Published: Sunday, June 27, 2010
Simpson first of Silvertips trio taken in NHL draft
Blackhawks pick Everett goalie in second round; Gudas (Tampa Bay) and Theriau (Dallas) also are selected
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Jennifer Buchanan / The Herald
Everett goalie Kent Simpson was picked by the Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks in the second round of the NHL Draft. He was the 58th player overall taken in the two-day process.
The Everett Silvertips may not have had any players selected during Friday’s first round of the 2010 NHL draft, but they had the succeeding rounds well covered.
Everett had players selected in the second, third and fourth rounds during Saturday’s second day of the draft, which was held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Goaltender Kent Simpson was selected in the second round (58th overall) by the Chicago Blackhawks; defenseman Radko Gudas was taken in the third round (66th overall) by the Tampa Bay Lightning; and defenseman Alex Theriau was picked in the fourth round (109th overall) by the Dallas Stars. All three were picked toward the top end of their expected range.
“I think it was a really good day for our players,” Everett general manager Doug Soetaert said via cell phone from Los Angeles. “This is something they worked for their whole life and it’s something to be proud of. All-in-all it was a real solid day for our organization.
“But this is just the beginning,” Soetaert added. “They worked hard to get here, but they’re going to have to work that much harder to get to the next level.”
Having three players drafted was the most for Everett since 2007 when center Zach Hamill, defenseman Taylor Ellington and right wing Dan Gendur were selected.
Simpson became just the second Everett goaltender selected in the NHL draft, joining Leland Irving who was a first-rounder taken by the Calgary Flames in 2006.
The Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks used the 28th pick of the day to snap up Simpson, an 18-year-old from Edmonton, Alberta. He was the fourth goalie selected in the draft.
Simpson, who was Everett’s first-round pick in the 2007 bantam draft, is coming off a solid season. Splitting time in goal with Thomas Heemskerk, he went 22-9-1-0 and finished second in the WHL in both goals against average (2.26) and save percentage (.925). He also played for Canada at this spring’s U-18 World Championships.
“It was so surreal, it was awesome,” said Simpson, who was in Los Angeles and heard his name called in person. “It was everything I’d dreamed of and more.
“Going into the draft, talking to people and my agent, we projected me as a top-three rounder,” added Simpson, who knew Chicago was one of the interested teams. “So I was happy with when I was picked, but more importantly I was real happy with the team that picked me.”
Simpson also became the third Everett player selected by Chicago in the past three years. Winger Kyle Beach was selected in the first round in 2008 and center Byron Froese was a fourth-rounder last year.
Gudas being picked in the third round by Tampa Bay was an impressive feat, considering he was passed over in the previous two drafts. He was the second player chosen who had been eligible in a previous draft — Swedish forward Sebastian Wannstrom, who went unpicked last year, was taken in the second round by St. Louis — and he was the first 1990-born player picked.
Gudas gave credit to the Tips for his selection. The Czech Republic native came to Everett last season to play as a 19-year-old rookie, and he proved his physical style suited the North American game. He was one of Everett’s top players, tallying seven goals, 30 assists and 151 penalty minutes in 65 games, and he was named a second-team Western Conference all-star.
“I think it’s the biggest reason why I was drafted,” Gudas said via cell phone from the Czech Republic. “The scouts got to see me a lot in Everett and saw I could play a North American style.
“I’m just glad I got drafted.”
Gudas is not expected to return to Everett next season. As a 20-year-old he’s eligible to play professionally in the minor leagues.
Theriau made it three straight rounds with an Everett player drafted when he was picked by Dallas in the fourth round. The 18-year-old from Duncan, B.C., was also picked in the first round of the 2007 bantam pick. He was acquired by Everett in January of 2009 in the trade that sent Beach to Lethbridge.
Theriau was one of Everett’s most-improved players from 2008-09 to 2009-10. He appeared in 70 games last season, tallying four goals and 20 assists.
“He’s one of the best skaters in the Western League,” Dallas director of scouting and player development Les Jackson said in a press release. “His game is based on skating. It’s just a matter of development with him, and growing. Maturity will come in time.”
