EVERETT — The Everett Silvertips are gearing up for the 2010-11 WHL season as training camp opens in just two days. But when the Tips first take the ice Thursday morning at Lynnwood Ice Center, they’ll do so a little thin on defense.
Everett suffered a blow on the blue line when veteran defenseman Chris de la Lande decided not to return for his overage season.
De la Lande spent the past three seasons with the Tips, and this season he was slated to be one of Everett’s top four defensemen. But de la Lande called Tips general manager Doug Soetaert on Friday to deliver the news that he wasn’t coming back as a 20-year-old.
“It doesn’t surprise me,” Soetaert said Monday. “There were rumors he wasn’t going to return. It’s just disappointing he waited until a week before camp to make his decision.”
Soetaert said de la Lande cited several circumstances that led to his decision. De la Lande, who lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba, is planning to either attend school or begin working with his father.
De la Lande spent three seasons with the Tips, appearing in 171 games. Last season he had two goals and 17 assists in 71 games, and he served as one of Everett’s alternate captains.
“It was surprising that he waited this long, but it wasn’t that surprising,” Soetaert said. “I just kind of felt that at times he was a little disinterested. But that’s life, we wish him the best. And if he changes his mind — well, I know his parents want him to come back.”
De la Lande’s departure leaves a hole on Everett’s blue line. The Tips already lost one potential overage defenseman earlier in the offseason when Curtis Kulchar decided not to return. Kulchar’s loss wasn’t considered major at the time because of the presence of de la Lande. But the loss of both leaves the Tips short in depth and experience.
Everett has a solid top three on defense in Ryan Murray, Rasmus Rissanen and Alex Theriau. But after that the Tips have two returners who were part-time players last season in Paul Sohor and Gabe Minville, and two signed rookies in Evan Morden and Nicholas Walters.
Nevertheless, Soetaert expressed little concern.
“We have lots of defensemen,” he said. “We have seven defensemen right now and we’ve got another coming to camp. All of them have experience except Morden and Walters, so we’ll have six guys with experience.”
Soetaert declined to name the experienced player who was invited to camp.
De la Lande’s decision also further opens up Everett’s overager situation. When last season ended the Tips had six players eligible for this season’s three 20-year-old roster slots. De la Lande and Kulchar decided not to return, left wing Dan Iwanski was released, and defenseman Radko Gudas is off to the professional ranks. That leaves center Clayton Cumiskey and goaltender Thomas Heemskerk as overage candidates.
Heemskerk, who is attending training camp, could also end up playing professionally. If he’s returned by the NHL’s San Jose Sharks, he’s a candidate to be traded as the Tips are expected to go with Kent Simpson as their No. 1 goalie this season.
“We have open (overage) slots if we need them,” Soetaert said. “But we’ve got a lot of really good forwards. We were looking at de la Lande and Kulchar as possible guys back, but we’ll make adjustments as the year goes. I’m not worried.”
Nick Patterson’s Silvertips blog: http://www.heraldnet.com/silvertipsblog
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