Best Supporting Actors

Before we hit Sunday and an Easter matchup with the Spokane Chiefs, a few words on a couple of players who are quietly going about their business and providing solid minutes in key situations for Seattle.

You may remember the start of the 2019-20 season when the Thunderbirds ran into some injury issues among their defensive group.  It was significant enough that Seattle needed to make an early season trade with Red Deer to bring in some help.  Late in August as the preseason was dawning, Seattle sent the rights to listed goalie Landon Houg and and conditional seventh round draft pick to the Rebels for 19 year old defenseman Hunter Donohoe.  

The situation only got worse though and Seattle was forced to make yet another trade for a defenseman.  So in early October of 2019, with the season already underway, T-birds GM Bil LaForge made another call to Red Deer.  This time he sent unsigned defenseman Noah Barlage, along with a 2022 7th round draft pick, to the Rebels in exchange for an 18 year old defenseman. 

Coming back to Seattle was Ryan Gottfried, who at the time of the trade wasn't even playing for Red Deer.  He was back home in Winnipeg waiting to see if he still had a WHL career.  Up to that point Gottfried had played just 58 games in the WHL.  Meanwhile, when Seattle eventually got healthy back on the blue line, they ended up with a plethora of d-man and a decision had to be made.  Which defenseman do they keep, which one had to go?  

Donohoe, the first to arrive, would seem the correct choice, right?  Except he just never seemed to fit.  He lasted just nine games, was even a healthy scratch on occasion.  He registered just one assist and finished his T-birds career at -9.  Instead it was Gottfried, a year younger and happy to be here, who fit well with his new team.

Fast forward to this new, abbreviated 24 game campaign and Gottfried is playing his best hockey since joining the team.  He's not going to wow you with big offensive numbers. He has one assist through seven games.  But he has been rock steady along with his defensive partner, Tryel Bauer.  They are Seattle's top pairing on the blue line and together are usually out on the ice against the opponents top players.  

More significantly Gottfried just may be among Seattle's two or three best penalty killers on a PK unit that is doing great work early on.  He's shown to be very good at getting to pucks when the team is shorthanded and getting that puck out of harms way.  He has made himself a valuable player.  On a team that is featuring almost a dozen rookies, it is nice to have that calming, older presence and he is providing the team just that.  You can trust him to make the right play.  He's gone from being a player without a home to being at home as a T-bird.

Then there is Reid Schaefer, an 2018 eighth round pick out of Spruce Grove, Alberta.  Taken so late in a draft that featured Conner Roulette, Lucas Ciona and Thomas Milic, it would be easy to get lost in the wash.  Eighth round selections are usually longshots, especially from a draft that featured so many talented players chosen ahead of him.  

But I noticed Schaefer quite a bit in his first training camp a couple years ago, and not just because of his red hair.  he showed a flair for putting pucks in the net.  The T-birds noticed him too because they were quick to sign him.  He got a chance to skate in a few games as a 16 year old last season.  Now that he's here full-time at age 17, he's making his presence felt.  Like Gottfried, he is an excellent penalty killer.  at 6'2", 200 lbs., he already has the size that can make him a prototypical power forward.  He's not done growing either.  He also has the frame to add muscle.  And eventually I believe he will start scoring too.  

While a lot of young T-birds player are wowing us and rightfully earning some praise for their play so far this season., Gottfried and Schaefer are flying a little bit under the radar but still proving their value to this team and a good team needs those type of players on the roster to be successful.

The Quarter Pole

Seven nights, four games, three wins, wonderful to watch.  The Seattle Thunderbirds are one quarter of the way through this abbreviated 24 game schedule and are on pace for 16 wins. In a season that has been turned over to developing the young talent on this roster, that would be an impressive accomplishment. 

Win or lose this team competes for the "W'.  There will be teachable moments along the way, hard lessons learned, but they will entertain.  The only disappointment so far is that you, the fans, haven't been there to witness it in person.  Three of their four win have come on home ice and each one has been a one-goal nail biter.  From the opening night shootout victory over Spokane to Wednesday's come-from-behind win over Everett, you'd be getting your money's worth.  

