Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 4th round pick in the 2012 draft (#95 overall) rookie right wing Josh Anderson(53) has been playing a consistently aggressive, hard-nosed power forward style with minor league affiliate Springfield Falcons that hasn’t gone unnoticed.
The big 6’3″ 212 lbs. forward’s efforts earned him a first recall when the parent club needed a checking line skater to fill in a roster spot due to injury.
He’s put up a decent 4 goals and 7 assists in 37 AHL games with a +1 rating after putting up point-per-game numbers in his third and final season of junior hockey.
He won back-to-back OHL Championships with London Knights and was assistant captain in the year before he decided to turn pro.
In a pair of NHL games he skated an average of 20 regular strength shifts with just over 13 minutes of ice time, 2 shots, 2 penalty minutes, 1 giveaway, 1 break up, 2 takeaways and a thumping 11 hits (8 in one game alone) with a -2 plus/minus.
One of the last cuts from training camp, the 20-year old looks to be establishing himself early.
He’s signed to a three-year entry level deal through 2017.