Two more Tips drafted
Published 3:44 pm Saturday, June 23, 2007
It looks like childhood buddies Taylor Ellington and Dan Gendur will be sticking together a little longer.
Ellington and Gendur, who grew up playing hockey together in Victoria, B.C., were reunited midway through last season when Everett traded for Gendur. Now not only do they play for the same team, their rights are held by the same NHL organization as both were selected by the Vancouver Giants today during the conclusion of the NHL draft. The pair were taken at the opposite ends of today’s drafting, which spanned the second through seventh rounds. Ellington was the third player taken today (33rd overall) and Gendur was the sixth from last (206th overall). But I’m sure the two of them are getting a kick out of this.
It turned out to be a great year for Everett in the draft. Everett only had two locks to be drafted, Zach Hamill (eight overall to Boston) and Ellington, and both players were selected little earlier than most had predicted. Gendur, as a 1987-born player who was passed over the past two drafts, could easily have gone undrafted. Apparently Everett’s earlier-than-expected exit from the playoffs didn’t do any harm to anyone’s draft stock.
It’s too bad Lukas Vartovnik wasn’t able to make it the second straight year Everett had four players taken. However, given the way his play improved late in the season after adjusting to life in North America, I think he has a chance to play himself back into consideration for next year’s draft.
Speaking of next year’s draft, it should be another big year for Everett. Kyle Beach becomes eligible next year and I’ve got to think he’s a lock for the top 10. Jordan Mistelbacher will certainly draw a lot of attention after earning a tryout for Canada’s U-18 team. And the Tips have several others (Matt Ius, Matt Strong, etc.) who warrant consideration.
A couple other thoughts about this year’s draft, at least from a WHL perspective:
Biggest surprise, positive: Thomas Hickey, Seattle. Don’t get me wrong, Hickey’s a fantastic player. But I’m shocked Los Angeles used the fourth-overall pick on a smallish defenseman (5-foot-10, 182 pounds). Even Hickey appeared stunned on the television broadcast after the selection was announced.
Biggest surprise, negative: Eric Doyle, Swift Current. Oh how the mighty have fallen. Early last season when Doyle was still with Everett, he was considered a potential first-round pick — some scouting services had him rated ahead of Hamill. Just this winter he was selected for the Top Prospects Game. It’s almost unheard of for a someone who played in the Top Prospects Game to go undrafted.