To a person, everyone in the organization wondered how raucous the ShoWare Center would have been when Jeremy Hanzel skated in, around and through the Silvertips defense in the third period Wednesday as he scored the game winner.  These players, especially these young rookies, can't wait to be part of that full throated ShoWare experience for the first time.  It can't come soon enough.

The tale of the tape is in and Seattle is the youngest team in the WHL for a second straight season.  With ten rookies and only one 20 year old, the young guns are getting plenty of ice.  But you need a rudder to steer the ship and Seattle's seasoned players are bringing the young pups along.  No one epitomizes that more than 19 year old Florida Panthers prospect Henrik Rybinski.  

Rybinski is off to a terrific start.  It may not show loudly on the stat sheet where he sits seventh in team scoring with a goal and three assists, but he is leading by example with his all out effort on every shift.  He is relentless and you can see that tenacity rub off on young players like Jordan Gustafson and Gabe Ludwig.

When the T-birds acquired Rybinski from Medicine Hat at the trade deadline two seasons ago, he was playing on the wing but wanted to play center fulltime.  The T-birds weren't sure if he could do the job.  But to their credit, they gave him the opportunity to prove himself and he has blossomed.  

He's centering their top line, going toe-to-toe with the opponents top players and only getting better. He's winning fifty percent of his faceoffs.  But it's not so much how many times he is successful on the draw as when he's successful such as the late defensive zone win against Everett in a game with Seattle nursing a one goal lead.  He's their top penalty killer and instrumental on a power play that has tallied in all but one game so far this season.  

The WHL has allowed teams to carry 2005 born players (15 year olds) on their rosters this season if they were first round Bantam picks in the 2020 draft.  As a result the top six picks from last spring's draft have all either scored a goal or registered a point this season.  The seventh pick from that draft is Seattle's Sam Oremba.  He's yet to play a game, though he is with the team.  

He's one of those ten rookies Seattle is carrying on their roster.  Those other teams seem to need their 15 year olds to score to find some success.  The T-birds having Oremba with them is a luxury, not a necessity.  That's how deep their pool of rookie players is.  Oremba is a really, talented player but Seattle doesn't need him in the lineup to win games.  Mind you, he can help them win, they just don't need him to...yet.   

Through six games, Seattle has registered 73 shots on goal in the first period.  That's an average of just slightly over 12 shots on goal in the first period each game.  The T-birds have scored just three first period goals and two of those came in one game. They are getting off to terrific starts minus that pesky ingredient, goals.  Just wait until they start adding some scoring to those fast starts. 

Congratulations to winger Conner Roulette and goalie Thomas Milic who were selected to be part of Canada's U-18 roster for the tournament that will take place later this month in Texas.  Well earned. 

My T-birds Three Stars for the last four games:

Third Star:  D-man Jeremy Hanzel.  Props to the T-birds scout who discovered this gem.  Hanzel was not selected in the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft, playing in, as he told me, a league that usually doesn't draw a lot of attention.  But he got the attention of the T-birds who scouted, listed and signed him last spring. Now he has NHL scouts paying attention, probably even more so after that game winner against the 'Tips.  

Second Star:  C Henrik Rybinski.  He's the tone setter for Seattle at both ends of the ice.  A terrific defensive forward with the assignment of usually trying to slow down, if not shutdown, the opposing team's top playmakers.  But he's more then that as he will chip in with timely offense.  Even if he doesn't score he's probably the one creating the scoring chance for his teammate.

First Star:  W Conner Roulette.  Hard to think of going pointless in the first two games as a slow start, but that is how good Roulette is in that, if he doesn't record a point coming out of the gate we panic a little.  Calm down, the wheel is spinning.  He now has points in four straight games including four goals and is now leading the team in scoring with six points on four goals and two assists.  His creativity in the offensive zone reminds me just a tad of Patrick Kane.  He's just fun to watch on the ice.  

Aaaaaand We're Off!!

So nice to once again be writing about actual hockey games being played! But first let's acknowledge those who are making it possible for the five WHL U.S Division teams to hit the ice again for this abbreviated, 24 game season. From the owners, to the front office staffs, from the equipment managers to the off-ice officials and from the bus drivers and the Zamboni operators to the cleaning crews this is truly a team effort. Let's hope it's a once-in-a-lifetime team effort, but a team effort nonetheless.

