Future Watch: Trukhno, Wild, Reddox, Potulny

Viacheslav Trukhno (photo: Springfield Falcons/AHL)

In his second pro season, 21-year-old Viacheslav Trukhno is showing that a hard-nosed, gritty work ethic will get results. Edmonton’s fourth round pick (120th overall in 2005) looks like he’s found his stride after a somewhat sub-par 2007-2008. He scored 14-21-35 in 64 GP last season for the Falcons after lighting up the QMJHL for Gatineau in 2006-2007.

Playing on a line with Tyler Spurgeon and Gilbert Brule for the Springfield Falcons of the AHL, Trukhno got three assists in his first two games and has eight points in nine games this season—good enough for second on the team.

"I feel way more confident this year," Trukhno told Sun Media in September after a tryout with the big club. "I think I had a good end of the season last year. The coaching staff (helped) me realize what it takes to be a pro.”

"He's got some parts of his game that he has to work on, but I was impressed the way he worked the point on the power play last year when he was here,” Craig MacTavish said. “He's got skill. He's going to be a good player."

Cody Wild (photo: Springfield Falcons/AHL)

Cody Wild is about as wild and green as they come. The 21-year-old defenceman is in his first full professional season and is looking to pick up where he left off in college: leading his team in d-man scoring.

“I’m going to contribute as much as I can in the goal department,” Wild said. “We’ve got good forwards that can put the puck in the net…it’s a real honour to be in the lineup with these guys.”

The puck-moving defenceman has a goal and two assists in six games played this season and sits at plus-three.

“He a great skater, has great mobility and has offensive instincts,” said Oilers VP of Hockey Operations Kevin Prendergast. “He’s strong enough…and he’s got enough ability to step in and help (the Falcons).”

With some positive accolades backing him, Wild will be trying to turn some heads this season in the AHL.

Liam Reddox (photo: Springfield Falcons/AHL)

For 22-year-old Liam Reddox, the name of the game has been development. Historically a goal-scorer, Reddox has been receptive to developing into more of a complete player. He was rewarded late in 2007 with a call-up to the big club.

“I’ve been putting in the effort down there and working really hard on my game. It’s nice to see that up here they’re noticing it,” he said before that game.

He was a -1 with one shot in his debut and has continued to excel back in AHL with the Falcons. Last season he scored 16-28-44 with a +10 rating in 65 games.

“It takes players time to develop.” MacTavish said. “It’s good to see he’s worked himself from the kind of game he had when we first saw him to the point where he may be able to come in here and play some minutes.”
Reddox is off to a quick start this season scoring four goals and four assists in nine games. There’s no doubt he’s on the radar.

Prior to turning pro, Reddox played four seasons of junior hockey with the Peterborough Petes of the OHL from 2002-03 to 2005-06. The Oilers fifth choice (4th round), 112th overall, in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, scored 86-124-210 with 136 penalty minutes in 208 career games with the Petes and was a member of Peterborough’s OHL championship team in 2005-06.

Ryan Potulny (photo: Springfield Falcons/AHL)

Ryan Potulny has had his ups and downs in his pro hockey career. He’s had great success interspersed with injuries but unlike many players, he’s earned some real minutes in the NHL. This year, it’s all on the up.

Potulny is leading the Springfield Falcons with eight goals in nine games. He’s playing like a man focused on getting back to the NHL where he has scored seven goals and seven assists with 26 penalty minutes in 44 regular season games for the Philadelphia Flyers. He joined the Edmonton system this past off-season in a trade for Danny Syvret and had a tryout this preseason with the Oilers.

“He thinks the game well and has good skills. He’s a guy that our scouts have liked for a lot of years,” said Kevin Lowe, President of Hockey Operations. “We view him as a guy that’s going to come to camp and try and knock someone out of a spot which he’s certainly capable of because he’s played NHL games.”

With Potulny’s history, accolades and current scorching performance, he’s definitely one to keep an eye on.

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PROSPECT STATISTICS

SPRINGFIELD FALCONS - AHL

PLAYER	POS.	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM	+ / -	PP	SH
Sebastien Bisaillon	D	8	1	1	2	7	6	0	0
Gilbert Brule	C	4	2	1	3	4	3	0	0
Taylor Chorney	D	9	0	3	3	6	-6	0	0
Carl Corazzini	RW	9	0	4	4	2	-2	0	0
Josef Hrabal	D	1	0	1	1	0	-2	-	-
Bryan Lerg	LW	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Colin McDonald	RW	9	1	2	3	16	-2	0	0
Ryan O’Marra	C	6	0	2	2	4	1	0	0
Geoff Paukovich	C	3	1	0	1	8	0	0	0
Theo Peckham	D	9	2	3	5	24	0	1	0
Ryan Potulny	C	9	8	0	8	8	2	3	0
Liam Reddox	LW	9	4	4	8	2	-2	2	1
Mathieu Roy	D	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Rob Schremp	LW	7	0	8	8	6	3	0	0
Tim Sestito	C	9	2	1	3	4	-1	0	0
Tyler Spurgeon	C	9	0	4	4	11	1	0	0
Viacheslav Trukhno	LW	9	1	6	7	4	3	0	0
Cody Wild	D	6	1	2	3	6	3	0	0
Bryan Young	D	9	0	0	0	12	-1	0	0
GOALTENDERS	GP	MINS	W	L	OTL	GA	GAA	SVS%	SO
Glenn Fisher	1	40	0	0	0	2	2	0.889	0
Devan Dubnyk	9	498	5	4	0	24	2.89	0.902	0

STOCKTON THUNDER - ECHL

PLAYER	POS.	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM	+ / -	PP	SH
Jordan Bendfeld	D	7	0	0	0	6	1	0	0
GOALTENDERS	GP	MINS	W	L	OTL	GA	GAA	SVS%	SO
Bryan Pitton	6	321	2	3	0	3	3.04	0.900	0

U.S. COLLEGE

PLAYER	POS.	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM	+ / -	PP	SH
Matt Glasser	LW	7	0	0	0	10	-1	0	0
(Denver - WCHA)
Riley Nash	C	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
(Cornell - ECAC)
Jeff Petry	D	8	1	3	4	10	0	1	0
(Michigan State - CCHA)
Chris Vande Velde	C	6	2	2	3	10	0	1	1
(North Dakota - WCHA)

MAJOR JUNIOR

PLAYER	POS.	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM	+ / -	PP	SH
Jordan Eberle	C	18	14	12	26	6	6	4	1
(Regina - WHL)
Milan Kytnar	C	19	3	8	11	32	0	2	0
(Saskatoon - WHL)
Alex Plante	D	16	2	7	9	50	4	1	0
(Calgary - WHL)

EUROPE

PLAYER	POS.	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM	+ / -	PP	SH
Teemu Hartikainen	C	19	3	1	4	8	-	-	-
(Kalpa)
Alexei Mikhnov	LW	18	1	6	7	29	-	-	-
(Yaroslavl)
Johan Motin	D	19	0	0	0	8	-	-	-
(Farjestads BK Karlstad)
Linus Omark	LW	19	9	8	17	12	-	-	-
(Lulea HF)