A LOOK AT THE CENTRAL DIVISION’S OVERAGE & IMPORT SITUATIONS
Calgary Hitmen
First off we look at departing 20-year-olds from last year.
Moving On
- F Jackson Houck
- D Keegan Kanzig
- D Colby Harmsworth
The Hitmen no doubt take the biggest hit on the back end, losing both big rig Kanzig and captain Harmsworth. Although, it should be said, Houck was a big part of Calgary’s offence last season, recording over 50 points.
The 20s (max of 3)
The Hitmen had five 19-year-olds on the roster last season.
F Radel Fazleev (IMPORT) (2014, PHI 6th Rd)- F Tyler Mrkonjic 1
- F Taylor Sanheim 2
D Travis Sanheim (2014, PHI 1st Rd)- D Michael Zipp 3
Calgary might have the easiest 20 situation in the league. The two they lose will not be by choice. Both Travis Sanheim and Fazleev will very very likely be in Lehigh Valley this season with the Phantoms, Philadelphia’s AHL affiliate. That means their three overagers will be Mrkonjic, Taylor Sanheim and Zipp.
Imports (max of 2)
F Pavel Karnakhov (BEL)F Radel Fazleev (RUS) (O/A)- D Vladislav Yeryomenko (BEL) 1
- F Andrei Grishakov (RUS) 2
With Karnakhov rumoured to be headed to the KHL, Calgary will run Yeryomenko and Grishakov as imports.
Edmonton Oil Kings
Moving On
- F Brandon Baddock
- F Luke Bertolucci
- D Ben Carroll
Edmonton has made some interesting decisions the past two seasons. Despite being clearly out of contention the past two years, they elected to stand pat and not move any assets at the January 10 trade deadline. The Oil Kings lose two veteran forwards and a strong D-man.
The 20s
Last year, the OKs had eight 19-year-olds on the roster, one of which — goaltender Payton Lee — was traded in the offseason to Kootenay.
F Brett Pollock (2014, DAL 2nd Rd)- F Lane Bauer ?
- F Tyler Robertson 1
- F Dario Meyer (IMPORT) ?
- D Aaron Irving (2014, NSH 6th Rd – UNSIGNED) ?
D Dysin Mayo (2014, AZ 5th Rd)- G Alec Dillon (2014, LA 5th Rd – UNSIGNED) 2
Edmonton’s chickens have come home to roost (“Wolf of Wall Street” reference — win). They find themselves with a mess of overagers this year and need to make some difficult decisions. In my mind, Pollock and Mayo will both be in the AHL this year, but that still leaves five 20s returning. To me, Bauer and Irving are the most marketable assets that could help a contender make a run. Their value now is significantly less than it was in January 2016, but they’re still marketable. To me, Dillon is just not a piece that teams will look to upgrade with,so I think he stays in Edmonton until he has proven he can stay healthy. Meyer may also be interesting; he had 26 points last season and is a two-spotter because he is also an import. In a best-case scenario, the Oil Kings can bring in picks and prospects for both Bauer and Irving in separate deals, leaving Meyer, Robertson and Dillon as this year’s overagers.
Imports
- F Dario Meyer (SUI) (O/A)
- D Elizarov Anatolli (RUS)
F Artyom Baltruk (RUS)
The Oil Kings have the same imports as 2015–16.
Kootenay Ice
Moving On
- F Jaedon Descheneau
- D Tanner Lishchynsky
- G Wyatt Hoflin
The Ice went most of last year without Descheneau due to injury anyway. Lishchynsky, a 20-point defencemen and Hoflin, who stole more than a few games last year, move on.
The 20s
The Ice had four 19-year-olds last season. In the off-season they acquired goalie Payton Lee from Edmonton, who is an overager this year.
