The Rangers included him in a trade for NHL veteran Dave Balon in 1968, but Johnston didn't find an NHL home until 1971. The gritty and talented winger took flight as an NHL player in Oakland, and holds many Seals career records based on his impressive 4 seasons with the team. He was traded to Chicago, but the same summer (1975) saw him suffer serious injuries in a car accident and his NHL career soon ended. He was done with hockey at 27.
Joey Johnston, like many talented young hockey players, needed some time to find his way to the National Hockey League. The minor leagues helped him get that experience.
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We're a long way from fall, but here's a quick first glance at the players Oklahoma City Barons fans might be cheering for in 2010-11. This isn't an all-inclusive list, but many of the players not listed are either quality prospects who are waiver eligible--making them unlikely to play for the Barons--or they're unsigned free agents. Examples of the former would be Devan Dubnyk, Jeff Deslauriers and Theo Peckham, and examples of the latter are people like Dean Arsene, Chris Minard and Charles Linglet. Some of those veteran AHL players will be signed, but we won't know until later this summer.
- G Bryan Pitton: Oilers have him signed for one more season. The Barons may need to add a goaler (they used to use that word back in Johnston's day) since last year's starter (Devan Dubnyk) may make the big club this season.
- D Alex Plante: Size and toughness are his calling card. Plante's mobility is a question mark but from all reports he had a nice transition to the AHL last season. He should be a crowd favorite.
- D Johan Motin: Tough Swede plays a simple, stay-at-home style with a dash of mean-spirited aggression. Another fan favorite.
- D Jeff Petry: The college man turned pro late last season and began the period of transition that Taylor Chorney is still experiencing. He is highly touted.
- D Jordan Bendfield: Showed well in his 10 AHL games. He's taking the Rocky Thompson career path and should be useful to the Barons.
- R Jordan Eberle: The kid is pretty famous in Canada, but might start this coming season in the minors. If he does, fans will see that most rare of items: a quality scoring prospect in the minors. Better see him while he's there.
- L Liam Reddox: The most likely of the rfa's to come back imo. A nice range of skills, plenty of desire and some history as a tough minutes player at the AHL level.
- C Chris Vande Velde: A big center with grit and skill, he's a rare item for any franchise and Oilers and Barons fans should watch his progress closely. The most interesting AHL prospect this season.
- L Linus Omark: Small skilled winger could make the big club but a better bet to spend time in the AHL honing his skills. He's played in Europe's two best leagues so should impact the AHL.
- L Teemu Hartikainen: Big Finn with grit and skill should mean big fun in Oklahoma. I have no idea how long he'll spend in the minors.
- C Ryan O'Marra: Former first rounder has been burning daylight on his pro career faster than anyone in the system. There's a chance he doesn't return, but NHL teams give many, many chances to high draft picks.
- L Phil Cornet: He could spend time in the ECHL but should get a long look for the Barons. Undersized skill winger who won't back down, that's usually a recipe for IR visits.
- L Matt Marquart: Tough veteran winger with size and experience.
- C Milan Kytnar: Graduating to pro's with a mixed resume, fans will be interested to see what kind of offense he can bring to pro hockey. If there's enough, he might carve out a checking role at the highest levels.
- C Geoff Paukovich: May not get another contract; my guess is he does because of size and position, but his offensive output is putrid.
The Oilers have a few guys like Blair Riley, Magnus Paarjavi-Svensson and Anton Lander who may also sign and play in the AHL next season. If you're not familiar with these names, I'd suggest scrolling down the right-hand side of this blog and clicking on their names.
The Oilers have a few other guys like Jean-Francois Jacques, Robert Nilsson and Ryan Potulny who have NHL jobs currently but will need to bring max effort in the fall. A poor training camp may mean these men see Okla City in 2010-11. I've posted on each of them and you can check them out on the scroll list to the right (and below).
Did I miss anyone?
You're assuming Chorney stays with the Oilers? I'm inclined to think he won't, but that could just be because the Oilers have yet to beat the optimism out of me.
ReplyDeleteKinda - MacT. I think he'd be a great fit for the (too few) wunderkinds that get sent down to learn.
ReplyDeleteInteresting list. Goalie is a big question mark here.
ReplyDeleteIs Guillaume Lefebvre out of a job?
