For the first time in nine seasons the Kootenay Ice will have to contend with a short summer - one game shy of the shortest with their Memorial Cup semi-final loss -before they prepare for the 2011-12 season.
That's not a bad thing.
But as is with all junior hockey clubs, its nature demands that new life is born with every autumn and as such players and personalities will move on to professional contracts, college hockey and life as an adult.
At least they will do so with a championship in their back pocket, something a majority of players at this level will never get a chance to do.
For the WHL Champions there stands to be a change in the personnel of the hockey club. From a team that returned 17 regulars from the year prior, the 2011-12 version stands to look somewhat different.
Here's a peek at next season:
The Graduates - Steele Boomer, Kevin King and Matt Fraser all graduated with Friday night's loss to Mississauga. King was a 3rd round pick from the 2005 Bantam Draft that made the club as a rookie in 2006, playing all five years of eligibility. Boomer, taken in the second round of that draft, made the club in 2007 while Fraser was acquired as a 17-year-old in exchange for 20-year-old Clayton Bauer in 2007. Fraser, a superb community volunteer in his fund-raising efforts with the East Kootenay Hospital foundation, is signed by the Dallas Stars and will play in their organization next season. He was named the Boston (Vancouver?) Pizza Playoff MVP for the team today. King and Boomer are free agents and will test the pro market next season or take advantage of the scholarship program and play college hockey.
But in fact all three of them did so much for the community. Matt Coxford of the Townsman caught up with the three of them at their exit meetings Sunday. What did they do Saturday night after flying back from Toronto? Attended the Relay for Life at the College. Really, how many players do that much for the community and even get an Owl named after them? And can sing?
It's the kind of impact on the community that many never get to see or experience but they sure do make a difference.
20-year-olds - The club is laden with them, seven, to be precise.
C Cody Eakin is signed with the Washington Capitals and will be coming to an NHL arena near you. He was a late cut of the Caps last season and will have a great shot again this year. Although he has one year of eligibility left it won't be used. Signed players can play pro in the AHL at 20 if their NHL clubs so desire.
D Brayden McNabb is signed with the Buffalo Sabres. Like Eakin, McNabb is eligible to return but it won't happen. He likely play a year or two with the Sabres AHL franchise before making a big push for the big club. Then again, in the NHL salary cap world and rookies making less than the veterans, the Sabres are known to let their prospects develop with the big team too. It wouldn't be a shock if he made it.
So two are gone for sure, which leaves five eligible players for three 20-year-old spots and possibly some very difficult decisions for Ice GM Jeff Chynoweth.
G Nathan Lieuwen - The unsigned, undrafted WHL Playoff MVP will almost certainly make Chynoweth's decision easier. His play has earned him some big time talk in the scouting circles to the point that in this year's WHL eligible goaltenders for the NHL Draft it's Lieuwen who won't be left on the outside looking in, as was the case the last two go-arounds. And if that doesn't happen he will almost assuredly be snapped up and signed as a free-agent and play pro hockey somewhere next season. The third possibility is the one that the club must face but likely won't have to. The club has three goaltenders waiting in the wings that will battle for two spots next season. Back-up Brett Teskey, who will be 18, Mackenzie Skapski, 17, and Wyatt Hoflin, 16 will all battle for the two jobs. If by chance Lieuwen returns to the club to play for a 20-year-old spot the chance of being traded just to make room for the others is very real. (As per Gregg Drinnan's blog and their goaltending situation, Vancouver Giants, anyone?) But there is a fourth possibility at play here. Lieuwen is a top-notch student and actually tutored the rest of the club's players this past season when needed. If his hockey dream doesn't pan out next season he could use his scholarship and start school right away.
But based on his play this past season and the playoff MVP in his pocket, the NHL will come calling.
And then there were four.....
D James Martin - Martin will obviously look at any pro offers but is a likely candidate to return next season and wear a letter.
D Hayden Rintoul - Like Martin, Rintoul is in the same boat.
F Joe Antilla - The burly forward has a penchant for scoring big goals
F Jesse Ismond - Nasty to play against, Ismond can also put the puck in the net.
So four, possibly five, players for three spots. Let's look down at the rest of the roster first before we see who might fit where.
