Josh Anderson

History

2010-11: Josh Anderson played in five games with the Burlington Cougars in the Ontario Junior Hockey League – spending the bulk of the season with the Burlington Eagles Midget AAA team. In five games with the Cougars, including one playoff game, he had 2 assists.

2011-12: Anderson was signed as a free agent by the OHL’s London Knights. In his first season he skated in 64 games and scored 12 goals with 10 assists and was plus-17 with 34 penalty minutes. The Knights finished with the OHL’s best record in the regular season and reached the playoff finals. In the first 16 playoff games Anderson scored 2 goals with 3 assists and was plus-3with 4 penalty minutes. Anderson was among the 105 players invited to the NHL Combine prior to the 2012 NHL Draft and was ranked 57th amongst North American Skaters in Central Scouting’s final rankings (up from 161st at mid-season).

2012-13: One of three players to skate in all 68 regular season games for the London Knights in his second OHL season, Anderson scored 23 goals with 26 assists and was +10 with 77 penalty minutes. London had the league’s best record and reached the Memorial Cup after winning the playoff title. Anderson had 1 goal with 2 assists and was minus-1 with 23 penalty minutes in 19 playoff games. In five games at the Memorial Cup he had 1 assist and was minus-2 with 2 penalty minutes.

2013-14: Anderson was an assistant captain for the London Knights in his third OHL season and played for the Canada U20 team in the 2014 World Juniors. He scored 27 goals with 24 assists and was +31 with 81 penalty minutes in 59 regular season games for the Knights — with 11 of his 27 goals scored on the power play. London, the Memorial Cup hosts, finished third in the Midwest Division before falling to eventual OHL champion Guelph in a second-round playoff series. Anderson scored 5 goals with 4 assists and was minus-1 with 14 penalty minutes in nine OHL playoff games. He scored 1 goal in three Memorial Cup games; finishing minus-2 with 6 penalty minutes. Anderson signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Blue Jackets in November 2013. 

2014-15: Anderson made his NHL debut as a 20-year-old in a January 16th game against the Rangers — skating in six games with Columbus before being returned to the AHL’s Springfield Falcons. He had 1 assist and was -1 with 2 penalty minutes, averaging 13:27 minutes of ice time during his stint with the Blue Jackets. Anderson scored 7 goals with 10 assists and was +1 with 76 penalty minutes in 52 regular season games for Springfield. The Falcons missed the AHL playoffs, finishing third in the Northeast Division and one point behind Portland for the final playoff berth. 

2015-16: Anderson received a mid-season call-up by Columbus — appearing in 10 games with the Blue Jackets — and played for the AHL’s Lake Erie Monsters in his second pro season. Anderson scored 1 goal with 2 assists and was -1 with 2 penalty minutes, averaging 10:36 minutes of ice time with Columbus. After missing time with an eye injury to start the season, Anderson was among the Monsters’  team leaders in penalty minutes and provided supplementary scoring. 

Talent Analysis

Anderson has so far shown the drive and determination to turn himself into an NHL-caliber player.  Anderson has the size to eventually become a power forward at the NHL level, but he isn't simply a big body as there is also some skill in his game to go along with his solid frame.  Anderson isn't afraid to go into the corners to battle for the puck and has the size to often win those battles.  He also has bloodlines on his side as he is related to Frank and Peter Mahovlich, two NHL stars from the 60's and 70's.

Future

Anderson was assigned to new Columbus AHL affiliate Lake Erie to start the 2015-16 season — spending time with the Blue Jackets in mid-season. Anderson played with toughness while providing some secondary scoring for the Monsters and that is expected to be his role at the NHL level.