With their first 1st round selection the Tbirds have selected Dante Fabbro. Fabbro is a former teammate of Mathew Barzal and I don't think that's truly a coincidence. Fabbro is 6'0" and about 170 lbs. He's an offensive defensemen and was the captain of the Burnaby Winter Club.
Here are some links on Fabbro:
http://www.whl.ca/article/2013-whl-draft-profile-dante-fabbro
http://westernelitehockeyprospects.com/bantam-prospects/western-elite-hockey-prospects-release-top-10-player-rankings.html
https://twitter.com/17Fabbro
Seattle picks again at #22 and #27
At #22, Seattle selects Center Kaden Elder. Elder is 5'10" and 160 lbs. Played for the Notre Dame Hounds. He appears to be a right hand shot and it touted as a good two way player. I like hearing us select guys that have intangibles. For years we've heard about Seattle taking guys with "upside" and "size". Maybe Elder is finally the guy I've been hoping for who has great work ethic combined with some good skill and hockey sense.
Links for Elder:
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=247880
http://westernelitehockeyprospects.com/news-by-region/alberta/wehp-announce-provincial-award-winners.html
https://twitter.com/KELDER_11
http://hockeynow.ca/posts/42956-notre-dame-hounds-bantam-team-leads-midget-standings
Ar #27, Seattle selects Nolan Volcan, 5'6.5" Left Wing from Edmonton. This is a departure of sorts for the organization as they select a player on the small side and quite frankly I'm fine with that. In fact, I'm excited for it. The last few years have proven that you don't have to be 6'2" and above to dominate in the WHL. You need speed, skill and hockey sense. Playing for Edmonton MLAC Bantam AAA last season he amassed 40 Goals and 36 Assists for 76 Points.
This nugget directly from the team: Marty Volcan, father of Nolan Volcan, played with the Seattle Breakers in 1983-84
Links for Volcan:
https://twitter.com/n_volcan20
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=153134
http://www.edmontonsun.com/2012/12/09/steel-and-benson-a-dynamic-duo
In the 5th round Seattle selects Brandon Schuldhaus. Schuldhaus is listed at 6'0" and 166 lbs which is much different from his Elite Prosepects profile that lists him at 5'9" and 175. So I don't know. I would assume the 6'0" is probably more accurate. He's a left handed shot defensemen from Bearspaw, AB and played for Airdrie Bantam last year.
Links for Schuldhaus:
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=157265
https://twitter.com/BSchuldhaus3
http://www.airdrieecho.com/2012/09/05/shuldhaus-sizzles-at-tie-dye-game
In the 6th round, Seattle selects Jagger Williamson, Right Wing from Lumby, BC. He played last season for Vernon Tier 1 and checks in at 5'7" and 150 lbs.
Couple of links on Williamson:
https://twitter.com/jags_williamson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-v7yjDW8vM
http://www.vernonmorningstar.com/sports/119878769.html
That will be it for me today. I have some things going on... make sure you follow your twitter feed to get some stock quotes from Russ and Colin about the players we select.
32 comments :
I don't like the fact Fabbro is wearing a Boston University T-shirt on his twitter page. Heard he might be a college kid. More signing drama? Is this Gropp/Barzal all over again???
Looking at these forward and defenseman stats, it looks like it was a really tough year on bantam goalies last year :)
Well lets hope that Fabbro really liked playing with Barzal, but it could be taking too much from one picture.
dont worry... fabbro and barzal have been best friends forever. There were rumors that fabbro ONLY would play for Seattle..... Domino effect already happening with the Barzal signing!!!hahaha love it!!
Ill be curious how the T-Birds actually do next year. They could quite possibly be bringing in alot of youth if Barzal, Bear, Kolesar and possibly Gropp come in. I also know they are pretty high on a few more 16 and 17 year olds aswell(lane pederson, carter folk, austin douglas etc). I think they can stand to get rid of a few 18 and 19 year olds via trade too. Is there a chance T-birds do slightly a bit worse than they did this year? I think there is that chance... But the future looks UNBELIEVABLE which is such a relief... Cant wait to see what moves the T-Birds do this off season
This team can't afford to do worse. With the vets they have coming back they should be thinking home ice in the first round of the playoffs, not taking a step back. No reason to jettison the 18 or 19s and put all the pressure on the young players. Let them be gradually mixed into the lineup. Outside of Barzal (and Gropp if he shows) no need to get the other young players into 72 games. They will need to move a d-man as even before you throw in Bear, they have 8-9 on the roster or signed. Even with the drafting of the 19 yr old Fordyce, I still think they'll need a 20 yr old goalie, but now they aren't as desparae and don't have to over pay.
