Published: Friday, June 25, 2010
Three Everett Silvertips on the NHL’s radar for two-day draft
Theriau, Gudas and Simpson are likely selections, probably on Saturday
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Jennifer Buchanan / The Herald
Everett goaltender Kent Simpson attempts to get his elbow on the puck in a game against the Portland Winterhawks.
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Matthew Williams / The Herald
Everett’s Alex Theriau (2) goes for the puck against the Tri-City Americans.
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Dan Bates / The Herald
Silvertips defenseman Radko Gudas places himself out in front of the goalie during a practice at Comcast Arena.
Radko Gudas is all too familiar with the NHL draft process.
Twice before the Everett Silvertips defenseman entered the draft, hoping for the phone call telling him he’d been picked. Twice before his phone remained silent.
But it looks like the third time will be the charm for Gudas.
Gudas is one of three Silvertips who are expected to be selected during the 2010 NHL draft, which takes place today and Saturday in Los Angeles.
And for Gudas it’s been a long wait.
“I definitely got more attention (this year),” Gudas said via cell phone earlier this week while vacationing in Tunisia. “The year before I talked with like five teams. Now, I’ve talked with almost every team in the NHL. Hopefully somebody drafts me.”
Gudas, fellow defenseman Alex Theriau and goaltender Kent Simpson all are likely to hear their names called at some point during the draft. All three were listed in the NHL Central Scouting Bureau’s final rankings, and though none are expected to be picked during today’s first round, all three are a good be to be nabbed Saturday during rounds two-through-seven.
“We have three guys who have gotten a lot of attention,” Everett general manager Doug Soetaert said. “I’ve had numerous calls in regard to all three boys. We know those three for sure should get drafted. Where and when they get drafted, we don’t know.”
Soetaert also said there’s an outside chance left wing Tyler Maxwell could be selected late. Only once before has Everett had as many as four players selected in the NHL draft.
Gudas, a 20-year-old from the Czech Republic, just finished an impressive rookie season with Everett. He was named a second-team Western Conference all-star, led the Tips in points by a defenseman (37), penalty minutes (151) and plus/minus (plus-45), and was arguably the player most responsible for Everett finishing tied for the conference’s best record.
From an NHL scouting perspective, his move to the WHL couldn’t have gone better. The hard-hitting Gudas’ game translated far better to North American game than the European one, the smaller rinks highlighting his physical style.
Therefore, Gudas is back on the NHL radar, despite the fact he’s two years older than most of the other players who will be selected these two days.
But Gudas’ status as an overage prospect makes him a wild card. Based purely on performance last season, Gudas is one of the top players available. But being two years older means he’s further along in his development. Add in that he’s small for a defenseman who plays that style of game (5-foot-11, 192 pounds), and it’s a mystery just when a team will roll the dice on Gudas.
“It’s going to be a surprise to me,” said Gudas, who will be home in the Czech Republic for the draft. “I have no idea when or if I’ll be drafted. But I want to know where I’m going to be so I can start building my career.”
Gudas is entering his 20-year-old season, so odds are the team that drafts him will have him play professionally in the American Hockey League next season. There’s a glimmer of possibility he’ll be returned to Everett for his overage season. Any other Everett player drafted will return to the Tips next season as they’ll be too young to play professionally in the minor leagues.
While Gudas is Everett’s man of mystery, Simpson is the Tips’ sure thing. The 18-year-old netminder from Edmonton, Alberta, has long been considered one of the top goalies in his age group. He’s coming off a solid season that saw him go 22-9-1-0 and finish second in the WHL in both goals against average (2.26) and save percentage (.925). He’s been involved in Hockey Canada’s set-up, most recently suiting up for Canada at this spring’s U-18 World Championships. And he was invited to the NHL draft combine in May.
Simpson, who is in Los Angeles to attend the draft, was ranked third among North American goalies by the Central Scouting Bureau. That suggests selection somewhere in the second or third rounds.
“I feel excited, I guess,” Simpson said after a hesitation. “I was going to say ‘nervous,’ but I’ve done all the work. It’s in other people’s hands now, so I’m just going to sit back and watch. But because of all the work I’ve put in I think it will go well for me.”
Theriau doesn’t have the same kind of flash as a prospect as his two Everett teammates. However, the 18-year-old from Duncan, B.C., has the type of physical tools that make him projectable. His solid frame (6-foot-2, 189 pounds) combined with his skating ability cause NHL scouts to envision a player who can succeed at the next level, even if he hasn’t quite put it all together in the WHL just yet.
Theriau is projected to go in the mid to late rounds. Simpson said Theriau was also planning to attend the draft.