Nice video on TSNs main page about Eberle, Svensson, and to a lesser extent Omark's impact at the WC.
MacT should be an NHL coach this time next season.
ReplyDeletelecapitaineethanmoreau?
ReplyDeleteJoey Johnson, he was a Seal right?
ReplyDeleteWatching the Hall hit in the memorial Cup and it's aftermath, you can see the hit itself has zero effect on Hall.
Forget mere Gordie Howe comparisons(:P), this is the second coming of the Rocket.
There are some very interesting pieces here, for a change. Oklahoma City could be a fun team to watch. I am, obviously, a fan of Chris VandeVelde and Teemu Hartikainen. They both look like possible future NHLers. They are no longer surprises.
ReplyDeleteSo I was wondering which of these players might really surprise down on the farm. I came up with two possibilities; Milan Kytnar and Phillipe Cornet. In both cases it comes down to can they produce enough points at the AHL level to get a shot in the NHL.
Every time I see Kytnar play I think of Craig MacTavish in his early years as a player. Kytnar is a smart kid who is beyond good defensively because he is exceptionally strong positionally. However, the thing I think might guarantee him a job in pro hockey is that he thrives in heavy traffic being both a great interior passer and good around the net. In other words he projects as a third line checker in the NHL.
I used to think that Cornet was just a smurf scorer. Then I watched him play a few games. He is a bit like Brule, plays a big man's game with a small man's body. He used to spend most of his time getting knocked down. However, he keeps getting stronger each year, and a bit bigger, making him harder to knock off the puck. He may well fill out to be a 200lb plus winger. Most importantly, once he has the puck he has NHL level skills as a passer. He makes plays that range from improbable to impossible. It is less easy to see a route for him to the NHL, since unlike Kytnar defence isn't his speciality.
I get why the Oilers still see some promise in both these kids. They each have elite level skills in some parts of their games. If they can continue to improve their skating, their strength, and their conditioning they might well end up having a cup of coffee in the NHL.
I'd really prefer the Oilers jettison some vets and bring up some of those guys listed.
ReplyDeleteEberle, especially.
Rajala - nice assist
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking Taylor Chorney makes that list and I don't think he is waiver eligible yet.
ReplyDeleteI'm currently experiencing some difficulty with regard to comments. Working on it.
ReplyDeleteI asked Kevin Lowe in the OKC live chat about possibly bringing in a vet AHL goalie. He said yes bringing in a veteran goalie for OKC is a priority.
ReplyDeleteSo there is a starting point for further OKC roster talk. :)
What's the story on the coaching? Will there be any changes? Not that I follow the falcons/barons closely, it seems Daum had trouble getting production out of them... though his roster changed a lot from game to game.
ReplyDeleteSeems based on history, we should stockpile Stockton too...so when the injury bug hits, they have some decent call ups to OK.
@ Rob - They said during the live chat a GM for the farm club will be hired soon. He will choose the coaching staff. So it is undecided at the moment apparently.
ReplyDeleteMight want to look at the stylesheet. I'm colorblind, but white on white is redonculus...
ReplyDeleteAnonymous: My daughter is helping me. The last time I tried configuring without her I deleted the blog. So, a few momentary problems are fine by me.
ReplyDeleteOkay. Anyone help me with this stupid comments thingy? I have 16 comments and only 5 showing up. WTF?
The front page says 16 comments.
ReplyDeleteI click on the comments and I only see 4.
Hey LT - I like the new blog colours, but maybe you could shift the comment section onto it (as opposed to this ugly blogger page that we get shifted to when we comment).
ReplyDeleteSouray on the farm?
(I don't see any white on white, just blue)
I hope Oklahoma City isn't expecting much.
ReplyDeleteNo defence and no goalering is not a good mix.
Test post - LT delete when you read this.
ReplyDeleteMotin is a favorite of mine, but I have trouble with the notion that he'll be a fan favorite. He's not the kind of guy who gets noticed much when he's on the ice unless you're watching for him. And with names like Eberle, Omark, and Peckham possibly being in the lineup for at least part of the year, I don't see many eyes being on Motin.
