Newest acquisition Irving ‘thrilled’ to join Silvertips
Published 9:30 pm Thursday, January 5, 2017
EVERETT — It might seem counterintuitive for the WHL’s best defensive team to trade for a defenseman near the league’s trade deadline.
Yet that’s exactly what the Everett Silvertips did Wednesday when they dealt forwards Graham Millar and Brett Kemp along with a 2018 first-round bantam pick to the Edmonton Oil Kings for overage star blueliner Aaron Irving.
“To add experience back there is helpful, so that’s one reason, and the other thing is depth,” Everett head coach Kevin Constantine said. “We certainly hope we have good health in the playoffs, but also when you’re thin in experience and then you have an injury, you’re really thin in experience.”
Last year the Silvertips lost Tristen Pfeifer late in the regular season, and Noah Juulsen went down early in the Seattle series. That necessitated the call-up of youngsters Gianni Fairbrother and Wyatte Wylie, each of whom made their respective WHL debuts in the playoffs.
Irving was one of a handful of elite defensemen available. He was serving as the Oil Kings’ captain and was their leading scorer this season.
“He’s got a resume in the league,” Constantine said. “He’s having a good year, he played well against us. He shoots the puck hard, he plays hard, competes hard. In a way he’s a bit like Noah Juulsen.”
Irving was at Xfinity Arena Thursday, having arrived from Edmonton prior to Everett’s practice in advance of Friday’s game against the Seattle Thunderbirds in Kent. Irving, a native of Edmonton, had spent his entire WHL career with the Oil Kings.
“I think at the start it was bittersweet,” Irving said of leaving Edmonton. “Now more than anything I’m kind of getting here, seeing the facility, seeing the guys, and I’m definitely more excited than ever.”
One of the first texts Irving sent after he was informed of the trade went to former Silvertip Brandon Ralph. The two played together in Edmonton before Ralph was dealt to Everett last season.
“He had nothing but positive words to say about this organization,” Irving said. “I’m just thrilled to be here and excited to see where it takes me.”
Any 20-year-old remaining in the WHL knows a trade is a possibility, Irving added. While he wasn’t certain a trade was in the works, he wasn’t surprised to learn he’d been dealt.
He welcomed his landing spot.
“I was always excited to play in the U.S. Division whenever we would come over the border,” Irving said. “There was always a big attraction from the fans and it always seemed like every game was exciting. That’s something I’m looking forward to. It’s a big division over here and I’m excited to get started.”
Everett’s power play has been strong this season, but Irving jumped in with the second unit during Thursday’s practice. He seems likely remain with that unit until Juulsen returns from World Juniors.
As for his defensive partner, the logical choice would be alongside Kevin Davis on the second pairing. Juulsen and Lucas Skrumeda have been partners for several seasons and logic would suggest not breaking that pairing up, though Constantine was non-committal.
“My history with trying to form ‘D’ pairs and line combinations is that you’re only accurate about 25 percent of the time, and then 75 percent of the time something will happen as you go,” Constantine said. “Your pairs and lines that you end up with aren’t necessarily the way you figured at the start. The games themselves will let us know.”
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