First, a question. Who the heck puts out a press release on a trade at 10 p.m.? Who’s to say the pertinent media members are even awake, let alone in a position to report on it? It’s a minor miracle that I happened to be available and that we were able to find a small place for this in Wednesday’s paper. Late announcements like this are a sure way to make it so that one’s news goes unreported in the press (conspiracy theorists can insert their comments here).
But enough of my venting. Here’s the newest Tips trade. Everett acquired 20-year-old defenseman Josh Caron from Kamloops in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2014 bantam draft. Caron fills the overage roster slot left open when the Tips traded winger Tyler Maxwell to Edmonton. Caron joins forward Josh Birkholz and defenseman Brennan Yadlowski as Everett’s overagers.
Caron is a tough customer, perhaps the league’s heavyweight champion. The 6-foot-4, 212-pound native of Campbell River, B.C., had six assists and 88 penalty minutes (which includes nine fighting majors) in 20 games with the Blazers this season. This is already the most fighting-inclined team Everett’s ever had, and Caron will only add to that. I believe Caron has completed his three-game suspension for a checking-to-the-head major penalty against Kootenay on Nov. 23, so I think he should be available when the Tips head to Portland on Friday.
Caron comes with some NHL pedigree. Though he was never taken in the NHL draft, he signed a free-agent contract with the Minnesota Wild after attending their rookie camp on a tryout in 2010. However, I’ve heard he lost his way a bit in Kamloops this season, which is probably why he was available. Perhaps a change of scenery is what he needs to get his game back on track.
This brings Everett’s roster to 27: 16 forwards, nine defensemen and two goaltenders. This is two over the roster limit. However, winger Zach McPhee is now listed on the injury report as out “1 month +,” which I suspect means he’s joined center Manraj Hayer on the long-term injury list and is thus exempt from the roster limit. However, nine defensemen is more than a team needs. Everett could lose both Ryan Murray and Dominik Bittner to World Juniors for brief periods, which could require extra numbers. But I’ve got to think another move of some sort is imminent to alleviate the playing-time crunch on the blue line.
As for the trade itself, I have to admit I’m somewhat puzzled by what the Tips are doing. Everett has stated time and again that this is a rebuilding season. However, we’re seeing a curious approach to rebuilding. This is the third veteran Everett has imported in the past three weeks, joining 19-year-old forwards Teal Burns and JT Barnett. When teams are rebuilding in the WHL they tend to sell off their veterans to acquire assets for the future. This seems the exact opposite. Between them Caron, Burns and Barnett have a maximum of two seasons combined remaining in Everett following this season, and that’s only if both Burns and Barnett are back as overagers next season, which is no lock. In the process the Tips lost third-, fourth- and sixth-round bantam picks.
On the other hand, these moves make Everett better this season. It’s certainly a veteran crew at the back now, with a 19-year-old goaltender being guarded by a defense that includes two 20s, a 19 and two 18s. With Murray expected back soon from his ankle injury, Everett could soon find itself with a much-improved defense.
I guess the Tips are determined to improve on their 5-17-0-4 record. But if that’s the case, I suppose the rebuild is now on hold.
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