More Will be Expected of Returnees as Rebels Continue to Build in 2018-19
April 3, 2018 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Red Deer Rebels News Release
Red Deer Rebels GM/head coach Brent Sutter reflected on his club's 2017-18 WHL season (as per the audio clip posted on this website) while meeting with the local media Monday.
One day later, he looked ahead to the 2018-19 season and touched on his potential lineup and what he will expect from each and every player.
First off, the club will be young - once again - up front, with, barring an off-season trade, no 19-year-old forwards on the roster and possibly only one 20-year-old in Reese Johnson.
With overagers Mason McCarty and Grayson Pawlenchuk moving on and the possibility of losing Brandon Hagel and Kristian Reichel to the pro ranks, the Rebels could head into next season minus a boatload of offence.
As a result, the Rebels will need more from the likes of Chris Douglas, Brandon Cutler, Austin Schellenberg and Josh Tarzwell, all of whom turn 18 this year.
"They're going to be bigger players and stronger players next season," said Sutter, who's counting on the cycle of major junior hockey to pay off for his team. "It's just the way it is in junior hockey. When you're a year older you're usually stronger and more confident.
"That's why players who are 19 and 20, those are their best years. They're bigger, stronger guys playing against younger guys. It's just the way junior hockey works."
Based on the recently concluded Rebels season, the team appears to have some promising forwards in Arshdeep Bains, River Fahey, Zak Smith, Alex Morozoff and Justin Svenson, all of whom will celebrate their 17th birthday this year.
"But everyone still has to earn their place. There's nothing guaranteed to any of these guys coming in," said Sutter. "They'll have to earn a spot on the team. They'll have to come in and earn their roles . . . where they're going to fit in.
"It's still a younger group of forwards, but it was important to bring in those 16-year-olds this year. Now they've been through it, they know what it's about especially after all of them got into some games in the playoffs."
The return of Reichel and/or Hagel would be huge. Both would be among the best overage players in the league, but Hagel could still sign with the Buffalo Sabres, who drafted him two years ago, or go back into the draft and sign a pro contract with another team, while Reichel is expected to be drafted in June and would prefer to play for pay next season.
"We don't know what's going to happen with Hages and Reichs," said Sutter. "Reichs wants to play pro in North American or Europe, but you still have to be good enough to play at that level.
"It will depend on which team drafts him. If that team doesn't need to sign him right away, do they want him back in junior?"
As for Hagel . . .
"If he comes back and has a good 20-year-old season, he could play pro the next year," said Sutter. "Lots of good players sign contracts at 21."
Ethan Rowland and Jordan Borysiuk, both with 2002 birth dates, were brought in this winter after their midget AAA seasons ended, and will compete for regular employment next fall. But neither will be rushed.
"They're signed players and each of them got into a game or two here. Now they have to come in next season and push, and yet they're only going to be here if they're ready to be here," said Sutter.
The same situation exists with Kyler Kovich, who will be 16 this year but has yet to sign with the Rebels, and 17-year-olds Jayden McCarthy and Blake Sydlowski, a listed player.
The back end will be more experienced with Dawson Barteaux, Jacob Herauf, Alex Alexeyev, Carson Sass and Ethan Sakowich forming the blueline core.
"You know for sure that those guys can be our key guys on the back end," said Sutter. "And they have to be better than they were this year, to a man. They came in last fall and every one of them didn't have a great start to the year for different reasons."
Other potential returnees are Hunter Donohoe and Sam Pouliot, both 18 this year, along with Colin Paradis, who could be back as a 20-year-old.
Potential rookies next season are six-foot-three Nick Draffin and six-foot-five Ryan Gottfried, who played at the midget AAA level as 16-year-olds.
"They're both big guys, but it will depend on their skating," said Sutter. "Donohoe and Pouliot and those two will be fighting for two or three spots.
"Overall, there are six or seven young guys who are going to be fighting for spots. It will come down to who fits in and is most comfortable playing at this level . . . who's ready and who's not.
"They all have five months to sort it out (with their off-season training regimens)."