There is probably not enough space here to thank everyone.  If you are involved in making this return to play possible, take a bow.  No person's task in getting this season going is insignificant.  Some roles though have been more prominent then others and I want to take a moment to acknowledge the work of Thunderbirds Athletic Trainer Phil Varney.  I've written about Phil in the past.  He's not just an ace bandage and ice pack guy.  Those days are long gone.  His career field is a science and Phil follows the science.  He is a highly trained medical professional (he has a Masters Degree) and he has been working with the league on this return to play since last March.   

If you follow him on Twitter (@pvarney) you'll rarely if ever see him post opinion, unless maybe it's about the Red Wings.  Instead you find he tweets or retweets facts posted by the professionals who deal with this virus every day.  From the testing to the treatment, to sanitizing the benches and penalty box, he's been putting in some long days.  Just as an example, I know he read every study he could find on face coverings and whether they are effective, and which ones are the most effective.  So, if you're on Twitter, give him a follow and then give him a #ThanksPhil.

Now to the actual hockey played by the T-birds his weekend.  Seattle earned a split of their two games and I think "earned" is the right word here.  Seattle was the better team opening night in their 4-3 shootout win over Spokane. The team played well Saturday night against Portland, just not well enough to win and fell 4-1.

The results really aren't too surprising.  Remember, the division had just a couple weeks to train after a year long layoff.  Player conditioning is going to be a factor early on. The T-Birds used a lot of pent up emotion and energy Friday against the Chiefs.  They had a fast start Saturday against the Winterhawks but you could see some of the players tiring as that game wore on.  For both teams it was their second game but one of Portland's slight advantages was having a day of rest between their opener Thursday and the game Saturday.  

In the two games, the T-Birds outshot their opponents in the first period by a combined 27-12.  The problem was they had nothing to show up on the scoreboard for that decided early edge in puck possession and territorial play.  Through two games they've yet to score a first period goal while allowing one against.

Despite showing some rust at times, despite settling for a split, there was so much to like about what we saw from this young team over six plus periods.  Matt Rempe already wears the battle scars of a player who parks out in front of the opposing net.  At 6'8", 240 lbs., the New York Rangers prospect knows he has, as Liam Neesom would say, a particular set of skills.  Saturday night those skills led to his first goal of the season, off a tip of a point shot on the power play.  A tip of the hat to Portland goalie Dante Gianuzzi, who prevented Rempe from scoring a few more.  Gianuzzi won this battle, but the war continues.  

I don't know if it comes across as too much tooting the horn when it comes to the effusive praise given the young talent on this team but it was on full display this past weekend. 

We often say a team takes on the identity of it's coach.  The fact this team works hard for 60 minutes every game is a direct reflection of Matt O'Dette.  But General Managers are called the architects and Bil La Forge is the master planner behind this roster.  One of the cornerstones he laid was back in May of 2019, when on draft day he dealt Dillon Hamaliuk, Jake Lee and Cole Schwebius to the Kelowna Rockets.  

Among the pieces he got back was the Rockets 2019 first round pick.  It gave La Forge two selections in the first 10 picks.  He used his own pick, the eighth overall choice, on center Jordan Gustafson,  and with the 10th overall pick obtained from Kelowna, he chose defenseman Kevin Korchinski. Recall too, that back in January of that same year, at the league trade deadline, he had traded Zack Andrusiak to Everett for a second round pick.  He turned that pick into winger Gabe Ludwig. 

Now, if you were listening to the broadcast or watching the streaming of the first two games this weekend, you couldn't help but hear about or see those three player positively impact both games.  These three rookies played like seasoned vets.  All picked up their first career point.  Gustafson plays bigger then his 5'10" frame would suggest.  A prolific scorer at lower levels of hockey, he isn't afraid to get his nose dirty and I have no hesitation calling him a 200 foot player.  Through the first two games he's won 50 percent of his faceoffs (9 of 18).  He's already had an impact on the power play, registering an assist on each of Seattle's two power-play goals.

