Canes GM pushes all the right buttons
Lethbridge Hurricanes general manager Peter Anholt’s team has been on a tear.
Since trading away their best player and dismissing a couple of their top defencemen from a year ago, the Canes have lost four times in regulation since Nov. 19. From an 8-11-1-2 record, they’ve salvaged the season. They are in fifth place in the Western Hockey League’s Eastern Conference at 2215-3-2 but more importantly, are second in the Central Division.
On Monday, Anholt shipped out 17-year-old Brett Davis and overage player Ryley Lindgren to make room for Zak Zborosky and Matt Alfaro from the Kootenay Ice. He reassigned 17year-old defenceman Ethan King and picked up a potential prospect in 15-year-old Carson Dyck.
The big prizes were Alfaro and Zobvrosky.
The Hurricanes lost centre Justin Gutierrez prior to Christmas last year. A concussion cost Gutierrez the season but was also a big reason Lethbridge stumped along at .500 in the second half.
They became a oneline team and even then, head coach Brent Kisio was stuck looking down his bench for answers when that top line was held down.
Adding 28 goals and 16 assists in Zborosky, and 13 goals and 26 assists in Alfaro, Kisio has players who know how to make things happen by themselves. The two players have had success in Kootenay despite the Ice’s moribund 10-24-71 season.
The Hurricanes will miss Lindgren, but only as long as it takes for their two new overagers to get going.
Another addition was the pickup of Carson Dyck. The local centreman starred for the Lethbridge Val Matteotti Golden Hawks last season but will need some wooing as he has NCAA options. Carson, the son of former Canes coach Mike Dyck, is the kind of heady, hardworking centreman fans love to watch. While many players aren’t helped playing for their dads, Carson might be the exception to that as Mike is well known for practices which accentuate skillbuilding. In fact, Mike and the Canes’ Kisio have a lot of similiarities. They both allow their skilled players to work to their strengths.
But Carson’s just 15, and there’s a time to worry about that.
Late Monday, Lethbridge also acquired Minnesotan Alec Baer from Vancouver. A tough centre who was one of the Giants’ rookies of the year in 2014 and who debuted in the WHL against Lethbridge that season, Baer has three goals and 15 assists but should help out, since the team was down to just 12 forwards after Monday’s early wheeling and dealing.
Like most Hurricanes fans, I’m inclined to give Anholt the benefit of the doubt. He was the biggest reason the team ended its suicidal run to insolvency last season. He’s made missteps this season, mostly by misjudging the quality and extent of his leadership group and having to ditch Brady Reagan, Kord Pankewicz and Brayden Burke.
Since admitting that mistake and making those moves, the team has been led on the ice by Stuart Skinner, Tyler Wong and Jordy Bellerive.
Those three players are still here, and judging by their play in Saturday’s 3-1 win over the Red Deer Rebels, the team will be even better going forward.