While there are still many unanswered questions about the Thunderbirds heading into the 2022-23 preseason portion of the hockey calendar, there is one question answered following this past weekend's training camp. The Thunderbirds continue to do a masterful job of scouting and keeping the cupboard full so they can acheive their stated goal of consistently competing for championships. Has Seattle spent some draft capital recently to acquire players like Lukas Svejkovsy, Brad Lambert and Kyle Crnkovic? Yes, but there is still plenty of talent in the pipeline.
Because of Covid, this was the first training camp for the T-birds 2021 draft class. But three players from that draft, Tij Iginla, Hyde Davidson and Bryce Pickford, have already played in meaningful games for Seattle. In fact Pickford even suited up and played in eight playoff games last spring. Iginla probably would have made it into the lineup for a postseason game or two had he not been dealing with a minor injury.
At training camp all three of those players looked the part of signed WHL prospects taken high in that 2021 draft by the T-birds. Simon Lovsin, who like Davidson and Pickford, was taken in the second round of that draft last December, is signed as well. He's going to get a long look during the preseason games in Everett and Kennewick. But if training camp is any indication, he's going to be a solid player for the T-birds.
We're a bit spoiled at the moment with the goaltending tandem of Scott Ratzlaff and Thomas Milic. Seattle doesn't have a signed, young goalie though. Well, I guess technically Ratzlaff is just entering his 17 year old season, so he qualifies as young by WHL standards but he plays like a seasoned vet. But at some point Seattle will have to address the future at that position. The T-birds did draft Spencer Michnik in the fifth round last December and picked Aaron Sachs in round two of the 2022 U.S. Prospects Draft as well. So it will be interesting to keep an eye on those two or any other goalie prospect on their radar.
Five other members of the 2021 Thunderbirds draft were at camp to begin making their case they belong in a Seattle jersey at some point.
Meanwhile, Seattle has already signed their top three picks from the 2022 draft. General Manager Bil Laforge actually moved up six spots in round one of the draft, surrendering a third round pick in the process, to take Braeden Cootes tenth overall. I can see why. Cootes was a standout at training camp and even earned third star honors in the annual Blue-White game. Right behind him are a pair of second round selections, Kaleb Hartmann and Kazden Mathies.
In recent drafts, Seattle has been able to harvest top talent in mid to late rounds. Reid Schaefer is the latest example. Schaefer was selected in the eighth round of the 2018 WHL Draft only to go in the first round of this summer's NHL Draft.Who among the 2021 and 2022 Thunderbirds drafts will be the next Schaefer?
What is Seattle getting in Gracyn Sawchyn? Sawchyn was the first ever player selected in a WHL U.S. Prospects Draft, chosen by Red Deer back in 2020. The T-birds used a second round pick to aquire his rights and then signed him to a standard WHL Player Agreement this summer.
I think when NHL Central Scouting Services puts out their Ones to Watch list for the 2023 NHL Draft, Sawchyn will be listed as either an A or B skater. Seeing him on the ice for the first time at camp this past weekend, it is easy to see he is a highly skilled player. He's going to be an offensive option in this lineup. But what I liked about his game is that he has a little sandpaper to him, some grit and can be a bit of an agitator.
A couple of other players really intrigue me. One is Brayden Dube. Dube was a second round selection of the T-birds in the 2020 draft. He was the last cut coming out of camp last fall. He has always been a point producer at every level he's played. in 2019-20 he put up 130 points in 36 games at the U15 level. Last season with the Dauphin Kings of the MJHL, playing with an older roster, the 16 year old put up big points, 46 in 49 games playing Junior A. I think that point production at those other levels can translate for him in the WHL.
The other player is Coster Dunn. Dunn was taken by Seattle in the seventh round of that same draft that saw Dube go in round two. He played 11 games last season for the T-birds and showed flashes as he finished with two goals and one assist. He looked so much more confident in training camp this past weekend. His game reminds me a little bit of Nico Myatovic (himslef a sixth round 2019 pick, by the way). Maybe not as strong yet, but like Myatovic he posesses a huge upside and is a willing student.
Let's not forget the forgotten man in all of this, Mekai Sanders. Sanders is doing some skating but not able yet to take contact as he rehabs from the injury that cost him much of the second half of last season. He's told me he is ahead of schedule. I initially heard late December or early January for Sanders to get back in the lineup, so if he's back late November or early December, that's a huge boost for the T-birds. I had a scout tell me that if Seattle had Sanders in the lineup during the WHL Championship Series against Edmonton, they might have been able to get that series to Game Seven. That's how much they value his presence in the lineup. He's fast, he's physical and has a non-stop motor.
There are other players to watch as we go through preseason the next two weekends. Can newcomers Easton Kovacs and Kai Knak help solidify a very young D group. Are Sam Oremba and Sawyer Mynio ready to take the big step up from 16 year old rookies to second year players, as they enter their first season of NHL Draft eligibility? At camp Oremba sure looked like he added another gear to his skating ability.
If you're trying to piece together a roster that will carry Seattle through the 2022-23 season, remember teams usually carry 13-14 forwards and 7-8 defenseman along with their two goalies. I would guess at the start of the season they will carry some extra players, as they await the return of players from NHL camps, but at some point the roster will be pared down to 23. There are some hard decision to be made, for sure.
We start to answer a lot of these questions next weekend in Everett. Hockey is back!
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