Fordyce takes away their desperation for a goalie? He is a 10th round flyer. Am I missing something here, he only played 4 games last year and 14 the year before for PG and had a save percentage under .880 both years. I would guess that they package a defenseman or two for a goalie. My guess is that this is to take place of Myles since it seems his injuries have hampered his development. Hopefully if they go and get a goalie is a lot better than Glover in the regular season. No reason to sacrifice another 20 slot for goaltending like that.
I agree with Anon 6:09 that this team shouldn't be looking at taking a step backwards. They have 6 of their 7 top scorers coming back and they are adding a center that should be really good in Barzal. If the younger guys are pushing the 18 and 19 yr olds then all the better.
Hmm lets see... Lockhart, Kambeitz and Glover will be gone(opens 3 spots)I dont see T-Birds keeping Sanvido as a 20 year old. Id imagine theyll keep Forsberg, Swenson and either a 20 year old goalie or Elliot. Also i imagine they will get rid of one or 2 of the '95 year old dmen(way too many at that age group).. That sounds pretty damn good to me if they can keep the majority of their team and quite possibly bring in 5 or 6 new young studs next year. Things are really looking bright
I actually disagree about Sanvido. He fills the void left by Luke in the penalty kill. He's willing to take a hit from a puck and he has the break away speed to give him a chance at an empty netter.
If it's the current set I would say
Forsberg
Sanvido
Swenson
If they drop one for a goalie then it would be Swenson unless Russ decided the worth of Forsberg is far too much to pass up as good 20 year old defensemen are worth a lot
@ kodi
I do not disagree that Sanvido fills a void on the team currently.
But I think that this void is easier to replace than dropping Swenson. Swenson is a MUCH more complete and versatile player (albeit not quite as fast).
On a team with so many double digit minus players, Swenson and Sanvido were only -6 and -7 respectively this season. That was best on the team. Need to find a way to keep both if possible. If you believe in all your young defensemen now maturing, no need to keep Forsberg but with an unsettled goalie situation, he might be a necessity and not a luxury. Right now I'd say keep Swenson, Forsberg and Sanvido. Last two seasons Swenson 70 pts, Sanvido 46 pts, both guys played in all 72 games this year. If they have to trade for a 20 yr old goalie, Forsberg probably brings the better return.
They team was very minus overall, but in March and the playoffs nearly all the players were plus players. I hope that is an indicator for good things defensively next year.
anon 10.28 brings up the plus /minus stats. As we all know this is a flawed stat. You have to consider which line plays cosistantly against the other teams top line plus other line matches.Also errors made by team mates cause everybody else that's on the ice at that time to get a minus.
Since Greg Drinnan is up in Kamloops, I asked him on his blog if he has heard any Gropp to Seattle rumors now that Barzal is signed with Seattle, below is my question and his answer to me.
"Hi Greg, now that Barzal has committed to Seattle, any chance that Ryan Gropp follows suit? Any runors up there in Kamloops regarding what he does next? Thanks
May 5, 2013 at 10:34 PM
Gregg Drinnan said...
Haven't heard anything concrete. It's funny. I was told by an agent a week before the Barzal announcement that he was going to Seattle. I had heard it before and nothing had happened, so I took it with a grain of salt. But it happened. That same agent told me that Joe Hicketts, who is pals with Ryan Gropp, and Barzal are trying to do some friendly persuasion with Gropp. Time will tell.
gregg"
May 6, 2013 at 1:04 AM
kid wants to play dub, the dad has made it VERY clear he wants his could to play NCAA... so we will see who wins this battle... Son VS Dad.. This summer will be the final decision. If he plays another Junior A season, seattle management and fans may as well forget about him... I still think he will go WHL.. who in their right mind would pass up the chance to play with Barzal and soon to be Fabbro. I would be SHOCKED if Gropp doesnt report to Seattle
Sorry i messed up a sentence.. should say..
