Silvertips notebook: Defenseman may make season debut Saturday

The Silvertips should have an NHL draft pick back in the lineup for Saturday’s road game at Kamloops, as Montreal Canadiens prospect Gianni Fairbrother was cleared for full contact on Monday and is on track to play in his first game of the season.

Fairbrother, a third-round pick by the Canadiens in the 2019 NHL draft, sustained an upper-body injury while at Montreal’s training camp and hasn’t suited up for the Silvertips this season.

The 2000-born defenseman, who scored 10 goals and chipped in 26 assists last year, should bolster a promising, yet young blueline for Everett. The Silvertips dressed four rookie defensemen in two of Everett’s three preseason games.

Still mum on Christiansen’s return

There’s still no definitive answer whether overage defenseman Jake Christiansen will return to Everett for his final junior season or sign a professional contract, according to Silvertips general manager Garry Davidson.

Christiansen skated in St. Louis Blues training camp and was subsequently transferred to their American Hockey League affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage, on an amateur tryout. Davidson said there should be clarity on the situation soon, as the AHL season begins on Oct. 4.

Fasko-Rudas returns

Everett forward Martin Fasko-Rudas returned to Everett after missing the preseason and the first two regular season games after recovering from offseason surgery for an upper-body injury in his home country of Slovakia. Davidson said Fasko-Rudas is listed as week-to-week, adding that he won’t return until at least Oct. 10.

Gut nearing return

Silvertips import forward Michal Gut is listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury. It’s possible he could be cleared for Everett’s next game against Kamloops.

Mitchell out

Forward Conrad Mitchell will be out week-to-week with an upper-body injury sustained against Victoria on Sept. 21.

Josh Horton covers the Silvertips for the Herald. Follow him on Twitter, @JoshHortonEDH