Maxwell is a longshot to be drafted. The 19-year-old from Manhattan Beach, Calif., was passed over in last year’s draft, though he received an invite to attend rookie camp with the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings. Maxwell has goal-scoring ability (55 goals in 129 games with Everett), but at 5-foot-9 and 179 pounds may be too small for the pro game.
Nick Patterson’s Silvertips blog: http://www.heraldnet.com/silvertipsblog
Twice before the Everett Silvertips defenseman entered the draft, hoping for the phone call telling him he’d been picked. Twice before his phone remained silent.
But it looks like the third time will be the charm for Gudas.
Gudas is one of three Silvertips who are expected to be selected during the 2010 NHL draft, which takes place today and Saturday in Los Angeles.
And for Gudas it’s been a long wait.
“I definitely got more attention (this year),” Gudas said via cell phone earlier this week while vacationing in Tunisia. “The year before I talked with like five teams. Now, I’ve talked with almost every team in the NHL. Hopefully somebody drafts me.”
Gudas, fellow defenseman Alex Theriau and goaltender Kent Simpson all are likely to hear their names called at some point during the draft. All three were listed in the NHL Central Scouting Bureau’s final rankings, and though none are expected to be picked during today’s first round, all three are a good be to be nabbed Saturday during rounds two-through-seven.
“We have three guys who have gotten a lot of attention,” Everett general manager Doug Soetaert said. “I’ve had numerous calls in regard to all three boys. We know those three for sure should get drafted. Where and when they get drafted, we don’t know.”
Soetaert also said there’s an outside chance left wing Tyler Maxwell could be selected late. Only once before has Everett had as many as four players selected in the NHL draft.
Gudas, a 20-year-old from the Czech Republic, just finished an impressive rookie season with Everett. He was named a second-team Western Conference all-star, led the Tips in points by a defenseman (37), penalty minutes (151) and plus/minus (plus-45), and was arguably the player most responsible for Everett finishing tied for the conference’s best record.
From an NHL scouting perspective, his move to the WHL couldn’t have gone better. The hard-hitting Gudas’ game translated far better to North American game than the European one, the smaller rinks highlighting his physical style.
Therefore, Gudas is back on the NHL radar, despite the fact he’s two years older than most of the other players who will be selected these two days.
But Gudas’ status as an overage prospect makes him a wild card. Based purely on performance last season, Gudas is one of the top players available. But being two years older means he’s further along in his development. Add in that he’s small for a defenseman who plays that style of game (5-foot-11, 192 pounds), and it’s a mystery just when a team will roll the dice on Gudas.
“It’s going to be a surprise to me,” said Gudas, who will be home in the Czech Republic for the draft. “I have no idea when or if I’ll be drafted. But I want to know where I’m going to be so I can start building my career.”
Gudas is entering his 20-year-old season, so odds are the team that drafts him will have him play professionally in the American Hockey League next season. There’s a glimmer of possibility he’ll be returned to Everett for his overage season. Any other Everett player drafted will return to the Tips next season as they’ll be too young to play professionally in the minor leagues.
While Gudas is Everett’s man of mystery, Simpson is the Tips’ sure thing. The 18-year-old netminder from Edmonton, Alberta, has long been considered one of the top goalies in his age group. He’s coming off a solid season that saw him go 22-9-1-0 and finish second in the WHL in both goals against average (2.26) and save percentage (.925). He’s been involved in Hockey Canada’s set-up, most recently suiting up for Canada at this spring’s U-18 World Championships. And he was invited to the NHL draft combine in May.
Simpson, who is in Los Angeles to attend the draft, was ranked third among North American goalies by the Central Scouting Bureau. That suggests selection somewhere in the second or third rounds.
“I feel excited, I guess,” Simpson said after a hesitation. “I was going to say ‘nervous,’ but I’ve done all the work. It’s in other people’s hands now, so I’m just going to sit back and watch. But because of all the work I’ve put in I think it will go well for me.”
Theriau doesn’t have the same kind of flash as a prospect as his two Everett teammates. However, the 18-year-old from Duncan, B.C., has the type of physical tools that make him projectable. His solid frame (6-foot-2, 189 pounds) combined with his skating ability cause NHL scouts to envision a player who can succeed at the next level, even if he hasn’t quite put it all together in the WHL just yet.
Theriau is projected to go in the mid to late rounds. Simpson said Theriau was also planning to attend the draft.
Maxwell is a longshot to be drafted. The 19-year-old from Manhattan Beach, Calif., was passed over in last year’s draft, though he received an invite to attend rookie camp with the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings. Maxwell has goal-scoring ability (55 goals in 129 games with Everett), but at 5-foot-9 and 179 pounds may be too small for the pro game.
Nick Patterson’s Silvertips blog: http://www.heraldnet.com/silvertipsblog
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