STEEL LIKELY TO BE BACK
Pats coach not concerned
GREG HARDER
Regina Pats head coach/GM John Paddock believes the return of captain Sam Steel is a matter of ‘when,’ not ‘if.’
The WHL’s reigning player of the year is away for training camp with the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks and is not expected back in time for Regina’s season opener on Friday against the host Brandon Wheat Kings.
Although his absence leaves a gaping hole in the lineup of the 2018 Memorial Cup hosts, Paddock isn’t losing any sleep over it.
“Maybe it’s because you try not to,” said the veteran bench boss. “We know he’s a really good player. We know he’s going to go to Anaheim and do his part. There wouldn’t be anything less expected.”
Steel — a first-round pick (30th overall) in the 2016 NHL draft — is knocking at the NHL’s door after he compiled 50 goals and a CHL-best 131 points in 66 games last season.
That said, he’s still not expected to graduate from the junior ranks until after the 2017-18 season.
“I haven’t had a conversation with Anaheim since the spring,” noted Paddock, a former NHL coach and GM.
“What was said in the conversation, I’m not going to reveal. Don’t take that to mean he’s absolutely coming (back). Don’t take it to mean anything. But I’ve been in hockey long enough and I know the Anaheim organization. Things can change, there’s no question about it, but they go about things (in a matter that) the general hockey world thinks is the right way.
“I just think a key piece of the Memorial Cup team is going to play here.”
Paddock was confident enough in Steel’s return to name him the team’s new captain before the start of the WHL pre-season.
However, the Pats can’t be certain when the Ducks will send him back.
Anaheim is strong up the middle — led by Regina’s Ryan Getzlaf — but the team’s No. 2 centre, Ryan Kesler, had off-season hip surgery and isn’t expected back for several weeks. His absence could open the door for Steel to get an extended audition.
The same goes for Pats defenceman Josh Mahura, a fellow Ducks prospect who was selected in the third round of the 2016 NHL draft.
Anaheim is expected to be without veteran D -men Hampus Lindholm and Sami Vatanen until November due to injuries. That could mean a longer look for Mahura, who had one goal and one assist in three games last week at an NHL rookie tournament in San Jose.
Steel was Anaheim’s top scorer with two goals and three helpers in three games. He’s expected to see more action in the pre-season after playing in just one exhibition game last year at his first NHL camp.
Whether his stay will extend beyond that remains to be seen.
“His play can determine it, there’s no question about it,” added Paddock.
“He can go in and play (his way onto the team) … and there’s no way you can send him back. That happens. We’re talking about what I believe was the best player in junior hockey last year. He’s obviously capable of doing that.”
Anaheim was slated to open its exhibition schedule on Tuesday against the San Jose Sharks.
The team’s seven-game sked concludes on Sept. 30 before opening the regular season on Oct. 5.