It’s official: Josh Birkholz to Everett (updated)

Published 9:52 pm Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Tips general manager Doug Soetaert confirmed that winger Josh Birkholz has committed to play for Everett in the upcoming season.

Birkholz, a 6-foot-1 and 182-pound native of Maple Grove, Minn., was a third-round pick in the 2009 NHL draft by the Florida Panthers. He spent one season at the University of Minnesota, where in 36 games as a freshman he tallied five goals and one assist while playing on Minnesota’s third and fourth lines.

Birkholz was also facing a suspension at Minnesota for a violation of team rules. Soetaert said the suspension, combined with concerns about a lack of playing time, helped sway Birkholz toward Everett. The Tips were not actively courting Birkholz until learning in late June of Birkholz’s possible departure from Minnesota.

Soetaert said Birkholz is a top-six forward. He described Birkholz as a two-way player with good size and speed who can score goals.

So Everett’s top six forwards have undergone a makeover the past two days, with the commitment of Birkholz and the acquisition of Landon Ferraro from Red Deer. The Tips had just three of their top six returning from last season, so Birkholz and Ferraro should help with depth (though the Tips lost another top-six forward when Byron Froese was included in the Ferraro trade). It seems the past two days have helped the Tips considerably for the upcoming season.

—- UPDATE, 9:50 p.m.

Here’s some more from Birkholz, who talked to the Minneapolis StarTribune about his decision to head to Everett. He emphasized that it was hockey reasons that guided his decision rather than the suspension.