal, 6 Assists, +4, 6 PIM
[table id=50 /]
Season Totals: 8 GP, 2-5-0, GAA 5.12, SV% 0.831, 0 Shut Outs
[table id=42 /]
Season Totals: 7 Games Played, 1-6-0, GAA 4.42, SV% 0.867, 0 Shut Outs
[table id=43 /]
Season Totals: 25 Games Played, 6 Goals, 7 Assists, -2, 16 PIM
[table id=44 /]
Season Totals: 6 GP, 0 Goals, 3 Assists, +2, 0 PIM
[table id=45 /]
Season Totals: 4 Games Played, 0 Goals, 1 Assist, +3, 4 PIM

[table id=46 /]

Season Totals: 2 Games Played, 2-0-0, GAA 2.00, SV% 0.905, 0 Shut Outs
[table id=47 /]
Season Totals: 10 Games Played, 0 Goals, 2 Assists, +1, 2 PIM
Prospect of the Week: Ethan Bear (2 goals, 3 assists in 5 games)

 

Corey Mitchell, Edmonton Oilers, NHL, Prospects

Oilers Prospect Recap – Oct 5 to Oct 11

Welcome back Beer Leaguers. If it’s Monday morning, then it must be time for The Oilers Prospect Recap! It’s a busy week for Oilers prospects this week, as the CHL and KHL continue their seasons, and the AHL and most NCAA teams began play as well. I’m going to continue to focus on prospects in the CHL, NCAA, Europe, and the ECHL once the Norfolk Admirals begin play.

News and Notes:

  • Oct 5 – D Ben Betker and C Greg Chase assigned to Norfolk Admirals (ECHL) from Bakersfield Condors (AHL)
  • Oct 6 – LW Braden Christoffer signs a 3 year ELC with the Edmonton Oilers. Previously assigned to Bakersfield Condors (AHL)
  • Oct 10 – D Ziyat Paigin transferred to HC Sochi (KHL) from Ak Bars Kazan (KHL)


Keven Bouchard, G – Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL)

Oct 9 – Back-up vs Moncton Wildcats. MON 4 – BAC 2
Oct 10 – Allowed 2 goals on 29 shots, playing 60:00 vs Cape Breton Screaming Eagles. CAP 2 – BAC 3. Named 2nd Star
Season Totals: 4 GP, 1-3-0, 4.05 GAA, 0.866 SV%, 0 SO


Ethan Bear, D – Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)

Oct 10 – 2 assists, even, 0 PIM vs Prince Albert Raiders. PA 2 – SEA 3 (SO)

Oct 11 – No points, even, 2 PIM vs Portland Winterhawks. SEA 3 – POR 2

Season Totals: 5 GP, 0 G, 4 A, +1, 4 PIM

Caleb Jones, D – Portland Winterhawks (WHL)

Oct 9 – No points, +1, 0 PIM vs Spokane Chiefs. SPO 0 – POR 5

Oct 11 – 1 assist, -1, 2 PIM vs Seattle Thunderbirds. SEA 3 – POR 2

Season Totals: 5 GP, 1 G, 2 A, -2, 9 PIM

John Marino, D – Tri-City Storm (USHL)

Oct 9 – No points, even, 2 PIM vs Cedar Rapids Roughriders. CR 2 – TC 1 (SO)

Oct 10 – No points, -3, 0 PIM vs Des Moines Buccaneers. DM 4 – TC 2

Season Totals: 5 GP, 1 G, 4 A, +2, 6 PIM

Tyler Vesel, F – University of Nebraska-Omaha (NCAA)

Oct 9 – No points, even, 0 PIM vs Minnesota State. OMAHA 3 – MINNST 2

Oct 10 – No points, +2, 0 PIM vs Minnesota State. OMAHA 2 – MINNST 0

Season Totals: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, +2, 0 PIM

Evan Campbell, LW – UMass-Lowell (NCAA)

Oct 9 – 1 goal, 1 assist, +1, 2 PIM vs Rensselaer. RPI 0 – UML 3

Season Totals: 1 GP, 1 G, 1 A, +1, 2 PIM

Aidan Muir, LW – Western Michigan University (NCAA)

Oct 9 – No points, even, 0 PIM vs Ferris State. FSU 2 – WMU 3

Season Totals: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, Even, 0 PIM   (note: WMU did play on Oct 10, but as of time of publish, had no box score available.)

