Bombshell: Tyler Maxwell requests trade, sent home

Published 4:45 pm Tuesday, November 8, 2011

The Silvertips were already reeling from a rough road trip. And now they’ll have to move forward without the franchise’s all-time leading goal scorer.

Overage winger Tyler Maxwell, who became the franchise’s career goal-scoring leader less than a month ago, has requested a trade. The team responded by sending Maxwell home, where he will wait while the Tips try and accommodate his trade request.

Maxwell was prolific during his three-plus seasons with the Tips, potting 107 goals in 216 games. The Manhattan Beach, Calif., native set a new franchise record on Oct. 16 when he scored twice in a 6-3 victory over Tri-City, surpassing the previous record of 100 held by Shane Harper.

Maxwell declined to comment about the situation, so we’ve only got one side of the story. But Tips general manager Doug Soetaert made it sound like Maxwell wasn’t really interested in being part of a rebuilding team, and that Maxwell subsequently wasn’t being a positive influence in the dressing room. Everett has had players request trades in the past who weren’t sent home, so the team’s actions in this situation are a departure from the norm.

I have to admit I didn’t see this one coming. While one always has to wonder how veterans, particularly overagers, are going to react to being on a rebuilding team, this still came as a surprise.

It’s a tough blow for Everett. The rebuilding Tips have a limited number of offensive options this season, and Maxwell has proven ability to put the puck in the net. I’m not sure how the Tips are going to replace the lost production.

While Soetaert said he would try and accommodate Maxwell, he put no timetable for making a trade. Trading Maxwell is complicated by his being an overager, as every team in the league now has its full complement of three. A player who’s sent home is also going to bring less of a return. It’s just a tough situation all around.

That’s today’s big news. There’s other news worthy of mention in the wake of the road trip:

– Winger Carson Samoridny has returned to Everett with the team. The 17-year-old Samoridny, one of the final cuts from training camp, joined the team during the trip when the flu bug left the Tips short of healthy players. Samoridny, a big body with a goal-scoring touch, impressed enough that he earned a roster spot. Soetaert said he expected Samoridny to remain with the team for the remainder of the season. He also said the decision was independent of Maxwell’s situation.

– Defenseman Lucas Grayson, who received a charging major Sunday in Spokane, is expected to be suspended. The league has not handed down a suspension yet, but the Tips are expecting one.

– On the injury front, forward Ryan Harrison was back at practice today. Harrison sat out Sunday’s game with various bumps and bruises. Also, defenseman Ryan Murray (sprained ankle) and center Manraj Hayer (broken fibula) were both seen walking without crutches and without protective boots. They aren’t practicing and there’s no set timetable for either’s return, but they appear to be making progress.