2008-09 lookahead: overagers

Published 8:00 am Tuesday, April 8, 2008

When training camp began back in August, one word described Everett’s overage situation:

Chaos.

The Tips had six prospective overagers for their three available slots, and they were all over the map. Three headed off to NHL training camps and had a chance of sticking; one was a Euro (with two other Euros also in camp); and one was a goaltender. All three potential pros ended up coming back, making for a big mess trying to sort everything out.

Next season Everett’s overage situation won’t be nearly as messy.

Everett had six 88s on the roster at the end of the season. A maximum of three of those can return next season. You can probably cross off forward Eric English, as he was a healthy scratch when the team was fully healthy.

Of the remaining five, two of those — Zach Hamill and Leland Irving — have already signed pro contracts. I wouldn’t expect either back.

That leaves three defensemen, Taylor Ellington, Jonathan Harty and Graham Potuer. But wait, Ellington is also a serious candidate to play pro next season. And it’s not out of the question that Harty and Potuer could get a tryout and impress enough to stick. I know Harty is hoping to get his shot, and Potuer’s had pro tryouts fall through for various reasons the last two seasons. Even if all three of them end up back in the WHL, there’s no way the Tips will keep three overage defensemen.

So if anything, I suspect the Tips will be looking to add an overager next season (a forward unless by some miracle Hamill gets sent back) rather than trying to find a way to subtract one or more, like this season.

Next: 2008-09 lookahead: veterans