William Lagesson, D – UMass Amherst (NCAA)

Oct 9 – No points, +1, 0 PIM vs Colorado College. UMASS 6 – CC 3

Oct 10 – 1 assist, +1, 0 PIM vs Colorado College. UMASS 4 – CC 3

Season Totals: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, +2, 0 PIM

Roman Horak, F – Vityaz (KHL)

Oct 5 – 1 goal, +1, 0 PIM vs Lokomotiv. LOK 3 – VIT 1

Oct 7 – No points, even, 0 PIM vs Lada. LAD 1 – VIT 0

Oct 9 – 2 goals, +1, 2 PIM vs Ak Bars Kazan. AKB 2 – VIT 4

Season Totals: 19 GP, 5 G, 3 A, -4, 10 PIM

Miroslav Svoboda, G – AZ Havirov (Czech 2)

Season Totals: 6 GP, 4.09 GAA, 0.877 SV%, 0 SO (note: I’m still searching for a good site that provides box scores for the Czech 2 league.)

Ziyat Paigin, D – HC Sochi (KHL)

Season Totals: 8 GP, 0 G, 1 A, Even, 2 PIM (AK Bars Kazan, KHL)

                         5 GP, 1 G, 2 A, -3, 2 PIM (Bars Kazan, VHL)


Prospect of the Week: Roman Horak (3 GP, 3 G, 0 A, +2, 2 PIM)

For information regarding the Oilers AHL affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors, watch for my second stat package, Condors Corner, coming later this week.

For more info on the Oilers prospects, follow me on Twitter @junior_Oilers or @corn_cwm.

Corey Mitchell, Edmonton Oilers, Prospects

Oilers Prospect Recap – Sep 25 to Oct 4

Hello Beer Leaguers, and welcome to the first installment of the Oilers Prospect Recap. This is going to be the follow up to my summer series, Prospect Profile. With so many players on so many teams, in so many different leagues, it can be hard to get a handle on how the numerous players in the Oilers system are doing through out the season. Each week, you can find a brief stats breakdown for each player that was active during the week. I’m only looking at regular season games, so you won’t find any info in regards to AHL or NCAA this time around, but those leagues will be included once their seasons get going. I will state, European leagues have been running for some time. I will only be including games between the dates of Sep 25 – Oct 4.

 

Keven Bouchard, G – Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL)

Sep 25 – Back-up vs Gatineau Olympiques. BAC 1 – GAT 7.

Sep 26 – Allowed 4 goals on 37 shots, playing 58:55 vs Shawinigan Cataractes. BAC 2 – SHA 4

Sep 27 – Back-up vs Quebec Remparts. BAC 3 – QUE 2

Oct 2 – Back-up vs Rimouski Oceanic. BAC 2 – RIM 6

Oct 4 – Allowed 6 goals on 29 shots, playing 58:30 vs Victoriaville Tigres. BAC 2 – VIC 6

Season Totals: 2 GP, 0-2-0, 4.75 GAA, 0.844 SV%, 0 SO

 

Ethan Bear, D – Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)

Sep 25 – 1 assist, +2, 2 PIM vs Vancouver Giants. SEA 2 – VAN 3

Oct 3 – 1 assist, -1, 0 PIM vs Prince George Cougars. PG 1 – SEA 4

Oct 4 – No points, even, 0 PIM vs Tri-City Americans. SEA 5 – TC 6 (OT)

Season Totals: 3 GP, 0 G, 2 A, +1, 2 PIM

 

Caleb Jones, D – Portland Winterhawks (WHL)

Sep 25 – No points, -1, 5 PIM vs Victoria Royals. POR 1 – VIC 4

Sep 26 – 1 goal, 1 assist, +3, 0 PIM vs Victoria Royals. POR 5 – VIC 6. Named 3rd Star

Oct 3- No points, even, 2 PIM vs Everett Silvertips. EVT 3 – POR 1

Season Totals: 3 GP, 1 G, 1 A, -2, 7 PIM

 

John Marino, D – Tri-City Storm (USHL)

Sep 25 – 3 assists, +3, 0 PIM vs Omaha Lancers. OMA 1 – TC 5. Named 1st Star

Oct 2 – 1 assist, +1, 4 PIM vs Chicago Steel. TC 6 – CHI 3

Oct 3 – 1 goal, +1, 0 PIM vs Chicago Steel. TC 2 – CHI 0

Season Totals: 3 GP, 1 G, 4 A, +5, 4 PIM

 

Roman Horak, F – Vityaz (KHL)

Oct 3 – No points, -1, 0 PIM vs HC Sochi. SCH 5 – VIT 0

Season Totals: 16 GP, 2 G, 3 A, -6, 8 PIM

 

Miroslav Svoboda, G – AZ Havirov (Czech2)

Season Totals: 6 GP, 4.09 GAA, 0.877 SV%

 

Ziyat Paigin, D – Bars Kazan (VHL)

Season Totals: 8 GP, 1 G, 3 A, -4, 2 PIM

 

Prospect of the Week – John Marino (3 GP 1-4-5)

 

Note: I’m having some difficulty finding usable game summaries for both the VHL and Czech2 leagues. As soon as possible, I will be posting individual game stats. Until then, I will post updated season totals for those players each week.