Checking in on the Silvertips in the NHL
A GLIMPSE AT THE EVERETT ALUM WHO ARE PLAYING AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL
Radko Gudas - Ducks
The former Import pick has gone a long way since his lone season in the Green and Gray. After three seasons grinding in the American Hockey League - Gudas got the call up to the NHL and has stayed up ever since. He’s bounced around to five different teams - but has logged 829 NHL games and has made an impact in Anaheim where he is sticking around. A man whose made a name for himself as a bone-crushing hit delivering defenseman and ruthless fighter, Gudas has added legit stay-at-home defense skills as his pro career has progressed - as seen by his +91 all time plus minus in the NHL, despite playing on some poor teams. Gudas’s intangibles are also apparent, as he was named the Captain of the Anaheim Ducks prior to last season. Under Gudas’s captaincy, the young and rebuilding Ducks jumped 21 points from their last season - and look like a dark horse to make the playoffs this year under new Head Coach Joel Quenville.
Jake Christiansen - Blue Jackets
*Pictured Above
If you have been a Silvertips fan for a decent bit, you remember how good Jake Christiansen was. From logging solid minutes starting his 17 year old season - to that dominant 20 year old year where he returned halfway through the season and had 22 goals in 38 games - a blistering pace for a defenseman, he was always a fan favorite. Despite this, Christiansen was never drafted - but quickly caught on with the Columbus organization shortly after completing his overage season in Everett. He spent two full seasons in the AHL before getting a taste of NHL action. He spent the next three years splitting time between AHL Cleveland and the Blue Jackets - playing in 44 NHL games in those three years. Finally last season - Christiansen got his chance to play a full season - skating in 68 games for the Blue Jackets. Fourth on the team in plus-minus from defensemen- Christiansen performed well for his first full year in the NHL and was rewarded with a two-year NHL contract worth nearly two million dollars this offseason.
Dustin Wolf - Flames
Just missing out on the Calder Trophy for best rookie during last year’s campaign - Wolf’s NHL success surprised exactly zero Silvertips fans who watched him dominate the WHL. The fact that Everett had the best goalie in all of junior hockey for 7 straight years might never be matched again - and Dustin Wolf becoming one of the best young goalies in hockey has definitely been an interesting journey. In Carter Hart’s last season, when he missed an extended period of time - the Tips tried a variety of backup goalies - none of whom were good (or even servicable). The last goalie they called up was a scrawny 16 year old goalie from California. Little did they know that would be a franchise altering decision. Wolf started 149 games in the Green and Gray and had 106 wins a .935 SV% and a 1.84 GAA. Despite this, he was nearly the last pick in the draft - but got to work and dominated the AHL winning Goalie of the Year twice and League MVP. Finally this season with a chance to prove himself - Wolf excelled in the NHL nearly single-handidly willing the BAD Calgary Flames to within one point of the playoffs. The second-place Calder Trophy getter received a handsome contract this offseason from the Flames - who extended him for seven years as their primary goaltender. Wolf will be a staple in one of the most iconic jerseys in the league for a long time.
Connor Dewar - Penguins
The former Silvertips captain finally looks like he has a full time home in Pittsburgh. Dewar was a third round draft pick after a solid junior career that saw the Captain center the #1 line on one of the best teams in the Western Conference. A great all-around player - Dewar quickly made it to the NHL with the Minnesota Wild as a fourth liner and penalty killer. After a season and a half there - he was dealt to Toronto to try and add a 200 foot presence and penalty killer they desperately needed- but his time in Toronto never really got going due to injuries. This past season after having been dealt to Pittsburgh - Dewar had his first healthy and stable off-season in a long time and looks poised to potentially nab the #3 Centerman role behind two Hall of Famers in Crosby and Malkin. He has played in a total 251 NHL games, and has now been traded for by now-Penguins GM Kyle Dubas twice.
Noah Juulsen - Flyers
Juulsen has made an impressive return and recovery from two major injuries to become a solid NHL role player. One of the higher draft picks to come out of Everett - Juulsen was dealt a really tough hand after his Everett career with two substantial injuries that both changed his body moving forward and took away crucial development years. But after being a journeyman for the first part of his injury-ridden pro career - Juulsen caught on with the Canucks - especially the last two seasons playing in 91 games in the two seasons as their 7th defenseman. Head Man Rick Tocchet always spoke glowingly about Juulsen’s hard-hitting aggressive nature from the blue line, and their connection came through when Juulsen followed Tocchet to Philly when he signed a one-year deal with the Flyers this offseason shortly following Tocchet’s hiring. Despite the Flyers depth of defensemen - expect Juulsen to be carried on the Flyer’s active roster due to his connection with Tocchet and his system.
Gage Goncalves - Lightning
Gage Goncalves has one of the wackier WHL careers. If I would have told you the seventeen year old who scored one goal in his WHL Rookie season (67 games) would be lighting the lamp playing with Kucherov just six seasons later - it would have been hard to believe. While Goncalves jump from 1 goal to 33 and becoming a second round pick was not “expected” it made a lot of sense. He went from playing on lines with fourth liners (on the 2018 top-heavy team) to playing with Fonstad, Berezowski and Kindopp. Goncalves 19 year old season was largely non-existent due to Covid - but he put up decent enough stats over three and a half seasons in the AHL to earn a callup - and though he was sent back down in the middle of this season - played a key role in the Lightning’s stretch run this year. He finished the season with 8 goals, but added a playoff goal - and looks secure in his spot in the NHL moving forward after signing a two year extension worth 2.5 million a year.
Ollen Zellweger - Ducks
No Kamloops - you don’t get to claim Zellweger as yours. A rare two-time Team Canada World Juniors skater- Zellweger has a case for most dominant Tips player we’ve ever seen. There were times where Zellweger looked like his opponents were Jr. B players with how much faster and quicker he was than them. His smooth skating, elite passing, and great shot led him to be a high second round pick - and he basically went straight from the dub to the NHL. It hasn’t been smooth sailing in Anaheim for numerous reasons: coaching turnover, lack of surrounding skill, healthy scratches - but Zellweger has 88 NHL games under his belt, a veteran and proven NHL coach coming in, and a chip on his shoulder to stick in the league. I expect a break out season from the Calgary Kid.
NOTE - Ronan Seeley is on the cusp of cracking the Hurricanes roster. Seeley has been right there numerous times but hasn’t been able to break camp with the talented Hurricanes squad. Best of luck to Ronan in Raleigh.
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On Tap in The Tips Jar
Friday - 9/27 & 28 Weekend Preview
Sunday Morning - Wenatchee Game 2 Article
Monday Morning - Portland Game 3 Article