Woods looking for his right-hand man
The Saskatoon Blades are expected to soon add to their coaching staff.
Head coach and general manager Bob Woods said he will conduct in-person interviews with his final three candidates for the vacant assistant coaching job beginning Thursday.
Woods, a former Anaheim Ducks assistant coach, hopes to make his decision before heading back to Southern California for a visit on Sunday.
He plans to hire just one full-time assistant coach for the Blades.
“It’s one thing to talk to them over the phone,” Woods said, adding two of the three candidates have WHL experience. “When you get an inperson conversation you can usually tell pretty quick who the best fit is.”
Woods added he has spoken to goaltending coach Tim Cheveldae and will talk to veteran part-time assistant coach Jerome Engele about staying on with the team.
“They’re both valuable guys and have done a great job,” he said. “They’re well respected within the organization.
“If you have people that are willing to be a part of it and bring what they bring, it’s great. I think we can utilize all of it.”
Import decisions
Where Russian Nikita Scherbak goes in the NHL draft could impact the Blades’ plans at the CHL import draft.
If Scherbak gets picked in the first round next Friday in Philadelphia, the Blades have the option of choosing another import player with their ninth overall selection in case the winger sticks with an NHL team in the fall.
Scherbak is ranked 15th among North Americanbased skaters by NHL Central Scouting.
If Scherbak makes his NHL team, the Blades could carry defenceman David Nemecek and the player they select ninth overall on July 2.
If Scherbak is sent back to Saskatoon, the Blades must trade or release either Scherbak or Nemecek — both of whom are 1995-born players — to adhere to the two-import rule.
CHL rules dictate that import players cannot be traded for one season after they are selected.
If Scherbak is not selected in the first round in Philadelphia, either Scherbak or Nemecek would have to be traded or released if the Blades want to pick in the CHL import draft.
“We’ll see what happens with Scherbak in the NHL draft,” Woods said.
Scherbak was the Blades’ leading scorer last season with 28 goals and 78 points. He was also a finalist for the WHL rookie of the year award.
Nemecek, who represented the Czech Republic at the world junior championship, had five goals and 15 points in 56 games.
However, he was a bottompair blue-liner and even a healthy scratch late in the season.
Woods indicated the
“WHEN YOU GET AN IN-PERSON CONVERSATION YOU CAN USUALLY TELL PRETTY QUICK WHO THE BEST FIT IS.” BOB WOODS
Blades are leaning toward using the pick regardless of the circumstances.
He and managing partner Colin Priestner have been busy talking to agents to gauge whether or not their clients are interested in moving to North America.
“We’re looking into seeing who’s available,” Woods said. “With the ninth pick, we should be able to get a good player.”
CHL teams can no longer pick goaltenders in the draft. Forwards and defencemen are on the table, however.
“I think you look at who’s the best player,” Woods said. “We can use (help) in both areas.
“We’re a team that won 16 games so there are a lot of holes to fill.”
The Blades also hold the 69th pick in the draft.
Waiting on their keeper
Woods is continuing to speak to goaltender Collin Olson about next season.
“I’m not going to put the kid in a tough situation,” said Woods, who acquired the 20-year-old’s rights from Prince George last Tuesday. “If he feels that we’re the best option for him, all we can do is sell the opportunity that we have.”
Olson spent parts of the last two seasons with Ohio State University, but finished last season with the Sioux City Musketeers of the United States Hockey League.
The Apple Valley, Minn., native was a 2012 sixthround pick by the Carolina Hurricanes out of the United States national team development program.
Woods is hoping Olson will want to showcase his skills to the Hurricanes at another level.
“I believe, if he has a good year and does what we think he’s capable of doing, it would work out great for him,” the Blades boss said.
Olson turned down an interview request through the Blades.