2009-10 review: defense

Published 12:46 pm Monday, April 5, 2010

What a difference a year makes.

Everett’s greatest roster turnover from last season to this season came on the blue line, with the Tips needing to replace three of their top for defensemen. That trio — Taylor Ellington, Graham Potuer and Mike Alexander — combined for 13 seasons in Everett, and the Tips took a chance by relying on rookies to fill all three spots.

Not only did those newcomers — imports Radko Gudas and Rasmus Rissanen and 16-year-old Ryan Murray — fill those spots, they turned out to be upgrades. The revamped defense was a big part of why the Tips allowed a league-low 175 goals.

So what was it that made this season’s defense 84 goals better than last last season’s defense?

The main reason was puck movement. The most glaring weakness on Everett’s blue line last season was the inability to move the puck. Everett’s d-men were grinders who were capable of winning battles, but when they won the puck they weren’t adept at getting it to the forwards in a position where they could use it. Everett would win a battle, but then turn the puck right back over with an errant pass. That wasn’t a problem this season. This season’s defense may not have been big and it wasn’t unusually physical, but the first pass was almost always on the money, and that kept the Tips out of trouble.

Then there’s Gudas. Winger Shane Harper was named Everett’s Most Valuable Player, and deservingly so. But I think Gudas was Everett’s most important player, and that’s because of his attitude. Gudas isn’t the biggest guy, but he plays with utter fearlessness. He won’t be intimidated, and as a result he played like the biggest guy on the ice, even though he wasn’t. I think having Gudas around also made all the other Everett players feel a little bit bigger, too. After Gudas went down in the playoffs I think Kelowna’s intimidating style became a little more effective.

One last thought about Murray. Kelowna’s Shane McColgan was the Western Conference’s nominee for Rookie of the Year. McColgan had a fantastic season for a 16-year-old, tallying 69 points in 71 games. That was the most points in the league by a 16-year-old, and it was more than either Peter Mueller or Kyle Beach scored during their Rookie of the Year campaigns for Everett. If he wins the award he’ll have earned it. But after watching Everett play Kelowna seven times in the first round of the playoffs, would you really take McColgan over Murray?

Next: 2009-10 review: goaltending