SILVERTIPS NOTEBOOK: Connor Dewar returns to Everett, Riley Sutter on the way
Published 7:50 pm Wednesday, September 19, 2018
By Josh Horton / Herald Writer
Everett head coach Dennis Williams has suddenly found himself with a few more pieces at practice. And more reinforcements are on the way.
Nineteen-year-old forward Connor Dewar was reassigned to Everett from NHL training camp with the Minnesota Wild and returned to practice on Wednesday. Seventeen-year-old forward Jalen Price, who was acquired in a trade with Medicine Hat on Tuesday, also was on the ice for his first practice with Everett.
Nineteen-year-old Riley Sutter (Washington) and 18-year-old defenseman Wyatte Wylie (Philadelphia) were reassigned from their respective NHL camps. Wylie returned to Everett on Tuesday and was a participant in Wednesday’s practice. Sutter won’t likely be on the ice with the Silvertips until tomorrow.
“This is the first practice in two weeks that we can actually do defensive-zone, neutral-ice drills,” Williams said. “We only had nine, 10 forwards. It was nice to get to the point where we have some compete and some situations out there.
“And obviously those guys can come back and tell our guys what pro camps are like. How hard it was, the challenges and expectations there. I know I’m looking forward to talking to all four of those guys when they get back, just to get some feedback on how everything works.”
Dewar, the Wilds’ third-round pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, was named the Silvertips’ captain this offseason after compiling 68 points with 38 goals and 30 assists last season, and was Everett’s second leading goal scorer in the playoffs with 12. Sutter scored 25 goals for the Silvertips last season and Price hasn’t appeared in a WHL game yet.
Jake Christiansen is the only player remaining at an NHL training camp, but is expected to be returned from Calgary in the near future, if not before Friday’s season-opener at Vancouver.
Wolf set to return after showcase
Everett starting goaltender Dustin Wolf played 29 minutes, 32 seconds and stopped 18-of-21 shots in the All-American prospect game in St. Paul, Minnesota and is set to return to Everett sometime on Thursday.
Williams said he was uncertain if he’ll be in net for Everett for Friday’s season opener.
“I can’t tell you that right now,” Williams said. “I’m not sure.”
The Price is right
Price was a welcome addition for Everett, not only because he’ll provide scoring depth up top, but because the cost to acquire him wasn’t very steep — a fifth-round pick in the 2021 bantam draft.
“I’m not even sure what we gave up, honestly. I didn’t even look at the trade,” Williams said. “Obviously, we need bodies right now. And with Peter Melcher out and Sharpy (Bronson Sharp) on IR (injured reserve), right now we have 12 healthy forwards and Jalen makes 13, and on the back end we have nine healthy ‘D’, so we’re going to have to make some decisions there.
“It’s probably going to take some time for Jalen to get acclimated to our systems and our coaching styles,” Williams added. “It was great to get him here.”
Quick hits
Forwards Melcher and Sharp remain out with upper-body injuries. Both players have missed the entire preseason and neither is particularly close to returning, according to Williams.
