2010-11 preview: overview

Published 12:36 pm Thursday, April 8, 2010

So the 2010-11 season is going to be Everett’s year, right?

Well, maybe.

I suspect there’s going to be a high level of expectations placed on the Tips next season. And why not? Everett may have as many as 21 players returning from this season’s team, with the Tips able to keep a maximum of 18 of those players (the Tips have six players who are eligible for the three overage roster slots). That group includes a top line that’s already spent two seasons playing together, and an entire third line that played like a top line down the stretch. Everett will be strong on defense and in goal. And the Tips have a coach who’s shown he’s capable of getting the most out of his players.

Given that all comes from a team that racked up 97 points during the regular season, it seems natural to think the Tips will be primed for a run.

But don’t schedule any banner-raising ceremonies just yet.

The main problem is that though the Tips don’t lose many players, the ones they do lose were crucial to this season’s success. Everett’s overagers — Shane Harper, Zack Dailey and Chris Langkow — were fantastic as a line. Defenseman Radko Gudas, who is expected to play pro, was arguably the team’s most important player. The Tips will also lose goaltender Thomas Heemskerk, who if he doesn’t play pro will probably be traded.

So while there are few holes to fill, those holes are deep.

Everett showed the ability to fill deep holes this season, when the Tips overhauled their defense to great effect. The problem is Everett doesn’t have the same tools available to restock that it had last offseason. Last year Everett had two high picks in the first round of the import draft, and the Tips used those picks to add two quality defensemen. This year Everett has just one first-round import pick, and that pick will be late, so the Tips won’t be replacing Harper, Dailey and Langkow that way.

And there’s one more substantial obstacle in Everett’s way: Portland. The Winterhawks are still alive in the playoffs, and they’re doing so with a team awash in 17-year-old talent. Portland could be frighteningly good next season, a likely Memorial Cup contender, and for the Tips to contend they’re going to have to find a way to match up with the Winterhawks.

So while I would expect Everett to be a good team next season, some things have to happen for the Tips to be title contenders.

Next: 2010-11 preview: returners