Reply To: Diary of a Season 2011-2012: The Plan

[hockeygod]

Here's a Junior hockey perspective on planning. They are operating on a 3-4 year 'cycle' where in minor hockey, it is year to year or a 2-year cycle, at best.

Soetaert admits it's time to rebuild Silvertips
After a lackluster 2010-11 campaign, the Tips' GM says it's time to get back to basics and build for the long term.

By Nick Patterson, Herald writer Published: Sunday, April 3, 2011

EVERETT — The term "rebuilding" has been taboo in these parts since the Everett Silvertips began play in 2003. From Day 1 Everett announced its intention to be as competitive as possible each and every year, with making the playoffs the minimum requirement.

It's an indication of Everett's situation that Tips general manager Doug Soetaert is finally willing to utter the "R" word.

Coming off a disappointing 2010-11, the Tips are admitting the 2011-12 season will be a rebuilding one in Everett.

"We've been reloading and reloading and reloading every year because we wanted to make the playoffs," said Soetaert, who acknowledged over-projecting this season's team. "But at some point in time it was going to catch up to us, and honestly it's caught up to us. So the new word is 'rebuilding,' not 'reloading.'

"We're all on the same page. The owners, Craig (Hartsburg, Everett's coach), myself, we're all on the same page with what has to be done here."

The Tips are coming off a disappointing season in which they went 28-33-7-4, finished eighth in the Western Conference and were swept by Portland in the first round of the playoffs.

With the limited resources at the team's disposal for next season, the Tips are gearing up for the long term rather than the short term.

"We're going to have to battle next year to make the playoffs," Soetaert said. "But there's a light at the end of the tunnel. I like what we've got with our young guys who were here this year. We'll be hard working. That's what we want, a team that shows that consistent work ethic."

With the rebuild comes a different philosophy in how to assemble a roster. This season's team included several core players who were acquired via trade within the past 18 months, including its captain (Landon Ferraro) and all three overagers (Clayton Cumiskey, Chad Suer, Parker Stanfield). Going forward the Tips are committed to building from within and re-establishing their own brand.

"We can't continue to bring other people's players in to win a championship every year," Soetaert said. "It catches up to you. You have to get back to creating your identity and bringing your players through your system."

Everett has two tremendous pieces to begin the building process in defenseman Ryan Murray and goaltender Kent Simpson. Murray, who will be an 18-year-old, is already being talked about as a top-10 pick in the 2012 NHL draft. Simpson, who will be 19, should be a rock in net in his second season as the outright No. 1, especially after weathering the adjustment to full-time duties and emerging stronger.

But where will the goals come from? Everett finished dead last in the Western Conference in goals this season with 171. Winger Tyler Maxwell, Everett's lone consistent source of offense this season with 41 goals, should be back as an overager. But there isn't a whole lot beyond that, and the Tips don't have the kind of can't-miss offensive prospects one can expect to make an immediate impact upon arriving in the WHL.

The Tips are hoping an attitude adjustment can help compensate.

"We just have to come together as a group and really be determined as a group to want to win," Simpson said. "Not that we didn't want to win this year, but I think sometimes we had lapses in our dedication to wanting to be an outstanding team, and bringing that every day. I think next year we're going to be expected to work every day we're at the rink. The coaches made it clear that next year is going to be an improvement from this year, and that will be something to look forward to."

Soetaert said all of Everett's returning players, beyond a select few, will be auditioning to retain roster spots.

Everett has six returning players eligible for the three overage roster spots. Soetaert said Maxwell and defenseman Brennan Yadlowski would likely occupy two of those. Ferraro and defenseman Rasmus Rissanen both are strong candidates to play professionally next season, but could be returned. Forwards Josh Birkholz and Scott MacDonald are the others in contention.

As for newcomers, the status of Everett's highest-profile prospect is still up in the air. Defenseman Seth Jones, a first-round bantam pick in 2009 and the son of former NBA player Popeye Jones, is currently playing for the U.S. National Team Development Program. He has yet to commit either to the Tips or an NCAA school.

Everett has a large number of other 1994-born prospects — 17-year-olds next season — in its system who will be among the candidates for the rebuild. Forwards Kohl Bauml and Jordyn Boyd, defenseman Darian Henry and goaltender Andy Desautels have already signed education contracts with the Tips, with Boyd and Desautels each making their WHL debuts this season during call-ups. Others in the mix include wingers Carson Samoridny and Trent Lofthouse.

Among Everett's 1995-born prospects, center Ryan Chynoweth, the team's top bantam pick from 2010 who's also signed, is the most-likely player to make the team as a 16-year-old.

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