Tips GM on the Scherbak trade

Here’s a summary of what Everett general manager Garry Davidson had to say about the trade that brought Russian winger Nikita Scherbak to Everett from Saskatoon in exchange for goaltender Nik Amundrud, a first-round pick in the 2015 bantam draft and a second rounder in 2016:

– Davidson was extremely concerned about Everett’s offense, and he’s hoping Scherbak will be for this season’s team what Joshua Winquist was for last season’s team, an offensive catalyst who’s capable of scoring 40-plus goals. He also said the move signals the organization wants to built off last season’s 31-point improvement and continue its winning ways.

– This move was not made because the Tips received new information about whether Swiss defenseman Mirco Mueller will stick with the NHL’s San Jose Sharks. The move was made to address what Davidson considered the team’s biggest gaping hole, which was an offensive difference maker. Should Mueller eventually be returned and put Everett over the limit of two European players (Russian center Ivan Nikoloshin is the third), then he’ll take stock of where the team is at that point and make a decision. All three are eligible to be traded as they have all spent at least a year in the WHL.

– Davidson has been in contact with the NHL’s Montreal Canadians, who selected Scherbak in the first round of this year’s NHL draft. While Davidson expects Scherbak to be returned to the WHL, he acknowledged it’s no guarantee. The draft picks that went to Saskatoon are conditional upon Scherbak coming to Everett.

– Davidson had a lot of positive things to say about Amundrud and how much he’s improved. He’s happy Amundrud is going to a team where he will be battling for the No. 1 job, instead of backing up a 19-year-old.

– Finally, a big shout-out to reader Lincoln, who in last week’s reader poll predicting this season’s leading scorer went off the board and predicted none other than Nikita Scherbak. You, sir, should be playing the lottery.