I hesitate to compare a young player to a former Thunderbirds player who has established himself as a top player in the NHL.  But there were a number of times this weekend when I watched Korchinski skate the puck out from behind the Seattle net and I had a "deja vu, flashback, where-have-I-seen-that-before" thought.  Let me stop and just call it hints of Shea Theodore because Korchinski is going to be his own player, but it was a bit eerie.  

Ludwig is a bundle of energy.  He's a pitbull with finesse.  He is speed and quickness on ice.  Think of a package that combines a little Scott Eansor, Nolan Volcan, Donovan Neuls and Sami Moilanen with potentially, a much higher ceiling.  I've always wanted to say this, but I heard from an unnamed source that NHL scouts like Seattle's draft class for this summer's NHL Draft, but they are really excited about the group that will be eligible for the 2022 NHL Draft.  

My Three Stars for opening weekend:

Third Star: Lots of players to choose from here.  That's how well I though the team showed.  From goalie Thomas Milic flashing terrific lateral movement in the crease to defenseman and newly minted captain Ty Bauer laying out to block numerous shots, there was so much good hockey to describe on the broadcasts.    

Four rookies earned their first points as T-Birds but my Third Star goes to Gustafson who earned two assists and showed he will be a force to reckon with on the T-Birds power play.  It says something about the coaches confidence in him that he was out there Friday night for much of the 3-on-3 overtime period.

Second Star: RW Keltie Jeri-Leon.  If not for hitting two posts Seattle's lone 20-year old on the roster may have had a four goal game opening night.  Instead he settled for two and added an assist for a three point weekend.  The coaching staff and front office rave about his character and leadership.  Talk to him for just five minutes and you'll understand why.  Just wait until the pandemic is over to do it though!

First Star:  C Henrik Rybinski.  The Florida Panthers prospect is back, baby!  I think Rybinski had a slightly off season a year ago.  But over the weekend he was the player Seattle got from Medicine Hat at the 2018-19 trade deadline.  He set the tone with his ferocious forecheck.  He was darting in and out of traffic with the puck, creating numerous scoring opportunities.  He won over 50% of his faceoffs (24/41).  A young team needs a veteran tone setter and this weekend, Rybinski was just that for Seattle. 

A Treasure Trove of Talent

First things first.  Woohooo!  Seattle Thunderbirds hockey is on its way back!  After getting approval from the State of Washington, the WHL announced this past week that the league's five U.S. Division teams will commence an abbreviated season March 19.  There is still a lot of work that needs to be done to get up and running, but the teams, the league and the State have come together to make this happen and that partnership will continue to ensure a safe and healthy campaign.

Most likely it will be a 24-game season.  We already know the games will be staying within the division.  A schedule will be announced later but some variation of the T-Birds playing each of their division rivals six times seems the most plausible.  There will be no fans allowed in any of the arenas but video and audio streaming services will be available. 

Now, you may be asking why go through all the trouble for just 24 games? It certainly won't be a profitable endeavor.  Simple answer?  For the players.  The Western Hockey League is one of the top development leagues when it comes to sending players on to the NHL.  It's the league's mission to develop players for the next level.  In fact, I'll take it one step further.  It is their promise to the players. 

A lost season is a lost year of development.  Even 24 games are critical for the players but especially those who are eligible for the next NHL Draft scheduled for this summer.  Seattle's roster is filled with players who fit that criteria.  At least eight Thunderbirds are first time draft eligible.  These 24 games could be the difference when it comes to being selected by one of the 32 NHL teams.

And there is talent to be found up and down a WHL roster.  The other night former T-Bird defenseman Austin Strand became the fifth member of the T-Birds 2017 WHL Championship roster to make his NHL debut when he stepped on the ice for the Los Angeles Kings.  Remember, Strand went undrafted by the NHL.  By playing as much as he did in the WHL though, he constantly had the eyes of the scouts on him and he eventually signed as a free agent with the Kings.  

Not only did Strand make his NHL debut that night, but so did another former WHL defenseman, one time Tri-City American Dylan Coghlan, who suited up for Vegas.  In fact every U.S. Division team, except Everett, had a former player on the ice in that LA versus Vegas matchup.  There was not just Strand and Coghlan, but Spokane's Jarret Anderson-Dolan played along side Strand with the Kings while former Portland Winterhawk Cody Glass scored a goal for the Golden Knights. 