- F Matt Alfaro 3
F Zak Zborosky- D Nathan Mortlock 2
G Keelan Williams- G Payton Lee 1
The easiest guy out here is the weaker of the two goalies, Keelan Williams. You’d figure the Ice wouldn’t trade for Lee if they hadn’t intended to use him, so I think he gets a spot. For the other two, it’s difficult to say. Alfaro and Zborosky are both pretty marketable assets (more so Zborosky). So if they both find themselves on the way out, it’s possible Kootenay rolls with just two overagers this year. My bet is Zborosky is dealt and Alfaro spends one last year in Cranbrook.
Imports
F Roman Dymachek (CZE)D Mario Grman (SVK)F Klim Kostin (RUS)- D Nikita Radzivilyuk (RUS) 1
According to sources, Kostin will not be in Cranbrook this year. The Ice may just have one import in Radzivilyuk.
Lethbridge Hurricanes
Moving On
- F Cory Millette
- F Justin Gutierrez
- D Arvin Atwal
The ‘Canes lose 64-point forward Cory Millette and a strong leadership piece in Gutierrez, but the biggst loss is 50-point D-man Atwal.
The 20s
Lethbridge had seven 19-year-olds last year. They traded goalie Jayden Sittler at the bantam draft to Spokane.
- F Riley Lindgren 1
F Carter Folk- F Tyler Wong 2
F Ben Duperrault- D Kord Pankewicz 3
D Andrew Nielsen (2014, TOR 2nd Rd)
The ‘Canes will lose Nielsen, who was named the Maple Leafs prospect of the year last year, perhaps to the big club. If not, Nielsen will be with the AHL Marlies for sure. It’s a safe bet the Hurricanes will return captain Wong for his overage year, along with 50-point forward Lindgren. It would also make sense to see a defencemen take an O/A spot, so count Pankewicz in.
Imports
- D Igor Merezhko (UKR)
- F Egor Babenko (RUS)
Imports will be the same for Lethy this season.
Medicine Hat Tigers
Moving On
- F Brian Williams
- F Ty Stanton
- G Mack Shields
The biggest losses this year are goalie Shields and defenceman Stanton.
The 20s
The Tigers finished last year with five 19-year-olds.
- F Chad Butcher 1
F Alex Mowbray- F Steven Owre 2
- D Clayton Kirichenko 3
D Connor Clouston
It’s really simple here, they just have to drop two. Kirichekno was a 20-point D-man so he stays. Owre has been a staple in Med Hat’s forward group for years and Butcher had a 74-point season. The Tigers may elect to move Butcher, but I think they’ll be a little stronger this year in a weaker Central Division. I think they’ll go with Butcher, Owre and Kirichenko.
Imports
- F John Dahlstrom (SWE) 1
- D Kritians Rubins (LAT) 2
Alexei Plotonov only played 2 games in the Hat before heading back to Europe last year. The Tigers picked two older players, Dahlstrom and Rubins (both ’97s), in this year’s import draft, leading me to believe they will both play. The vast majority of players selected this year were ’99s.
Red Deer Rebels
Moving On
- F Adam Helewka
- F Luke Philp
- D Kayle Doetzel
The Rebels ramped up for hosting last year’s Memorial Cup and now lose a lot of players. Helewka was among the best in the playoffs and Doetzel was likely their best defenceman. The Rebels also lose their captain, Philp.
The 20s
There were nine 19s last year in Red Deer. It’ll help that a lot will take the next step to the pros.
F Conner Bleackley (2014, COL 1st Rd – 2016, STL 5th Rd)- F Evan Polei 3
F Ivan Nikolishin (IMPORT)F Jake DeBrusk (2014, BOS 1st Rd)- D Colton Bobyk 2
D Nelson Nogier (2014, WPG 4th Rd)D Haydn Fleury (2014, CAR 1st Rd)- G Trevor Martin ?
- G Rylan Toth ?
At Rebels camp, I learned that Bleackley and Nikolishin will not be returning. Toth and Martin will be left to battle for the final overage spot as Polei and Bobyk will occupy the other two.
Imports
F Ivan Nikolishin (RUS) (O/A) ?- F Michael Spacek (CZE) 1
- D Alex Alexeyev (RUS) 2
Nikolishin will play in Europe this year, leaving Alexeyev to join Spacek.