Next up for the Tips is the Canadian Hockey League import draft, which takes place Tuesday. Everett holds the 52nd pick in the first round. With Gudas expected to play in the pros, Everett has a European slot open alongside Finnish defenseman Rasmus Rissanen.
Nick Patterson’s Silvertips blog: http://www.heraldnet.com/silvertipsblog
Everett had players selected in the second, third and fourth rounds during Saturday’s second day of the draft, which was held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Goaltender Kent Simpson was selected in the second round (58th overall) by the Chicago Blackhawks; defenseman Radko Gudas was taken in the third round (66th overall) by the Tampa Bay Lightning; and defenseman Alex Theriau was picked in the fourth round (109th overall) by the Dallas Stars. All three were picked toward the top end of their expected range.
“I think it was a really good day for our players,” Everett general manager Doug Soetaert said via cell phone from Los Angeles. “This is something they worked for their whole life and it’s something to be proud of. All-in-all it was a real solid day for our organization.
“But this is just the beginning,” Soetaert added. “They worked hard to get here, but they’re going to have to work that much harder to get to the next level.”
Having three players drafted was the most for Everett since 2007 when center Zach Hamill, defenseman Taylor Ellington and right wing Dan Gendur were selected.
Simpson became just the second Everett goaltender selected in the NHL draft, joining Leland Irving who was a first-rounder taken by the Calgary Flames in 2006.
The Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks used the 28th pick of the day to snap up Simpson, an 18-year-old from Edmonton, Alberta. He was the fourth goalie selected in the draft.
Simpson, who was Everett’s first-round pick in the 2007 bantam draft, is coming off a solid season. Splitting time in goal with Thomas Heemskerk, he went 22-9-1-0 and finished second in the WHL in both goals against average (2.26) and save percentage (.925). He also played for Canada at this spring’s U-18 World Championships.
“It was so surreal, it was awesome,” said Simpson, who was in Los Angeles and heard his name called in person. “It was everything I’d dreamed of and more.
“Going into the draft, talking to people and my agent, we projected me as a top-three rounder,” added Simpson, who knew Chicago was one of the interested teams. “So I was happy with when I was picked, but more importantly I was real happy with the team that picked me.”
Simpson also became the third Everett player selected by Chicago in the past three years. Winger Kyle Beach was selected in the first round in 2008 and center Byron Froese was a fourth-rounder last year.
Gudas being picked in the third round by Tampa Bay was an impressive feat, considering he was passed over in the previous two drafts. He was the second player chosen who had been eligible in a previous draft — Swedish forward Sebastian Wannstrom, who went unpicked last year, was taken in the second round by St. Louis — and he was the first 1990-born player picked.
Gudas gave credit to the Tips for his selection. The Czech Republic native came to Everett last season to play as a 19-year-old rookie, and he proved his physical style suited the North American game. He was one of Everett’s top players, tallying seven goals, 30 assists and 151 penalty minutes in 65 games, and he was named a second-team Western Conference all-star.
“I think it’s the biggest reason why I was drafted,” Gudas said via cell phone from the Czech Republic. “The scouts got to see me a lot in Everett and saw I could play a North American style.
“I’m just glad I got drafted.”
Gudas is not expected to return to Everett next season. As a 20-year-old he’s eligible to play professionally in the minor leagues.
Theriau made it three straight rounds with an Everett player drafted when he was picked by Dallas in the fourth round. The 18-year-old from Duncan, B.C., was also picked in the first round of the 2007 bantam pick. He was acquired by Everett in January of 2009 in the trade that sent Beach to Lethbridge.
Theriau was one of Everett’s most-improved players from 2008-09 to 2009-10. He appeared in 70 games last season, tallying four goals and 20 assists.
“He’s one of the best skaters in the Western League,” Dallas director of scouting and player development Les Jackson said in a press release. “His game is based on skating. It’s just a matter of development with him, and growing. Maturity will come in time.”
Next up for the Tips is the Canadian Hockey League import draft, which takes place Tuesday. Everett holds the 52nd pick in the first round. With Gudas expected to play in the pros, Everett has a European slot open alongside Finnish defenseman Rasmus Rissanen.
Nick Patterson’s Silvertips blog: http://www.heraldnet.com/silvertipsblog
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