The AHL Player of the Week is Jordan Oesterle, a journeyman defenseman who is still playing at a high level.
Jordan Oesterle was the American Hockey League Player of the Week, thanks to a four-goal week that has helped turn the Milwaukee Admirals' season around. Oesterle, for many hockey fans, is a blast from the past, as many remember him for his NHL stints.
He's played over 400 games in the NHL, and in 11 seasons, he's been a part of seven different organizations. He's now a staple of the Nashville Predators, specifically, their AHL affiliate.
Now, he’s past his hockey prime as a 33-year-old defenseman. Yet, Oesterle is still playing at a high level in the AHL and playing a key role as a veteran on the Admirals, who have won seven of their last 10 and are hoping to make a late-season push in the standings.
Oesterle’s Great Play on the Defense
Oesterle has been a force all season for the Admirals. His 14 goals and 28 assists give him 42 points on the season, which are the most among active skaters on the team. On top of that, Oesterle has been a key part of the team's defensive efforts, which have been their strength as they allow only 2.93 goals per game.
The Predators don’t have a great prospect pool, at least not yet, considering Brady Martin is still playing at the junior level. However, they have players like Oesterle carrying the weight and keeping them in the mix. It’s players like him who help establish a winning culture in the AHL, and for a team that might have a youth movement in the coming years, Oesterle is a player who goes a long way.
Oesterle is Fueling a Resurgent Milwaukee Team
The Central Division, at least from an outsider’s perspective, is the Grand Rapids Griffins and the field. They are head and shoulders above everyone else and expected to punch a ticket to the Western Conference Final.
There’s a tier below the Griffins that is starting to make noise. A handful of teams are playing their best hockey down the stretch to become the sleeper teams who can pull off an upset of go on a run. The Chicago Wolves and Texas Stars come to mind but the Admirals have added themselves into that discussion.
It starts with Oesterle, a veteran defenseman who can open up the offense at the point. In a playoff series, he can be the difference maker and the player who takes over a game or even a series. He’s leading the way but the rest of the team is also starting to take shape. Oesterle leads the defense while rookie forwards Ozzy Weisblatt and Cole O’Hara have a combined 28 goals and 39 assists to add a spark to the offense.
He’s Not The Only Veteran Turning Back The Clock
In the big picture, Oesterle is a player who embodies team building in the AHL. Teams are looking to build winning cultures, and they need veterans. Not just leaders but players who can also contribute at a high level.
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Oesterle is one of those veterans but a lot of the best teams in the AHL have them. The Providence Bruins are led by the Riley Tufte, Matej Blumel, and Patrick Brown trio. The Laval Rockey have Alex Belzile playing at a high level. Cameron Hughes is leading the Stars. These teams rely on these players to set the tone both on and off the ice and, more importantly, be the buffer to rely the message from the head coaches to the team. For the Admirals, Oesterle has been that player all season.