Chris Mast

Everett Silvertips satisfied with current import situation

 

In a world desperate for sports, the 2020 CHL Important Draft is another event off of the calendar. Overall, WHL teams selected 25 players. Tri-City, Calgary, Swift Current, Vancouver, and Winnipeg took advantage of both opportunities to grab players. On the other hand, Portland and the Everett Silvertips deemed it unnecessary to select any import players.

In the CHL, each team can have only two import players. Deciding to pass on both picks in the import draft not only means a team is satisfied with the two players presently on the roster. It also means they are confident that both of those individuals will return for the upcoming season. Luckily, the Silvertips are fortunate to have two quality young men inhabiting those two import spots.

Kasper Puutio

Of Everett’s two import players, Puutio comes with both the most intrigue and uncertainty. First off, the Finnish blueliner began his WHL career elsewhere. Swift Current chose Puutio just one year ago, taking him first overall in the 2019 CHL Import Draft. However, his tenure with the Broncos lasted only 35 games before they shipped him to Everett in a trade. Puutio fit in immediately with his new team, registering 12 points in 21 games. Additionally, he played a crucial role in Everett’s ascension to the number two spot in the Western Conference.

Kasper Puutio (photo-David Zammit)

There’s no denying Puutio’s importance to the future of Everett. With two significant pieces on the blue line turning pro, the Silvertips are relying on him to assist in filling the void created by the departures of Wyatte Wylie and Jake Christiansen. The team hopes that his point total will increase significantly in year two in a sturdier situation after posting 28 points in his rookie campaign. Unfortunately, the verdict is still out on whether he will return to the WHL next season. Although the expectation throughout the Silvertips organization is that Puutio will be back in Everett next season, he also signed a professional contract with Karpat in Finland. Of course, this does not mean he’s required to play in Finland next season, and Everett appears confident he won’t. Still, at this juncture, completely ignoring the possibility is foolish.

Michal Gut

Gut, the second of Everett’s two import players, is primed and ready for his second go-round with the Silvertips. Everett took the Czech forward 57th overall in last year’s import draft, and he has made an immediate impact with the club. Gut took little time making his presence known in Everett, scoring his first goal in just his second game and recording a three-point outing the following day. In total, he ranked ninth among WHL rookies with 36 points in 51 games.

Similar to Puutio, Gut represents the new wave of players Everett counts on to keep the team as one of the squads to beat in the West. As long as he continues trending in the right direction in terms of development, he is certainly worth an import spot for the Silvertips.

Michal Gut (Photo by Christopher Mast/Icon Sportswire)

Silvertips make the correct move

Yes, participating in any sort of draft is always tempting for every organization. New faces bring new opportunities and possibly new heights. However, there comes a time when consistency and satisfaction with the current situation are essential. The Silvertips already possess two top-notch import players that continue to trend in the right direction. Yes, Puutio returning to Finland is always a risk. At the same time, all signs point to him returning to Everett, and the Silvertips are right to trust that it is happening.

As previously mentioned, the graduating players have left some big shoes to fill on this roster. Puutio and Gut are the right men to fill those voids, leaving Everett without the need for the import draft this year.