Thoughts on Everett’s overage situation
Published 6:04 pm Saturday, July 16, 2011
Greetings from Everett Memorial Stadium, where the Everett AquaSox have been taking up my time. But I have a brief free moment before tonight’s game, giving me just enough time to get to a post I’ve been meaning to do for a few days.
About a week ago, WHL blogger extraordinaire Alan Caldwell summarized the overager situation for each team. I figured I’d add my own thoughts to his analysis about Everett.
First off, here’s the players off last season’s roster who are eligible for Everett’s three overage spots this season:
F Josh Birkholz
F Landon Ferraro
F Scott MacDonald
F Tyler Maxwell
D Rasmus Rissanen
D Brennan Yadlowski
Caldwell concluded that Ferraro and Rissanen, since they’ve signed NHL contracts, are gone; that Maxwell and Yadlowski would be kept; and that Birkholz and MacDonald would be fighting it out for the third spot, with Birkholz maybe having the edge because of his offensive potential.
That’s probably an accurate assessment. Tips general manager Doug Soetaert already declared at the end of last season that Maxwell and Yadlowski would occupy two of the spots, and that Birkholz and MacDonald would be invited back to compete for a spot.
However, there’s one last possibility I think needs to be considered. I think Rissanen can be written off. He’s been removed from the roster, and the Tips picked two players in the import draft to fill their two Euro slots.
But what about Ferraro? Yes, he’s signed. But does that mean Detroit won’t send him back for one more season in the WHL? He’s still listed on Everett’s roster, he hasn’t played a full season since 2008-09 because of injuries, and I’ve heard it suggested he could use another year of seasoning to bulk up.
Now, I think the odds are against Ferraro being sent back to Everett. Ferraro’s speed is easily pro caliber, and almost all signed 20-year-olds play professionally in the minors rather than return to the WHL. But occasionally it does happen, and I don’t think it’s out of the question it could happen with Ferraro.
