GM Russ Farwell has Thunderbirds’ roster ready for regular season

With a flurry of trades the week before the start of the regular season, it’s clear that the Seattle Thunderbirds are not resting on their laurels.

General manager Russ Farwell made trades on three consecutive days late last week to shore up his team as it prepares to defend its Western Conference title as well as try to take one more step and win a WHL Championship.

The most notable trade was the acquisition of 20-year-old goalie Rylan Toth from Red Deer. Toth will come in and take over the No. 1 goalie spot as the team subsequently moved Logan Flodell to Saskatoon. This is the third time in the past five seasons that Seattle has gone and picked up an over-age goalie. Toth will be backed up by  impressive 16-year-old rookie Carl Stankowski.

Toth has size and age and has played well in some pretty high-stakes hockey during his WHL career.

“It’s not just that he played in the Memorial Cup,” Farwell said of Toth. “He was in a highly scrutinized spot all year long and came through it. He didn’t just have a little flash … I think he’s a proven goaltender. Seems like a solid guy. We’ve heard real good things.”

Goaltending was a question heading into the season and the moves last week seemed to have answered it. Of course, the big question with the T-Birds has yet to be answered and it’s one that Farwell has no control over.

The big question still remains about Mathew Barzal’s future.

When the puck drops in Portland on Saturday night, Seattle’s star center will be in camp with the New York Islanders. Whether he stays there or is returned at some point is still a mystery. For the T-Birds, they are moving forward with the players they have.

“That’s how we operated all summer,” Farewell said. “People ask me how many guys we have away at camp; I didn’t even include Mat in that number. We just have to wait and see what happens, but we’re not just sitting and just holding our breath.”

In reality, that is the only way for them to operate. Barzal’s return is not a sure thing, so Farwell and head coach Steve Konowalchuk have to prepare as if he isn’t coming back.

Like many, Farwell doesn’t know which way the Islanders will eventually go.

“He’s going to do well,” Farwell said about Barzal. “It’s just whether it’s right now or not. So we’d love to have him back, but we fully realize he’s a top-end talent and might be capable of (sticking in the NHL).”

Even without Barzal, there is still a good deal of talent on Seattle’s roster. The T-Birds won’t replace Barzal’s production with just one guy. It will take a number of guys to improve their output, and with Barzal out to start the year, they’ll get a chance.

“That’s the story of junior hockey; guys move on,” Farwell said. “It’s an opportunity for someone else to step up. There are guys on our team who can score more and that’s what we’re looking for.”

Some of those guys are familiar names. Ethan Bear and Keegan Kolesar will be back in the fold and relied on for a lot of the team’s offense. Seattle’s dynamic second line made up of Scott Eansor, Donovan Neuls and Nolan Volcan will all be back and improve their scoring.

There are second-year players like Matthew Wedman and defenseman Jarret Tyszka who should take a big step forward. Wedman has been hurt for most of the preseason but by all accounts came to camp in great shape. Tyszka has played and has shown that he could be in for a strong season.

“Tyszka you’re going to see develop all year long,” Farwell said. “There’s real, real upside. He comes around that net with the puck and he can lift you out of your seat sometimes. But he doesn’t look to do it all the time and he’s still wondering where his role is. We saw (Shea) Theodore go through it the same way. Success fanned the flame.”

The young defenseman will be part of a blue-line group that will have to withstand the loss, and minutes, of Jared Hauf and Jerret Smith. Bear and Turner Ottenbreit will step up to the top pairing while Tyszka and Brandon Schuldhaus will be asked to shoulder more of a load.

Overall, the defense will be younger than it was a year ago and how they preform will be a key to the team’s success.

“We expect it from Bear and Ottenbreit,” Farwell said of his defense. “But those kids have to step up and give us good minutes on defense.”

With his roster as set as it can be, Farwell is ready to see how the season plays out. The trade deadline is in January, but Farwell isn’t sure how active the team will be.

“You’re always looking to get better,” he said. “We’ve never been a team to try and make a wholesale trade. You’ve got to have the real meat in place. Our guys have been through it. They’re hungry.”

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