ReplyDeleteKinda like Ken Daneyko. He's beloved in New Jersey, but I don't imaging they sold too many #3 jerseys in the first 4 or 5 seasons he was a Devil. Hopefully Motin doesn't stay in the AHL long enough for him to build that kind of name for himself.
What about Riley Nash? Surely there's still a chance they get his name on a contract, no?
ReplyDeleteMisfit: I'm very hopeful they sign Riley Nash. But I don't think it is going to happen.
ReplyDeleteI like Riley Nash, but don't think he'll sign. Something happened there.
ReplyDeleteIsn't Toni Rajala signed to a pro contract. I'm hoping Taylor Chorney is sent to the minors next season I dont think he needs to clear waivers. Anton Lander and Riley Nash would look good in Oklahoma next year.
ReplyDeleteI would like to see them sign a couple of guys like Shawn Belle (Edmonton boy), Corey Locke (Good depth player) & Jason Ward (Can play on the bottom 6 in the NHL).
Jimmy Hamrin told me that Timra signed Lander and announced that he'll be back next season.
ReplyDeleteIsn't Toni Rajala signed to a pro contract?
ReplyDeleteNope and he still has to fulfill his military commitment.
coach:
ReplyDeleterajala is signed:
http://oilers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=442866&navid=DL|EDM|home
Is Blogger working now?
ReplyDeleteIt seems to be back!! Freaking thing.
ReplyDeleteLander has stated that he wants to play at least another year with Timra and make sure he's ready before coming over the pond. His signing with Timra is old news. He said he'll do what's best for him, and right now that's staying in Timra. He also said MPS will do what's right for MPS, and that might include going to NA sooner.
ReplyDeleteRajala has stated that he'll be back in Finland next season, mentioned his compulsory military service (but also said it's not a priority since he has till he's 27 I think, but would rather get it done sooner than later). Interestingly he said he was unsure of where he'd play in Finland since there seems to be friction in Ilves Tampere between players and the coach, and Rajala doesn't seem to be a fan of the coach himself. There is also a school of thought that Rajala spent a great deal of time trying to improve strength and defensive awareness to the detriment of his natural talents in speed and offense. We might not see the kid in the AHL till 2012, and I'm fine with that, let him bulk up and continue to develop.
As a side note Hartikainen served his military requirement this season while still playing for his team. This seemed to have a marked effect on what was still an impressive sophomore campaign. In an interview he mentioned that it took an immense physical toll on him, being up very early and doing army exercises/drills, then playing games in the evening. He had no time to rest properly much less keep up his fitness training.
Rajala contract numbers up on Capgeek. Seems to be a 55K AHL salary, and an even 875K NHL salary. Still amazes me how quickly Capgeek updates.
ReplyDeletehttp://capgeek.com/players/display.php?id=1525
speeds wrote somewhere today that Rajala could play in the AHL next season. Makes sense, plenty of Europeans have played in the AHL at 19.
ReplyDeleterajala is signed:
ReplyDeleteI wonder what the hell they are going to do about his military service.
I hope they have Olli Jokinen's doctor on speed dial.
Uni - thanks for the recaps on Lander and Hartikainen ;) but I doubt Teemu said it was "an immense physical toll", in fact, knowing him a bit, I don't think he'd ever use those words, especially in an interview. If they did come out in an interview, I'm willing to wager that someone played with the language a whole bunch. He did say that it sapped him of energy and was mentally draining. He also had some choice words for Army life in general. He does not like it :)
And he did stay in the gym during that time - he paid special attention to do so - he's a strength and conditioning freak. Even on his recent holiday after the WC camp, he forgot about hockey, but hit the gym every day.
Coach, yeah, I paraphrased what I could understand.
ReplyDeleteI think worse case Rajala can do it in the Summers, but that leaves him very little downtime for a few seasons. My understanding is that they're pretty flexible.
I can see him in the AHL if he doesn't want to go back to Ilves Tampere or maybe he sees his NHL dream as closer than he previously anticipated.
Regarding Rajala's playing location should he stay in NA next season, I'm pretty sure he would have to report to Brandon again if he's not playing with the Oilers. Brandon owns his rights at this point, and as long as he's a junior aged player (and not playing NCAA hockey), they trump everything but the NHL. I'd point out Luca Sbisa's odd playing locations over the last couple of years as proof of this theory.
ReplyDelete