The Tips are treating next season as a rebuilding year, and they expect to see a lot of young new faces on next season’s team. So who are the likeliest newcomers? General manager Doug Soetaert didn’t single out anyone, saying everyone was going to have to come in and earn a roster spot. But here’s a
primer on those who are in the running.
Let’s begin with the players who we know have signed education contracts with the Tips (ages provided are for next season):
Feisty winger Taylor Cote (18), who showed promise in 12 games with the Tips before making the puzzling decision to return home, is said to be considering returning next season. Tall winger Zach McPhee (18) also got into a handful of games with Everett. Goaltender Andy Desautels (17) had a good midget season and will be given every opportunity to win the back-up job. Diminutive center Kohl Bauml (17) had an exceptional season at the midget level and may have the most skill among Everett’s prospects. Winger Jordyn Boyd (17) had a decent season as a 16-year-old rookie playing junior A. Defenseman Darian Henry (17) is the stay-at-home type. Center Ryan Chynoweth (16, stats not available), who has grit and hockey sense, is the best bet to make the team among the 16-year-olds. Defenseman Tye Hand (16) may still be a year away.
Now for the others who are in contention for next season:
The most interesting case is that of defenseman Seth Jones (17). The superstar prospect and son of former NBA player Popeye Jones has not committed to the major-junior route, spending this season with the U.S. National Team Development Program. The NTDP is typically a two-year commitment, which would rule Jones out for coming to Everett next season. However, Jones was promoted from the U-17 team to the U-18 team late in the season, and he made the roster for the upcoming U-18 World Championships. If he shows well in Germany, perhaps he and his family will decide playing for the U-18s again next season would stunt his development. I know the Tips still believe Jones, who is one of the few NTDP players who hasn’t committed to an NCAA school, will eventually land in Everett (and from a personal standpoint I’d love to see what Jones looks like playing next to Ryan Murray). But even if Jones does decide to come to Everett, we may have to wait until 2012-13. I’ll say this, though. If Jones shows up next season and is as good as advertised, suddenly Everett’s rebuilding process takes a huge leap forward.
Up front, the names I hear most often are listed wingers Carson Samoridny (17) and Trent Lofthouse (17), who are both big bodies, but more in the finesse sense. Another listed 17-year-old winger who had a good season is Lyrik Friesen. An older listed player who will be given a shot at making the roster next season is combatative winger Jesse Mychan (19).
It’s hard to say who among the other 16-year-olds has a legitimate shot at making the team next season. The best bet may be towering defenseman Austin Adam, who broke out big-time offensively during the BCMML playoffs.
One player who isn’t in the mix is center Michael McNicholas (17). McNicholas, who performed well at the past two training camps, has committed to the University of New Hampshire and will play in the USHL next season.
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This concludes the season-ending blog series. Hope you enjoyed it.
And with that comes to the end the 2010-11 daily coverage here on the blog and on Twitter. But I’ll be posting whenever something relevant happens (which is usually more frequent than any of us anticipate), so make sure you check in once in a while during the offseason.
Until we meet again, enjoy the spring and summer!
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