EVERETT – The Western Hockey League’s trade deadline is Thursday, and although the Everett Silvertips would be interested in making a move, it looks like they’ll stand pat.
“It’s hard to say,” Everett general manager Doug Soetaert said about the Silvertips’ trade possibilities. “We’ve listened to teams, but we like our guys. We’ve gotten this far with these players and we’re not going to do anything to hurt our future. We’ve got a group of committed players and we’re going to continue in that direction.”
The standard procedure in the WHL at the trade deadline is that teams in contention will mortgage their futures, exchanging younger prospects who could develop into stars for older players from teams out of contention who are capable of contributing immediately.
And for the players, that means playing the waiting game.
“Every year you expect things to happen because it’s a part of the game,” said Everett forward John Dahl, who was traded from Swift Current to Saskatoon at last season’s deadline. “Everyone’s biting their nails until the day is over because you never want to leave the team you’re on. It’s tough moving and going in and out of different houses, so it’s a pretty stressful time. But once it’s over, it’s all good.”
At 16-15-7-1, Everett is in strong position to make the playoffs in its first year of existence.
The Silvertips, the lowest-scoring team in the WHL with just 77 goals in 39 games, could desperately use some additional offensive punch. However, Soetaert is reluctant to part with the team’s top young prospects, such as forward Zach Hamill and defenseman Taylor Ellington.
In addition, there appears to be little available offensively. The top names being thrown around in trade rumors are goalies, including Regina’s Josh Harding, the league’s reigning Most Valuable Player. But Everett is set in goal with Jeff Harvey, who has moved up to second in the WHL in goals-against average (2.00) and fourth in save percentage (.925).
“Obviously you’d always like to have more goal scoring,” Soetaert said. “That’s an area where we’re lacking. But the players have a good chemistry and they’re getting chances to score, they just haven’t been able to finish. Some time that’s going to happen. Everyone’s looking for goal scorers and they’re tough to find. There weren’t any available in the expansion draft and I don’t see much available at this time.”
Little action is expected throughout the U.S. Division. With Tri-City (48 points), Spokane (45), Portland (43) and Everett (40) all bunched together, each team believes it has a shot at the division crown, but no team appears to be one move away from contending for the WHL title.
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