For the second time in four days Everett has acquired a 19-year-old forward, picking up winger JT Barnett from Kamloops in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2013 bantam draft. This comes on the heels of acquiring 19-year-old center Teal Burns from Prince Albert for a sixth-round pick in 2013.
Barnett, the son of former Phoenix Coyotes general manager Mike Barnett, is in his fourth season in the league. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound native of Scottsdale, Ariz., had four goals and two assists in 16 games for the Blazers. Last season he tallied 13 goals and 30 assists in 72 games, and the season before that he had 21 goals and 17 assists in 71 games with Vancouver.
Everett general manager Doug Soetaert said Barnett was acquired to play in Everett’s top-six forwards and help replace some of the offensive production lost when Tyler Maxwell was sent home. Soetaert also said Barnett was a candidate to be an overager next season.
Now, adding two 19-year-old forwards to a team that’s rebuilding may seem a tad curious. Soetaert explained it with two primary points:
1) The team is trying to find a balance between winning and rebuilding, and he felt the balance had tipped a little too far from the winning aspect.
2) Bringing in a pair of 19-year-olds provides more competition for the veterans.
Soetaert also mentioned that since the team is dealing with injuries and suspensions, the young players are still going to play.
This move brings Everett’s roster to 27, with center Manraj Hayer on the long-term injury list. With the roster limit being 25, expect another move to clear space for Barnett.
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