19-year-olds
C Max Reinhart - The Calgary Flames draft pick will have a shot at the big club this season but will almost certainly be back in a leadership role with the club. Reinhart should push in the league scoring department next season.
F Drew Czerwonka - Will play an even bigger role next season.
F Elgin Pearce - Was relegated to fourth line duty in the playoffs at times but has shown flashes of being able to put the puck in the net. Will he take the ball and run with it? 19-year-olds have to play top-six, can he be one of them?
F Brock Montgomery - Another role player that was hampered by injuries. Depending on what the club wants to do with it's younger, developing forwards, Montgomery might be able to play a third-line role.
D Luke Paulsen - Slotted in the five-six hole all season Paulsen will play big minutes next year. Power play and likely the second pairing.
D Joey Leach - Brayden McNabb's minutes will have to be taken by somebody. Leach is likely the guy.
D John Neibrandt - Playing in a 7th D-man role this past year Neibrandt will have to step it up as a 19-year-old. His minutes/spot depends on the 20-year-old situation.
18-year-olds
F Brendan Hurley - The power forward played a bigger, third-line role throughout the playoffs. Will his physical presence turn into points? Probably a 3rd line regular next season.
F Erik Benoit - Here's a guy that made the club as a walk-on and then showed he could score given the chance. Next season he will be given more.
F Adam Rossignol - Another kid who can score but was a healthy scratch in the playoffs. He'll get an opportunity. Could be looking at the third line otherwise he'll be fighting with the rookies on the fourth unit, which could put his spot in jeopardy.
D Jagger Dirk - Like Paulsen, Dirk will be counted upon for heavy minutes and will play a top-four role. Has a shot at being a late-round NHL Draft pick in June.
G Brett Teskey - Some big skates to fill if Lieuwen doesn't return. He'll also not be handed the starter's job as Skapski will have something to say about that.
17-year-olds
The club did not carry any 16-year-old regulars this season so here's a snapshot of who I think will push for a spot. They are in order of shot at making the team in their respective positions.
G Mackenzie Skapski. Played Junior B in Ridge Meadows this year with varying success. He is the heir apparent and will push Teskey for the starter's job.
D Mike Simpson. Played with the club at different points this season. With higher-profile rearguards like Michael King and Matt Benning on the club's list both looking at the NCAA route, Simpson is prospect with the best shot at making the club as a full-time rookie d-man.
D Jeff Hubic - Another young d-man who played some games with the Ice this season.
F Levi Cable - Lead the Yorkton Harvest in scoring this past year in Saskatchewan Midget and will be given every chance to make the big club this season.
F Jared Iron - Second in scoring with the Beardy's Blackhawks in Saskatchewan Midget this past year. Like Cable, will likely be in the mix next season.
16-year-olds
F Sam Reinhart - He was the club's defacto 16-year-old this season and would've played more had regulations permitted. He'll transition into a full-time role next season and has a shot as being the club's starriest 16-year-old in recent memory. I suspect the transition to full-time play in the WHL will have it's setbacks as most 16-year-olds do but Reinhart, based his time accummalated with the club in the regular season and playoffs, should be well equipped to play a bigger-than-normal role on this team next season.
D Tanner Faith - Played in four games this season and has a shot at the 7th d-man/rookie role this year. Will be fighting with the likes of Hubic and Simpson for his role.
F Luke Philp - Finished 3rd in Alberta Midget scoring this season as a 15-year-old with the UFA Bisons which is no small feat with 20g 33a - 53 pts in 33 games. I expect him to be one of the club's rookie forwards next season.
F Jaedon Descheneau - Lead the Leduc Oil Kings in scoring in the same league with 15g 20a - 35 points in 31 games.
F Sam Johnson - Was third in scoring on that UFA Bison team. A list player, Johnson might have to wait a year before getting his shot.
As with any prognostication there are many wildcards in play depending who returns, who doesn't and what kind of developments/transitions happen over the summer. This one however will be a short one.
Here's my roster for next year just for fun.
G - Brett Teskey
G - Mackenzie Skapski
Wildcard: Hoflin, 16, will challenge but will have to wait. I'm betting big that Lieuwen get's an NHL contract, if not we'll re-work this thing over the summer.
