Tips lose Hlookoff
Published 9:00 pm Monday, June 4, 2007
Everett lost a prospect to the Edmonton Oil Kings in today’s expansion draft. Edmonton selected 17-year-old defenseman Tyler Hlookoff from the Tips’ 50-player protected list. Hlookoff was a frequent call-up last season, appearing in nine games for the Tips and recording one assist. It’s the second straight year Everett lost a prospect as the Tips surrendered prospect right wing Matt Meropoulis to Chilliwack last season.
The loss of Hlookoff may hurt the Tips in the future, but doesn’t appreciably affect Everett’s present. If Dane Crowley comes back for his 20-year-old season, Hlookoff probably wouldn’t have been in the top six (Crowley, Jonathan Harty, Taylor Ellington, Graham Potuer, Mike Alexander and Jeff Regier would seem the likeliest candidates). Even if Crowley does end up playing pro, Hlookoff would probably have battled fellow 1990-born defenseman Matt Strong for the sixth spot. Hlookoff may have had the edge on Strong, considering he beat out Strong for a spot on the opening-day roster last season, but Strong is bigger and was an earlier bantam draft pick (Strong in the third round, Hlookoff in the seventh).
The other player that helps ease Hlookoff’s departure is Chris de la Lande. Hlookoff is a smallish defenseman with a left-handed shot. De la Lande, a prospect who was a standout for the Winnipeg Thrashers of the Manitoba AAA Midget Hockey League, is also a smallish defenseman with a left-handed shot. Both were born in 1990. Given their similarities, it’s questionable whether both would have figured in Everett’s future plans.
Nonetheless, it’s likely Hlookoff has a solid WHL career ahead of him. Meropoulis was a valuable player for Chilliwack last season. I expect Hlookoff to be the same for Edmonton next season.