"kid wants to play dub, the dad has made it VERY clear he wants his son to play NCAA"
The best thing we can do is provide information regarding both routes and then let the PLAYER make his decision. This will build a better relationship and also provide no anamosity down the road.
Gropp went in the 8th round, 108 over all in the ushl draft yesterday.
F Ryan Gropp of Kamloops was taken in the eighth round, 108th overall, by the Des Moines Buccaneers in the USHL’s draft on Tuesday evening. Gropp, who turns 17 on Sept. 16, played this season with the BCHL’s Penticton Vees. His WHL rights belong to the Seattle Thunderbirds, who selected him sixth overall in the WHL’s 2011 draft. The 6-foot-2, 180-pounder has yet to publicly declare whether he will play in the WHL or take the NCAA route.
Anonymous 9:34 PM -- The decision really lies with the PLAYER and PARENTS. You cannot fault parents for weighing this decision. Yes, this league has more drafted than any other, yes, they get more exposure, more games, more experience, but the reality is their shot at "making it" is still in single digits. I think decisions like that are always easier when it is someone else's kid and let's not forget, they are still kids.
Uh yeah...I'm not sure how well-equiped a kid of 17 is at making a decision that will impact the rest of their life. If it were my kid, I'd certainly be helping guide them.
I'm showing my ignorance here, but isn't it true that you can't go the NCAA route once you go into the WHL? But you can go into the Dub if you're in the NCAA? So, I suppose if I were unsure, I'd pull a Honey and try out the NCAA and if I didn't like it, move over to the Dub.
But I like options, so that's me. And I have no idea what I'm talking about with the NCAA/WHL thing.
At Anon on 5/6 5-18pm, how do you know that Gropp wants to play in the WHL? You state that "the kid wants to play in the dub"
Thanks
Honey did not try out the NCAA. He played in the USHL which kept his NCAA option open. Once he left the USHL for the T-birds and the WHL, he lost his NCAA eligiblity.
Well case of guys jumping from NCAA to WHL are few and far between. Most recent case for Seattle is Jim O'brien, and it is the most possible case. A kid drafted pretty high (1st rounder) and the pro team offers him a contract right away, if he signs it he is no longer eligible for NCAA play and his pro team will tell him to report to the junior team that holds his rights.
Which actually could happen with Gropp and why sometimes it makes sense to hold onto to rights, even if they decide to go NCAA. While you are right that once they are signed they lose eligibility, often the NHL teams will not so gently encourage them to move to a CHL club once they are drafted (without signing)so until the TBirds trade his rights or he is actually playing pro there is still a chance he will land here.
I knew it was something along the lines of "if they choose this route, they can never go the other way" with the NCAA. Thanks.
And I knew Honey came from somewhere outside the WHL, I just wasn't sure where...thanks for the info.
Was at the hockey store today to buy some t bird gear, asked one of the employees about Gropp and they stated that he is still very much in the mix for coming to Seattle. We can only hope!
Heh...EFF YOU PORTLAND!
From watching the Memorial Cup games the announcers had me feeling sorry for Portland, I mean they had to overcome soooooo much. They had the most talented team a cheating coach/GM could put together and then the WHL had the gall to suspend him. For Green to pick up the pieces and be able to some how make the playoffs is amazing. The record they put together you would think they had the top scoring rookie and the top three scoring forwards in the league to go along with 4 of the best defensemen in the league.
/sarcasm off
I can't wait for August/September. I'm checking blogs everyday to see if there is anything new. I think the T-birds are going to take another step forward and I think they will have a good chance at getting home ice in the first round of the playoffs.
Did anyone else see the twitter conversation between Foulk, Mumaugh, and Gambrell over the weekend? A little recruiting going on perhaps?
Come on Tyler, you need to weigh in on the NHL thing :)
I asked Greg Drinnan on Thursday if he had any news on Gropp since both are in Kamloops, go to the comments section of his article from Thursday the 20th to see those.
heard T-Birds dropped Daniel Wray.. expected
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