Sutter is confident that netminder Byron Fancy, who turned 17 on Jan. 1 and is currently with the Alberta midget AAA champion Lethbridge Hurricanes, is ready to perform at the major junior level.
Accordingly, it's expected that he'll enter the '08-19 campaign as the back-up to Ethan Anders, who is coming off an impressive rookie season and won't celebrate his 18th birthday until late September.
"Of course a lot will depend on how he plays in training camp," Sutter said of Fancy. "But I'm expecting him to be here. He's a pretty talented goalie."
An Anders/Fancy combo would leave two-year veteran Riley Lamb, who turns 20 in August, as the odd man out between the pipes.
"I talked to Lamber and went through everything with him at the exit meetings," said Sutter. "Obviously he still wants to play in the league and it's not that he's not a good enough goalie, it's just that where we're at with our team it doesn't make sense to have a 20-year-old goalie here.
"It might make sense with some other team and we'll see how it plays out over the summer. We went through it all with him and he gets it. He knows where it's at."
Much will be expected of Anders, who posted a 3.09 goals-against average and .905 save percentage in his first WHL season.
"He had a great year as a 17-year-old," said Sutter, "but next season he's 18 and we're going to expect more from him. As good as he was this season, he still allowed goals that can't happen at this level."
The team will head into the '18-19 season minus 108 goals if Reichel and Hagel join McCarty and Pawlenchuk as former Rebels. Clearly, the returnees - both forwards and blueliners - will have to pick up the offensive slack, but Sutter, who will attempt to select an impact forward in June's CHL import draft, doesn't want any of the players coming back with unrealistic expectations.
"They have to be careful how they manage that," said the Rebels boss. "If they feel they should be playing top-six forward or top-four defencemen roles, or maybe on the first power play unit, then they'll train like that.
"Instead, they should come in and be real hard guys to play against. If they compete and play harder, make sure their details and good and that they're playing the right way, their offence will look after itself.
"I don't think you're going to go from being a six-goal scorer to a 30-goal scorer right away. Just come in and realize you're an up and down, straight line player who has to finish checks and do things right. If you do that you'll earn your power play time and your offensive opportunities. You have to have that mindset."
Sutter was speaking from recent experience.
"That hurt us this season. Everyone came back expecting to have bigger roles," he said. "They came in and struggled with it and it took them half a season to get through it."
Sutter met with all the potential returning players Monday and had a common message for his troops.
"We were clear to everyone in the exit meetings what type of players they are and how they have to continue to grow and develop, what kind of training they have to do during the summer," he said.
"We'll see where everyone fits in next fall, but come in with the right mindset."
Western Hockey League Stories from April 3, 2018
- Wheat Kings' Playoff Tickets on Sale Noon Wednesday - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Western Conference Player of the Year Carter Hart Named Vaughn WHL Goaltender of the Month, CHL Goaltender of the Week - Everett Silvertips
- Rockets Send Four to AHL Clubs - Kelowna Rockets
- More Will be Expected of Returnees as Rebels Continue to Build in 2018-19 - Red Deer Rebels
- Silvertips' Carter Hart named Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week - WHL
- Giants Sign 2002-Born Goaltender Braedy Euerby - Vancouver Giants
- Winterhawks and Chiefs Meet in Game 7 Tonight at the VMC - Portland Winterhawks
- Winterhawks Game Day Preview: Portland vs. Spokane - Portland Winterhawks
- Geekie Named WHL Player of the Month - Tri-City Americans
- Pats' Paddock Named WHL Rookie of the Month - Regina Pats
- Silvertips' Hart Named WHL Goaltender of the Month - WHL
- Americans' Geekie Named WHL Player of the Month - WHL
- Canes Chatter - Lethbridge Hurricanes
- Pats' Paddock Named WHL Rookie of the Month - WHL
- Spokane Forces Game 7 with 5-2 Win - Spokane Chiefs
- Broncos Eliminate Pats in Dramatic Fashion, Advance to Round Two - Swift Current Broncos
- Hawks Fall 5-2 to Chiefs in Spokane; Game 7 Tomorrow in Portland - Portland Winterhawks
- Pats Eliminated in Tight Contest - Regina Pats
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