EVERETT – Needing a spark from their struggling frontline, the Washington Stealth signed All-Star forward Brett Bucktooth to the active roster on Wednesday.
To make room for Bucktooth, the Stealth placed forward Jeff Zywicki on the physically unable to perform list.
Bucktooth is expected to be in action Saturday night when the Stealth plays host to the Edmonton Rush at 7:15 p.m. in Comcast Arena. Washington fell to 0-2 with a 10-9 overtime loss to Philadelphia last Saturday.
“It’s an exciting change for me to play out west and with a new group of teammates,” Bucktooth said in a press release. “Having been to back-to-back championship games says a lot about the organization and the players. I can’t wait to get on the floor and get back to work.”
Bucktooth has spent his entire five-year National Lacrosse League career with the Buffalo Bandits and was named to the Eastern All-Star team in 2011. In 31 regular-season games during the past two seasons, he’s tallied 58 points (28 goals, 30 assists) and collected 108 loose balls.
Stealth general manager Doug Locker said that the league’s loss of the Boston Blazers for the 2012 season had a lot to do with why Bucktooth was available.
“I think part of it was the spin-off from the nine-team league,” Locker said. “There are a lot of players available that normally would have been on teams. He was definitely a victim of league contraction.”
Bucktooth said his goal is to help the Stealth get back to the top.
“I am going to do whatever is needed to get the Stealth another NLL title,” Bucktooth said. “I hope to score some goals, play some defense and grab some loose balls.”
Locker said Bucktooth will give opponents a different look when facing the Stealth.
“We feel Brett will add a different dimension to our offense and are excited to have him wearing a Stealth uniform,” Locker said. “He has accomplished a great deal in his lacrosse career and brings with him a level of experience that is hard to find. We believe he is going to be a great addition moving forward.”
Zywicki has scored two goals and dished one assist in the Stealth’s first two games, but a lingering lower-body injury he suffered last summer while playing for the New Westminster Salmonbellies sent him to the PUP list.
“Because of his lack of mobility, it makes it easier for defenses to play against our offense,” Locker said.
Locker said that Zywicki will begin rehabilitation on his injury this weekend and is hopeful that the forward will be back soon.
“We are going to have him rest and rehab and hopefully we will have him back in a couple of weeks,” Locker said. “I don’t know how long it is going to take quite frankly, but it is not a season-ending type of injury.”
The Stealth activated transition player Nenad Gajic last Friday and placed defenseman Eric Martin on the PUP list.
Gajic did not play last weekend against Philadelphia and Locker said he isn’t sure yet if Gajic will play this weekend against Edmonton.
“I would like to get him in the lineup relatively soon for sure,” Locker said. “We won’t make that decision until Friday.”
Aaron Lommers covers the Washington Stealth for The Herald. Follow him on twitter @aaronlommers and contact him at alommers@heraldnet.com
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