We haven't even mentioned former T-Bird, and current Golden Knight, Shea Theodore was also on the ice while Strand's former teammate with the T-Birds, Keegan Kolesar, was a scratch.  T-Birds fans should remember the name Austin Wagner.  He played against Seattle in that 2017 WHL Final as a member of the Regina Pats.  He now plies his talents with LA.  Kale Clague?  A member of the Brandon Wheat Kings team that beat Seattle in 2016.  Now a member of the LA Kings.  

You want an example of just how deep the talent pool is in the WHL?  Let's time travel back to those back-to-back WHL Championship Series Seattle was a part of in 2016 and 2017.  Check the rosters of the three teams involved, Seattle, Brandon and Regina.  Combined, 15 players have played at least one NHL game now.  Seattle is represented by six names.  Strand joins, Mat Barzal, Ethan Bear, Landon Bow, Keegan Kolesar and Alexander True.  

Five players from the Brandon club that bested the T-Birds in the spring of 2016 have since skated in the NHL; Jayce Hawryluk, Nolan Patrick, Ivan Provorov, John Quennville and Clague.  And for Regina, the 2017 WHL runner-up?  Three other player besides Wagner, (Adam Brooks, Josh Mahura and Sam Steel), have suited up in the NHL.  

Quite a bit of NHL talent has put skates down on the ice at the accesso ShoWare Center in just the last decade plus, players like Brenden Dillon and Thomas Hickey.  And not just T-Birds players.  Just from the U.S. Division alone, we've been spoiled to see the likes of current Boston Bruin and former Tri-City American Brandon Carlo.   Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Carter Hart honed his skills with the Everett Silvertips.  Spokane produced New Jersey Devils defenseman Ty Smith while Columbus d-man Seth Jones helped lead the Winterhawks to a 2013 WHL title.  

Those players are just the tip of the iceberg. Many more have reached the NHL level and still more are playing in the AHL, ECHL or pro leagues overseas. Now, another batch of talented players are chomping at the bit to join them including the T-Birds own Conner Roulette.  But they need to play.  That is why you put together an abbreviated 24 game schedule; for the players. 

How Youth Doing?

My fingers have been crossed so long, hoping that we'll get even a shortened 24 game WHL season in at some point, that my hands are starting to look like lobster claws.  I'm an optimist, so I'll keep them crossed.

Meanwhile, as we wait, there have been a few roster moves made by the Thunderbirds recently and the moves point to what is not surprising.  The T-Birds are going to put whatever season unfolds in the hands of their young players.  The T-Birds were the youngest team in the WHL last season, as well as one of the youngest in the CHL, and the same could very well hold true for this season, should it unfold.

When the 2019-20 season abruptly ended last March, Seattle had three candidates who could potentially return to fill the three 20-year old slots for 2020-21; goaltender Roddy Ross, defenseman Owen Williams and winger Keltie Jeri-Leon.  Ross was dealt to Regina during the May WHL Bantam Draft, leaving two.  Recently General Manager Bil LaForge told mynorthwest.com's Andy Eide that the team has parted ways with Williams.  

That leaves just Jeri-Leon and I get the impression LaForge is just fine with that.  If there is going to be a season this winter/spring two dozen games doesn't leave a lot of time to evaluate the young talent.  To create more ice time for those young players, you don't crowd the field with veterans.  I fully expect the T-Birds to go with just one 20-year old on the roster.

Then Monday, in a swap of Imports, LaForge announced the trade of 19-year old Czech defenseman Simon Kubicek to the Edmonton Oil Kings for 19-year old forward Vladimir Alistrov of Belarus. Alistrov is currently playing in the KHL, so it is unclear if he will come to Seattle for a 24-game campaign.  

If Alistrov, who potted 19 goals for Edmonton last season, does report he will give the T-Birds some offensive punch and add to an age group (19-year olds) where the team is light.  It would also potentially put him in the mix for one of the 20-year old slots for the 2021-22 season.  Barring an offseason move the T-Birds would have four players in the mix for those spots, Alistrov, Henrik Rybinski, Cade McNelly and Ryan Gottfried.  

