EVERETT – The Everett Silvertips’ chrysalis-like metamorphosis continues.
Everett’s summer of transformation from defense to offense continued Monday as the Silvertips acquired talented left wing John Lammers from the Lethbridge Hurricanes.
The Tips acquired the 19-year-old Lammers, a third-round selection by the Dallas Stars in the 2004 NHL Draft, along with a fourth-round pick in the 2006 Bantam Draft in exchange for 19-year-old right wing Curtis Billsten, 16-year-old forward/defenseman Keegan Bourelle and a fifth-round pick in the 2006 Bantam Draft.
“This was a chance to get a player we feel will add some skill, scoring and playmaking,” Everett coach and director of hockey operations Kevin Constantine said. “John has scored 55 goals already in this league, and it’s hard to find players who have scored 55 goals who are available.”
Lammers is considered an offensively-gifted player who has yet to reach his potential in the Western Hockey League. The 5-foot-10, 182-pound native of Langley, B.C., has played 186 games in the WHL, racking up 55 goals and 69 assists. Last season for Lethbridge he had 17 goals and 30 assists in 66 games.
Lammers is currently in Dallas attending the Iowa Stars Development Camp along with approximately 35 of the Dallas Stars’ top prospects.
“He’s a crafty, skilled player who has a good goal-scoring touch around the net,” Constantine said. “He’s not overwhelming size-wise, but he’s proven in this league.
“I think he’ll play in every role for us,” Constantine added. “He’ll certainly be one of our top-end forwards five-on-five, and his skill level indicates he’ll be on our power play. We’ll have to wait and see if he plays on our penalty kill, if that would be a role he’s interested in. But I think he’s capable of playing in every situation.”
Lammers also comes with some baggage. In 2003 he left the Hurricanes for three weeks after demanding a trade, and since then he drew criticism in Lethbridge for inconsistent play.
The Tips paid a hefty price to acquire Lammers. The 6-foot-2, 226-pound Billsten was Everett’s biggest forward and a valuable two-way player each of the past two seasons, compiling 21 goals and 25 assists in 134 games. And Bourelle was Everett’s second-round pick in the 2004 Bantam Draft, though he had yet to play for the Silvertips.
For Billsten, who was an original Silvertip and the scorer the first-ever Everett goal at the Everett Events Center, the news came as a shock.
“As hard as it is to leave a great place like Everett, I’m excited to join my new team,” Billsten said from his home in Calgary, Alberta. “I know they had a great year last year and I hope I can step in and play a big role.
“I can’t say enough about the Silvertips and the organization, from Kevin Constantine all the way down to the players,” Billsten added. “The fan support in Everett is phenomenal and I really appreciated the support.”
Lammers is Everett’s latest addition during an offseason in which every personnel move has been geared toward offense. The Tips added a potential star by signing 17-year-old center Peter Mueller to a WHL agreement last week, and they also drafted talented two-way center Ondrej Fiala, 18, in the Import Draft.
The additions of Lammers and Mueller – as well as Fiala should he decided to play in the WHL – should add a substantial boost to an offense that finished 18th out of 20 teams in goals in 2003-04 and 16th in 2004-05.
“We’ve been a competitive team in our first two years based on being really disciplined and detailed and conscientious in our play,” Constantine said. “But you wouldn’t say we’ve overwhelmed anyone on offense. You never want to wander too far from a foundation of defense in any sport, but to make it to the top end you need offensive talent. Certainly Peter Mueller and John Lammers have significantly added to our ability to score.”
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