EVERETT — The Everett Silvertips are getting their man.
Winger Nikita Scherbak, acquired in a blockbuster trade last Monday, is headed to Everett after being reassigned Sunday by the NHL’s Montreal Canadiens.
Everett acquired Scherbak, a Russian winger entering his 19-year-old season, from the Saskatoon Blades in exchange for 17-year-old goaltender Nik Amundrud, a first-round pick in the 2015 bantam draft and a second rounder in 2016.
Scherbak is an electric offensive performer. The 6-foot-2, 194-pounder had 28 goals and 50 assists in 65 games last season, leading Saskatoon in scoring by 35 points. After the season he was selected in the first round of the NHL draft (26th overall) by Montreal.
However, Scherbak was still attending training camp with the Canadiens when the trade was made. Reports out of Montreal was that Scherbak was dazzling during his first camp with the Canadiens, and there were whispers that he performed well enough to be given an extended stay. But Montreal made 26 cuts Sunday, and Scherbak was among them.
Scherbak did not join the team in time for Sunday night’s game at Portland. He should be available for Everett’s home opener Friday against Kelowna.
Scherbak is expected to provide a big boost to an Everett team that has question marks on offense. The Tips won their first two games of the season, but scored just one goal in their season-opening 1-0 victory at Seatlle on Sept. 20, then went 1-for-11 on the power play in Saturday’s 5-1 victory at Portland.
Scherbak’s imminent arrival sets up the possibility of an import crunch on Everett’s roster. WHL teams are allowed two roster spots for European players. Scherbak joins fellow Russian forward Ivan Nikolishin in filling Everett’s two slots. However, Swiss defenseman Mirco Mueller could still be sent back to Everett by the NHL’s San Jose Sharks. Mueller, who’s also a first-round NHL draft pick, is considered a legitimate candidate to make the Sharks as a 19-year-old. However, if the Sharks decide he’s not ready yet, he must be returned to the Tips, in which case Everett would have to trade one of the three.
Check out Nick Patterson’s Silvertips blog at http://www.heraldnet.com/silvertipsblog, and follow him on Twitter at @NickHPatterson.
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