By moving Kubicek (and the earlier release of Williams), Seattle signaled that they want to give as much ice for this proposed 24 game schedule to their young defensemen.  Specifically they are saying three rookies, 16-year olds Kevin Korchinski and Spencer Penner along with 17-year old Jeremy Hanzel, will be a significant part of the rear guard. But it also indicates a level of trust in second year player, 18-year old Luke Bateman.  It gives him a chance to showcase himself in his first year of NHL Draft eligibility.  Even NHL drafted Tyrel Bauer is still relatively young at 18 as he enters his third season with the team. The 19-year old Gottfried would be in just his second season with the club.  Yep, at 19 that makes McNelly the grizzled vet of the group.

Not to be overlooked in the youth equation is Seattle's group of forwards.  Outside of the 20-year old Jeri-Leon and the 19-year old Florida Panthers prospect Rybinski, the T-Birds are very much a green group.  They have four 18-year olds in Jared Davidson, Matthew Rempe, Payton Mount and Brendan Williamson.  Only Davidson and Mount though, have played more then a full season at the WHL level. 

The bulk of the Seattle forward group will be composed of their 17-year olds.  All have played at least a few games of WHL hockey, but even those who were on the roster fulltime didn't get in a full rookie season due either to the pandemic, injury or both.  

It's a group that holds a lot of promise, led by a trio of player who have all been rated for the upcoming NHL Draft by NHL Central Scouting Service.  At the top of the list is Conner Roulette who could hear his name called in the first two rounds after being rated as an "A" Skater.  Kai Uchacz and Lucas Ciona, each with a "C" rating, are right behind him.  The others in that 2003 born group who will fight for ice time this season are Mekai Sanders, Reid Schaefer and and Sam Popowich.  

Meanwhile at least a couple of 16-year old forwards will be heard from as well.  2019 first round draft pick Jordan Gustafson made his WHL debut with Seattle last season while second round selection Gabe Ludwig, who signed with the T-Birds last spring, should make his Seattle debut if and when the season commences.  There are so many young forwards battling for ice time that it most likely means that another signed 2019 draft pick, Nico Myatovic, will probably have to wait until next season to be added to the mix.  

So, if there is going to be a season, the average age of the players on the current 23-man T-birds roster will be 17.5 years old, and feature nine rookies and nine second year players.  Youth will be served.

One final note on Simon Kubicek.  Last summer he sent me a text.  He wanted to know the proper spelling for Kubi-dooby-doo!  He was planning on getting a tattoo.  Then, early Tuesday, the day after he was traded, I got another text from him.  He wanted to thank me for the nickname, I suppose, and his father wanted to thank me as well.  Dad stayed up late listening to a lot of T-Birds games online from his home in the Czech Republic.  I asked him about the tattoo.  Unfortunately, because of Covid, he said he hasn't been able to get it yet but he promised to send a picture when he does.  And when he does, I'll pass it along.  Kubi-dooby-doo!

Swing for the Fences

Let's start off with a big congratulations to Tyrel Bauer and Matt Rempe who were chosen with back-to-back selections in the sixth round of last week's NHL Draft. Bauer went first, chosen by the Winnipeg Jets and Rempe followed, taken by the New York Rangers.   They were a couple of well earned selections.  

Lost in the excitement of these two Thunderbirds players being selected was the fact that there were actually four, one time, T-birds draft picks chosen in the draft.  It may seem confusing because other current, first time draft eligible, Thunderbirds such as Simon Kubicek, Cade McNelly and Blake Lyda were bypassed in the draft.  But look closer and you will see that, not only were there two other players with T-bird ties taken, but they were selected fairly high.  

Of course I'm speaking of the last two players Seattle selected in a CHL Import Draft; Tim Stutzle and Samuel Knazko.  The T-birds picked Germany's Stutzle in the 2019 Import Draft.  With their lone 2020 Import selection, Seattle chose Knazko, who hails from Slovakia.  Stutzle was the third player picked in Round One of last week's NHL draft and is headed to the Ottawa Senators.  Knazko went in the third round, 78th overall, to the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Now the ship has already sailed on Stutzle ever putting on the T-birds jersey.  Seattle relinquished his rights last October after he opted to play professionally in his native Germany.  Knazko is a different story.  The T-birds still hope to convince the Slovakian defenseman to come play with them, whenever this season gets underway.  It may still be a longshot but the T-birds have his CHL rights.  

