What defines an offensive-defenseman? The answer seems like a simple one. An offensive-defenseman is a blueliner able to contribute in the offensive aspects of the game. This, obviously, should be measured by the number of points a defenseman obtains throughout his career. However, it is not that simple. As every hockey fan knows, total points include both goals and assists. In terms of offense, goals outweigh the number of helpers a player registers. If a blueliner posts 150 points in their four-year WHL career and 10 of them are goals, does that make them an offensive-defenseman? Not really. Yes, those assists might demonstrate offensive capability, but at the same time, they might not. Goals, on the other hand, shed a little more light in terms of offensive skill. Luckily, the Silvertips have possessed their fair share of goal-scoring defensemen.
Before we dive into our top-five, let’s establish some ground rules. For a blueliner to qualify, they must have played three or more seasons in Everett. Off of the hop, that eliminates names such as John Dahl and Mitch Love. Both players tallied a respectable amount of goals, but neither of them played over two seasons. For the defensemen that met the criteria, games played a factor. For example, Kevin Davis, who registered the fourth-most goals among Everett blueliners, did not qualify because he played far more games than any other player in contention. To sum it up, all five players below had lengthy tenures with the Silvertips while producing a solid goals-per-game average.
Let’s get on with the top 5 offensive-defensemen in Silvertips history.
5. Ryan Murray
Now manning the blueline for the Columbus Blue Jackets, offense is not a significant part of Murray’s game anymore. However, in his time with Everett, the former NHL first-round pick contributed as a skilled passer and playmaker with an effective shot.
Through a span of five seasons, Murray registered 22 goals and 99 assists in 191 games. He never reached double digits in single-season goal numbers; however, he ranks eighth in career goals scored for Everett defensemen, playing in fewer games than all but one player ahead of him. As far as points go, he ranks fifth, playing in fewer contests than all of those ahead of him.
4. Wyatte Wylie
After two so-so campaigns, Wylie came into his own and became a reliable contributor from the blueline. This past season, the Philadelphia Flyers prospect recorded the second-most points among WHL defensemen with 64. Additionally, he posted the fourth-most points on his team. Of course, when you’re talking all-time, one season is only going to get you so far. That is not a problem for Wylie, who ranks second all-time among Silvertips defensemen in career goals and is tied for second in career points.
3. Shaun Heshka
Heshka makes it third on the list because he is the only defenseman of this group to accomplish what he did in just three seasons. Every other player on this list played parts of five seasons with the Silvertips. That being said, Murray still played fewer games. Yet, in his 204 games, Heshka scored 25 goals and added 82 assists.
After scoring just three goals in his first campaign, Heshka cashed in 12 and 10 respectively the next two seasons. Placing him above Murray and Wylie was not an easy decision to make, especially when it came to Wylie, whose offensive impact was felt so recently. However, when it came down to it, the fact that Heshka played in 68 fewer games gave him the slight edge.
2. Noah Juulsen
Juulsen at number two may surprise some. Recency bias always plays and factor and it is challenging to picture him ahead of offensively gifted blueliners that played in Everett last season. Nevertheless, Juulsen provided stellar offensive production for the Silvertip during his tenure.
In 240 games, the Montreal Canadiens prospect obtained 30 goals and 94 points. He ranks third all-time in goals and fourth on the team in points. Interestingly, he managed to reach these feats while playing at least 32 fewer games than the individuals ahead of him.
1. Jake Christiansen
Christiansen is the benefactor of a remarkable 2019-20 campaign with the Silvertips. Although he scored almost half of his career goals this past season (22), it’s hard not to honor someone that led all WHL defensemen in tallies. No blueliner in Silvertips history comes close to his 50 goals and his 102 assists help him tie for second in points.
Christiansen possessed offensive explosiveness rarely seen among Silvertips defensemen in the franchise’s existence. Dahl is the only individual that bested his single-season goal number and he, unfortunately, did not qualify for this list. When you factor in the necessity to remain a presence with a particular organization in order to make an all-time list, there’s no better offensive-defenseman in Everett than Jake Christiansen.
