2011-12 preview: what’s next? (macro)

Published 1:05 pm Thursday, April 7, 2011

During the Everett Silvertips’ eight-year history, there have been times when certain words were off limits. Perhaps the most famous of those came during that first season in 2003-04, when using the term “expansion team” was a major no-no for anyone in the organization. The Tips were not going to allow themselves to be limited by a label.

The “expansion team” ban was only in place for a year, of course. But one taboo term that’s held up over the years is “rebuilding.” This was an organization intent on never falling victim to the WHL’s supposedly inevitable cycles. The goal was to make it to the playoffs and advance every year, and for the most part Everett’s personnel moves were made with that goal in mind. Even in the once instance that hinted of rebuilding, when Kyle Beach was traded in 2008-09, the Tips were adamant in saying the move had nothing to do with rebuilding. Rebuilding was not the Silvertip way.

So imagine my surprise when, during my season-ending interview with general manager Doug Soetaert, just about the first thing out of Soetaert’s mouth was that for 2011-12 the standard term “reloading” was being replaced by the term “rebuilding.”

But the ban had to be lifted. The Tips had a disappointing season in 2010-11, and it wasn’t a young team. And when one looks at Everett’s 19-year-old group for next season and sees just one skater who has made much of a mark on the WHL, it becomes apparent that the time to rebuild has arrived.

Another thing Soetaert mentioned was the need for the Tips to bring their own players through the system. A quick glance at this season’s final roster reveals just how far the Tips have strayed from that idea. Everett’s three overagers combined for about three-and-a-half seasons in Everett. The six 19-year-olds combined for about nine seasons with the Tips. Among those nine oldest players, five arrived via trade within the past 18 months, and only winger Tyler Maxwell and defenseman Rasmus Rissanen have spent as much as two full seasons with the Tips.

Is this a big deal? If you’re trying to create a culture it is. For that culture to take root a team needs leaders who live and breathe being Everett Silvertips. Zack Dailey and Shane Harper, overagers on last season’s team, had that because they spent five years in Everett and identified themselves as Silvertips. That fact they cared about the organization showed in their play. Everett’s oldest players this season hadn’t been around long enough to build that same emotional attachment.

Now let’s take a look at Everett’s rivals. Portland and Spokane were the top two teams in the U.S. Division this season. How many players from those two teams were acquired by trade? One. Just one player between the two rosters was traded for — Portland center Craig Cunningham, who was the big acquisition prior to the trade deadline. Every other player was either a draft pick or a listed player. Yes, some of those listed players were picked up a little later in their careers and didn’t grow up in their team’s system. But for the most part these two teams were home grown, with players who think of themselves strictly as Portland Winterhawks or Spokane Chiefs. This isn’t the only reason these teams have succeeded, but it helps.

Everett once had this. And with the rebuild about to begin, this is what the Tips are hoping to have again.

Next: 2011-12 preview: what’s next? (micro, part I)