I know what you're thinking,  It looks good on paper to say Seattle selected these two players who went high in the NHL Draft,  but if neither of them ever play as T-birds, weren't those just wasted picks?  My answer to that is no because nothing ventured nothing gained.  You really don't lose anything if the player doesn't sign so, no harm, no foul.    

It also speaks to the philosophy of T-birds General Manager Bil LaForge when it comes to the Import Draft; go big or go home.  Stutzle and Knazko were LaForge's first ever Import Draft selections.  It's hard to argue, talent wise, that he isn't 2-for-2 with his choices.  While he was technically the T-birds GM when Seattle selected Andrej Kukuca and Kubicek in the 2018 Import Draft, he had been on the job for less then a month and let outgoing GM Russ Farwell and the T-birds scouts, who had been doing the prep work for that draft, handle those two picks.  

Remember, Import players are not a requirement on a CHL roster.  It's a great way to supplement the talent you have but not a necessity.  So when making his Import picks, LaForge isn't going to choose a player just to have an Import on the team.  He wants impact players. 

To bring a player over from Europe he wants someone who can fit into his top six forward group, preferably someone who can play on his top line.  Who was Seattle's leading scorer last season?  Kukuca,   Or he wants a defenseman who will be in his top four on the back end, realistically someone who will play in his top pairing.  That defines Kubicek,  And if he ever drafts a European goalie, you can bet it is with that player being his number one netminder in mind.  

Had Stutzle reported, no question he would have been the best forward on the team last season.  Sure, from a fan's standpoint it is disappointing that Stutzle turned down the offer.  How great would that have been to watch, if only for one season, a player who would go third overall in the NHL Draft, even if you only had him for one season.  But his reporting to Seattle was always a longshot.  

And if a third round NHL selection such as Knazko comes over, I'd be surprised if he wasn't on the top pairing defensive tandem.  Seattle has accumulated a bevy of talented players from Western Canada and the U.S. over the past couple of years.  Those young players need ice time.  There is no way the T-birds can afford to give third and fourth line minutes or third pairing defenseman ice time to an Import player. It would stunt the growth of all those recently drafted and signed players. 

So, late next June or early July, whenever the next CHL Import Draft rolls around, don't be surprised if LaForge and the T-birds are selecting high end European talent on par with Stutzle and Knazko.  The next step will be getting them to come over and play for the T-birds, turning that swing for the fences, into a grand slam.  

Fall in Line

Normally we'd be one week into the new WHL season and scouts would be travelling into Kent to view a host of Seattle Thunderbirds eligible for the 2021 NHL Draft. But, as has been noted on many occassions over the past seven months, these are not normal times. If they were, we would have witnessed the 2020 NHL Draft three months ago. But because of our circumstances that draft was delayed until early October. 

It's meant a half dozen first time draft eligible T-birds have had an extended wait to see if they'll hear their name called by one of the 31 NHL teams who will participate in the selection process. Not all six players will be selected. In fact there is no guarentee any of them will be chosen over the course of the seven rounds. But Seattle does possess some intriguing prospects who will get considerable consideration. So when the two day virtual draft rolls around, listen carefully to see if you hear the names Bauer, Kubicek, McNelly, Rempe, Lyda or Mount. 

Of those six players, three made it onto NHL Central Scouting's final rankings for the draft, Bauer, Kubicek and Lyda. All are considered late round prospects but it only takes one team to fall in love with your skill set and your potential, to pull the trigger and call your name. Is their a safe pick among the six eligible T-birds? At the moment I'd say none of them possess the high end skill of a Mat Barzal or a Shea Theodore, two recent Thunderbirds who were first round NHL selections and led their respective NHL clubs on deep playoff runs this summer. 

All six have areas in their game that will need improving if they are to get to hockey's highest level. But one thing all of them possess that you can't teach, with the exception of Mount, is size. Mount is 5'9". Of the other five prospects no one is shorter then 6'2" with Rempe measuring in, at last check, at 6'8". 

