EVERETT — The Everett Silvertips had a lot of success with Russian players last season. Therefore, the Tips decided to dip into the Russian well again Tuesday.
Everett added a pair of Russian players to its stable Tuesday when the Tips selected defenseman Alexander Scherbakov and winger Yan Khomenko in the Canadian Hockey League import draft.
The Tips picked Scherbakov in the first round and Khomenko in the second round. Scherbakov was the 50th player taken overall, Khomenko was the 76th.
Everett had Russians occupying both its import roster spots last season in the form of forwards Nikita Scherbak and Ivan Nikolishin. The pair combined for 144 points and played a big role in the Tips claiming the U.S. Division title.
Scherbak and Nikolishin are not expected back next season — Scherbak is slated to play professionally in the Montreal Canadiens system, while Nikolishin was traded to Red Deer. Now they’re set to be replaced by two more players from their home country.
“The two players we picked are out of Russia and they’re clients of Scherbak’s agent,” Everett general manager Garry Davidson said. “We went with those guys because we’re fairly comfortable with the situation. They’re younger guys who we feel have lots of potential.”
Scherbakov, who’s from Moscow, was the youngest player selected in the draft as he doesn’t turn 17 until Dec. 24. The 5-foot-10, 207-pounder played last season for the CSKA Moscow U-17 team, with which he had five goals, eight assists and 37 penalty minutes in 30 games.
“We were looking for a left-shot defenseman who can help out offensively,” Davidson said. “That’s why Scherbakov brings, he supposedly has a really good shot.”
Khomenko, who hails from St. Petersburg, is also entering his 17-year-old season. The left-shooting 6-foot-1, 176-pounder spent last season with the Dynamo Moscow U-17 team, notching 20 goals and 10 assists in 33 games. He was also a third-round pick by Ak Bars Kazan in the KHL draft.
“We were looking for a top-six type of forward,” Davidson said. “Khomenko apparently has good hands and good vision.”
One of the risks in the import draft is selecting players who end up not reporting. That was the case for Everett last year as the Tips’ first-round pick, Russian winger Alexander Zhebelev, never showed up in Everett. However, Davidson is confident Scherbakov and Khomenko will report.
“I think that’s really solid,” Davidson said. “It’s why we picked them. They’re two players I was told by their agent were coming. We’ve connected with them already and we’re working on the paperwork now. I feel very comfortable in the probability of getting them here in time for training camp in August.”
By picking a pair of players heading into their 17-year-old season, the Tips chose youth over experience. Players ages 17-19 are eligible for the import draft. Older players may be more prepared to make an immediate impact, but younger players are more likely to spend multiple seasons with their CHL team.
“If you look at the guys we have returning we have a nice nucleus, but it’s one that will be here for the next couple years,” Davidson said. “So instead of taking guys who would only be here one year, we took a couple guys who will maybe be here two-to-three years.”
Though Davidson was satisfied with the way the import draft unfolded for the Tips this year, he still expressed frustration with a process that is less of a draft and more of a crapshoot.
“I’m a little frustrated with the whole Euro draft process,” Davidson said. “I know many people are, and a couple years ago the WHL tried to get some changes made.
“I personally would like to see players have to opt into the draft so that there’s no second guessing whether they’re coming or not,” Davidson added. “There’s too many ways to circumvent the level playing field, which is what the draft is supposed to create. The best players should go early in the draft and that’s not always what happens. There’s a lot of misinformation and a lack of information of who’s going to come or not. But that’s something that has to happen at the CHL level to get all three leagues (the WHL, Ontario Hockey League and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League) on board.”
Davis gets Oilers invite
Everett defenseman Kevin Davis is on the roster for the Edmonton Oilers’ orientation camp taking place this week. The 18-year-old Davis went unselected in last weekend’s NHL draft. He becomes the third undrafted Everett player to earn an NHL development camp invite, joining goaltender Auston Lotz (Buffalo) and defenseman Tristen Pfeifer (Arizona).
Check out Nick Patterson’s Silvertips blog at http://www.heraldnet.com/silvertipsblog, and follow him on Twitter at @NickHPatterson.
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