Monday 6 February 2017

The Ghost of Kyle Beach

"I don't think we're sacrificing our future."

Those were the words from Hurricanes GM Roy Stasiuk when he announced a blockbuster involving the Everett Silvertips just after New Year's Day 2009.

The Hurricanes were looking to get some size and picked up an NHL first round pick in Kyle Beach. They also grabbed Mike Alexander in exchange for Alex Theriau, Dan Iwanski and a first round bantam draft pick in 2009.

And as you may have guessed, those words are coming back to bite Stasiuk. Because here we are, nearly eight years later, and the ripple effects are still being felt.

Beach would eventually be shipped out to Spokane for Mike Reddington and Landon Oslanski. Both had decent years in Lethbridge, while Beach is now in Austria.

Alexander never stepped foot in the WHL.

Different story for the return in Everett though.

Theriau was eventually sent to Medicine Hat with Kellan Tochkin for Ryan Harrison and a 2nd round pick in 2011. The Silvertips used that pick to grab Dawson Leedahl, who was then sent to Regina with the playing rights of Tyson Jost (same Tyson Jost who is playing for Canada at the World Juniors) for Sean Richards and some picks. Leedahl's in his 20-year-old year with the Pats, who look indestructible right now. Richards is still playing for the Silvertips, and at last check was among one of the point leaders.

Iwanski finished out his WHL playing career in Everett before heading back to Lethbridge, where he just finished his university playing career with the Pronghorns.

The interesting part of this deal was the first round pick in 2009. That one turned into Seth Jones. Yes. That Seth Jones. He ended up being traded to Portland for four prospects: Reece Willcox, Ben Betker, Tyler Sandhu and Mitch Skapski.

Willcox stayed in college.

Betker played three full seasons with Everett and is now in the AHL.

Sandhu was traded to Red Deer for a 4th round pick in 2015 (Gianni Fairbrother) and a 4th round pick in 2016 (Reece Vitelli). Fairbrother has already played a game for the Silvertips.

Skapski was sent to Victoria for Mark Nerland, who hasn't played a game in the WHL, opting for the AJHL and SJHL over the last few years.

So who won this trade? I dunno. You could probably say the Silvertips for the calibre and number of players they were able to get in return over the years. That being said, have any of them contributed to one of the craziest melees in WHL history?




I think not.

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