Three of the draft eligible players are defensemen. Seattle has a decent recent track record of producing d-men who get drafted or sign pro deals, including the aforementioned Theodore along with Ethan Bear and Austin Strand, to mane a few. The current crop of draft eligible d-man, Bauer, McNelly and Kubicek, all bring a physical element to their game. While many see the game evolving into a more skilled contest, just watching this summer's Stanley Cup Playoffs shows the physical aspect of the game is still extremely important. So much of the work necessary to win is done along the boards, in the corners or in front of the net. 

Of those three Bauer is probably the most well rounded player at the moment and comes with built in leadership. His lack of offensive numbers may hurt his draft stock but he has so many other desired intangibles. 

Kubicek is probably more of the offensive defenseman. I think he projects out to someone who can be an important power play piece. Maybe not on a first unit but h e has some upside in that area. He was a little hot and cold with the T-birds last season, but again, that's why he is considered more of a middle to late round prospect. 

Maybe the sleeper in that threesome is McNelly. Playing a physical brand of hockey will never be his problem. He plays with too much emotion at times, which I think even he would admit he has to tone down. We've seen glimpses of an offensive game. When he does shoot, he has shown an ability to get pucks on net. The question out there is do NHL teams beleive that can be developed into a more consistent part of his game? McNelly is that kind of player where a lot of teams may not even have him on their board but there are one or two teams that just love him enough they could take a late round flyer on him. I don't know how player interviews were conducted for this draft, over the phone or over video, but I'd put money on McNelly acing that part of the process. 

Many were surprised when the seldom used Blake Lyda made Central Scoutings final North American goalie rankings. I wasn't. T-birds GM Bil LaForge told me he was getting calls on Lyda well before those rankings were published. A couple of times before laast season abruptly shutdown I saw Lyda outside the T-birds room postgame, being interviewed by an NHL scout. Projecting goalies might be one of the hardest scouting jobs in hockey. They all seem to develop at a slower pace then skaters. I think part of that is that 16 and 17 year old goalies in the WHL traditionally don't see a lot of ice as they sit behind a 19 or 20 year old. So whether he gets drafted or not, Lyda is on a lot of radars. Ignore his numbers. Hard to be consistent between the pipes when you are playing once every two to three weeks. There was a stretch last season where he got to play 2-3 times in a week and his numbers were solid. At 6'2" he has the length NHL teams now covet in metminders. He needs to fill out his frame then show what he can do with more consistent playing time. 

The most shocking omission for me when it comes to those Central Scouting rankings, was forward Matt Rempe. And I don't mean the most shocking T-birds ommission. I mean of all the player who were listed from North America and Europe, I can't fathom how they could not find a spot for a guy who is 6'8", can skate like he's 6'1" and projects to fill out to about 240-250 lbs. if not bigger. After starting last season on the sidelines he ended up putting up 31 points (12g, 19a) in 47 games. For a roster where a double digit plus/minus was more the rule then the exception, he finished at just -1. 

Maybe scouts just looked at his stat sheet and saw there were no long scoring streaks or big offensive games. But last season was his first at the WHL level and he had to get going without much benefit from a training camp or preseason. Then he had to work his way into the lineup, starting on the fourth line and moving up. By season's end he was one of Seattle's most reliable players. 

They don't play the same position but watching the NHL postseason I've been keeping an eye on defenseman Jamie Oleksiak of the Dallas Stars. Physically Oleksiak is where Rempe could be in a few years. The Dallas d-man is listed at 6'7", 255 lbs. Like Oleksiak, Rempe also has sisters who compete or competed at a high level. Okeksiak's younger sister Penny is a multiple medal winning Olympic swimmer. Rempe has twin older sisters who played NCAA hockey for Brown University. I also believe Rempe is using the Central Scouting snub as a motivator. He's been using the offseason, focused on training to take his game to a higher level.

Mount's size and a bit of an injury history may work against him.  He might be someone, like Matt Wedman who will need 3-4 seasons in the WHL before he gets the attention of the scouts at the next level.  In a few years Seattle will have a group that has grown together and should be competing for banners and Cups.  he could be the leader of that group and that could help his stock.