D - James Martin
D - Joey Leach
D - Hayden Rintoul
D - Luke Paulsen
D - Jagger Dirk
D - Mike Simpson
D - Tanner Faith
Wildcard: John Neibrandt, 19
Rintoul's my overage D-man on the bubble here. He brings a lot to the club but could also get something back in trade. If Rintoul's dealt at the 20-year-old deadline next season Neibrandt, 19, should be in the mix. Rintoul's high-risk, high reward and whether or not Chynoweth wants to rebuild or retool next season will help make this decision.
C - Max Reinhart
F - Joe Antilla
F - Drew Czerwonka
F/C - Elgin Pearce
F - Brendan Hurley
F - Erik Benoit
F - Brock Montgomery
C/F - Adam Rossignol
C - Sam Reinhart
F - Levi Cable
F - Jared Iron
F - Luke Philp
F - Jaedon Descheneau
F - Sam Johnson
Wildcard - F Jesse Ismond; If Rintoul is kept, Ismond is the odd-man out and vice-versa if Rintoul goes. It boils down to offense from the blueline or grit with scoring touch up front. If Paulsen and Dirk can step it up offensively and mature in their own end, Rintoul could be the odd-man out in one of the toughest 20-year-old decisions the club has faced in some time.
As you can see this all sets upon a traditional 23-roster (14 forwards, 7 defensemen and two goaltenders). The WHL Champs lose a lot but still returns possibly nine veteran forwards, five veteran d-men and a veteran back-up based on my configuration. Possibly 15 returning off of a WHL championship team still says something. Two off of the 17 that came back last year.
If anything, a few things to chew on over the short summer.
9 comments:
Well done, Jeff. Not sure about Lieuwen though. He was not spectacular at the Memorial Cup, so may hurt his chances. GAA was above average and save percentage was lower. Just a thought, of course.
Thank you Jeff. That was very in depth and just what I was craving. It puts some closure on our great season and starts the thought process on the year ahead. It seems like we could have quite a good defensive group. The goaltenders we have seen which leaves the forwards, I think as the biggest wildcards.
Great stuff, Jeff. Exactly what I was hoping to find.
Great season by the Ice!
Keep Ismond, Antilla, and Martin as 20's. Next years lineup as followed:
Antilla-M.Reinhart-Montgomery
Czerwonka-S.Reinhart-Ismond
Benoit-Pearce-Hurley
Philp-Rossignol-Cable
Iron
Martin-Leach
Paulsen-Dirk
Niebrandt-Simpson
Faith
Teskey
Skapski
Of course all this could change depending on what we get for Rintoul, but as of now the team doesn't look that bad. We have some outstanding prospects that will make immediate impacts. Goaltending might be an adventure early but once Teskey and Skapski settle in they will do fine. Might be a notch below the top teams. I'm thinking if guys like Ismond, Montgomery, Czerwonka, and Pearce can form a consistent secondary scoring unit then we could finish around 5-6 in the conference.
I would think if we have any chance at a run in 2013, you would have to keep 2D and 1F. This would allow an opportunity to develop the top nine forwards with just
one or two losses the following year and a mature blue line to aid in the process. If you look at St John or St Mike's they developed their player's a little sooner and had a number of 17 yr olds playing key minutes. From what I saw off the Mem Cup, we have to get tougher as a team and at least one power forward for the top two lines. St Mike's was just a little too physical for our top three lines to handle. You just can't load the top two lines up with skill because heart will trump skill every time, especially in the playoffs.
We are going to need Lieuwen next year, or a trade for a more experienced goalie. As for the forward situation, we'll see come training camp. I think there will be some surprises.
Everyone will have to step it up in order for the team to compete next year. Hopefully lieuwen is back. The ice should be solid on defence again, give more credit to niebrandt, i dont think he will be getting cut. he was the ranked by central scouting, even ahead of dirk. no offence to dirk, he played good minutes in mississauga.
suprised the club did not look at one of Jared irons team mates at this years bantam draft , a 14 year old finishing right behind Iron in scoring and in the the top 25 in league scoring ???????
Brayden Oleksyn was taken in the third round at number 60. Kootenay had a first round pick (17th overall - F Colin Shirley) and a third rounder at 61. Obviously they thought Shirley had more upside in the first round than Oleksyn did. I guess time will tell because if he makes the Hitmen, we'll see him a lot.
JB
Post a Comment