LYNNWOOD – Kyle Annesley arrived in Everett to little fanfare.
When the Everett Silvertips made their big trade in October, all the focus was on Alex Leavitt, the gifted playmaker who was going to add a much-needed element of skill to Everett’s offense.
Meanwhile, Annesley was considered by many to be little more than a throw-in, a player included to even out the numbers in the two-for-two deal that sent Barry Horman and Marc Desloges to Swift Current. But Everett general manager Doug Soetaert didn’t think of Annesley that way, and now Annesley is showing why he was a valuable addition, too.
“We never looked at Kyle as a throw-in to that package,” Soetaert said. “We felt he was a guy who could flourish under our system.”
Annesley’s beginning to do just that. The 19-year-old left wing has been one of Everett’s most active players the last month, and lately he’s been chipping in with goals, too, scoring in three of the Silvertips’ last four games.
“It’s been coming together recently,” Annesley said after Friday’s practice at the Lynnwood Ice Center. “I’ve just been getting some good scoring chances and my linemates are setting me up pretty nicely, so I’m just trying to put (the pucks) in when I can.”
Before arriving in Everett, Annesley had a somewhat undistinguished career in the Western Hockey League. In three-plus seasons with Calgary and Swift Current, the 6-foot, 185-pound native of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, recorded just 17 goals and 29 assists in 188 games.
But looking beyond the numbers, the Everett scouts saw in Annesley a player who would fit nicely into Everett’s hard-working scheme, as well as a player who maybe had some untapped offensive ability. So when Swift Current insisted on a four-player deal, Everett took a chance on Annesley.
“I didn’t personally know a lot about Annesley prior to his coming here,” Everett coach Kevin Constantine said. “So we just asked of him what we ask of every player: Learn to play with good fundamentals and work ethic, then bring whatever else you bring.”
Annesley made a big splash upon his arrival in Everett, notching two goals and four assists in his first six games.
But after that he went into a drought worthy of the Sahara Desert. Annesley went 18 games before scoring another point and more than two months before finding the net again.
“It’s always frustrating to go through a drought,” Annesley said. “No one likes to go through that, especially as a player who wants to bring some offense to the team. So I was just trying to keep my mind focused every day and sooner or later one’s got to go in.”
While Annesley wasn’t lighting up the scoreboard, he was beginning to adjust to Everett’s style of play. He slotted into the left wing on Everett’s No. 2 line and became a player who worked hard in the corners and pestered opponents on the forecheck.
Those are the things Annesley planned on bringing all along.
“I knew Alex was the key to the deal,” Annesley said. “He’s a very skilled hockey player and a lot of teams would want him on their team. But when I got traded here I felt I could come and contribute in my own way.”
Annesley’s efforts are now translating to the scoresheet. His nine goals this season are a career high, and his seven goals with Everett are just one fewer than his previous best for an entire season. His recent stretch includes a highlight-reel goal against Tri-City in which he pulled the puck around Americans goaltender Carey Price and backhanded a shot into the top of the net.
“In my opinion he’s a very good scorer,” Constantine said. “Given the right opportunities around the net he’s got some natural scoring ability. And for the last month I think his work ethic has been as good as anybody’s on our team.
“He’s ended up probably playing a more significant role than we anticipated just because we’ve been so banged up with injuries, and he’s filled in pretty well.”
With Everett still hamstrung by those injuries to its forwards, the Silvertips could use Annesley to continue his scoring ways. Both Constantine and Annesley think he’s capable of doing just that.
“I’d like to hope so, anyways,” Annesley said. “I’m going to keep doing things the same way, and hopefully things keep going the same way for me.”
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