Let the guesswork begin
Posted By GENE PEREIRA, SPECIAL TO THE EXAMINER
Posted 1 month ago
August is the perfect time to take a holiday for most.
And while this year's hot, sunny weather has made this summer one of the best in years, Dale Hawerchuk isn't planning any long extended trips to the cottage this month.
With his first Barrie Colts training camp slated to kick off on Aug. 30 and the OHL regular season just around the corner after that, the club's new director of hockey operations and head coach will be busy preparing, and that means spending a little quality time inside and on the phone with opposing OHL general managers.
"Everybody's taking a breather right now, but once August roles around we'll see what everybody is interested in," Hawerchuk said of exploring trade options. "I'm sure we'll get a few calls and we'll see what's out there."
With the league summer trade block set to end on Sunday, Hawerchuk is ready to listen to any possible offers, but as to what exactly the club will put on its shopping list, well, that's another thing.
Hawerchuk isn't exactly sure what the complexion of his hockey team will be this season. With the return of star forwards Alexander Burmistrov and Kyle Clifford and overage defence-man Dalton Prout, the Colts could make some noise this season and, possibly, be open to propping up the roster with some veteran acquisitions.
If Burmistrov sticks with the Atlanta Thrashers, Clifford with the Los Angeles Kings and Prout in the Columbus Blue Jackets pro system -- all real possibilities -- the Colts will ice a squad with some 15 new faces in it.
It would be a far younger team than the veteran star-laden squad that finished first overall and made a run all the way to the OHL finals.
"We'll have to keep ourselves ready for whatever scenario," Hawerchuk said.
"If Clifford and Burmistrov happen to make the NHL, then we have to look up front, as well (as on defence)," Hawerchuk added of exploring trade options. "Things could change either way. It's really hard to go through our lineup at this juncture, because there are so many uncertainties."
One area the Colts are likely to address on the trade front before camp is their crowded crease. With overagers Peter Di Salvo and Mavrick Parks slated to return, along with Dalton McGrath and prospect Clint Windsor in the system, Hawerchuk said the club will look to deal one of Di Salvo or Parks.
Both veteran puck stoppers should net a fair return on the trade market, and while the NHL Hall of Famer would love to acquire some players who can step into the lineup right away, the focus is to make a deal that nets the club the most in return, even if that means landing all draft picks.
"We'll see what's out there and what the interest is," Hawerchuk said. "When we find something that's right for us, then we'll make the deal."
"You're always looking for players, but the ones you're looking for are usually the ones they don't want to give up," Hawerchuk said. "It's possible it could be either or."
Should Burmistrov and Clifford return, the Colts will find themselves in good shape up front. While all-star Alex Hutchings looks certain to play in the Tampa Bay Lightning's pro system, the Colts should be able to ice a top six as good as most teams in the OHL. Overager Darren Archibald, Taylor Carnevale and Colin Behenna, along with rising star Zach Hall, should provide a solid offence.
Hawerchuk is especially excited to see what Hall can do in a full season in the OHL after playing in just five regular season games last season. Thanks to a logjam of veteran returnees up front, the crafty centre didn't stick with the club as an underage player despite an outstanding training camp and scoring in the season-opener.
"He got a little taste last year and you want him coming in and stepping into a prominent role," Hawerchuk said of Hall, who posted 71 points in 44 games for Couchiching in Tier II Jr. 'A' last season. "I don't care what age they are -- if they can be a prominent guy, then step up and be that guy, whether you're 16 or 17, 18, 19 or 20, it doesn't matter. At the end of the day, these kids start to learn that their ice time and their positions are determined by their performances every night."
Another talented youngster the Colts are hoping to sign is winger Dylan Smoskowitz, a 10th round selection in the 2009 OHL Priority Selection who had 62 points in 56 games with Tier II Jr. 'A' Mississauga last season. The tools are all there to become an impact player in the league some day.
"I've seen Smoskowitz play and he's that type of player," Hawerchuk said. "This is a good situation for him ... to come into camp and be the player the scouts think he can be."
Second-year players such as Dean Pawlaczyk and David Mazurek should also be ready to take that next step in their development, while Czech Republic import winger Petr Beranek could play his way on to the top six forwards with his set of skills.
If Prout doesn't return, Barrie's blue line will be a very green one.
That would mean the Colts top four defencemen from last season have all moved on to the pro level, leaving Stephen Gaskin and Mitch Bennett, who played mostly forward in his limited ice time, as the most experienced on the point.
"If they (Bennett and Gaskin) step in, they've learned a lot and are ready to take charge, and if Prout did come back, now all of a sudden, we have three very solid defencemen," Hawerchuk said. "You get one or two surprises and, next thing you know, you've got five pretty good defencemen. That's how quick it could change.
"On the other side, if some of the guys maybe don't adjust quick and if Prout doesn't come back, your youngsters -- you might have to live and die with them a little just to get them the mileage, and get them on their way."
One rookie to look for is 2010 third-round pick Brandon Devlin. The six-foot, 170-pound defenceman played minor hockey in Brampton last season.
"He is mature in size and mature mentally," Hawerchuk said of the 16-year-old.
While his roster remains in flux and plenty of work remains ahead, Hawerchuk is excited to get things going.
"By the end of the day, we'll feel positive about all our players," he said. "We're going to have a competitive, strong camp. We're doing a lot of work here in the off-season, looking at other team's 50-man rosters, free agents. It'd be nice to get a few surprises come September."
One Colt who was likely surprised on Wednesday is Stefan Della Rovere. The 20-year-old Washington Capitals draft pick was dealt to St. Louis in exchange for 26-year-old forward D.J. King.
Della Rovere was drafted by Washington in the seventh round in 2008.
In four seasons with Barrie -- two as team captain -- the forward registered 138 points along with 479 penalty minutes.
ICE CHIPS:The Colts will also hope to clear up the Kerby Rychel situation. Reports are the first round pick (21st overall) in this year's draft and son of Windsor Spitfires general manager Warren Rychel will not report to camp and is hoping to be traded to the Spitfires ... The Colts will be without Carnevale in camp and to start the season. Carnevale had offseason surgery on his shoulder, an injury he suffered in last year's playoffs, and isn't expected back in the lineup until October.
