T-Birds notebook: Mathew Barzal with Islanders, Birds on watch list

The WHL season kicked off this past weekend with every team getting at least one game in. After the excitement of hockey being back, suddenly, there was nothing.

The league schedule this year starts in an odd fashion, with no games at all during the week for any team. The action gets going again this weekend and Seattle’s home opener is Saturday night against Prince George. Despite the start and wait feel to the schedule this year, the week off may help Seattle and the league.

Every year WHL teams have to start short handed, with their best players off at NHL camps. The WHL started later this year and this dark week seems deliberate as well, to try and limit the number of missed games by the league’s stars.

Of course, Seattle is still missing two big contributors and their availability for Saturday’s game is up in the air but they will make do with what they have.

Here’s what’s new with the T-Birds:

When will Mathew Barzal return to the team?

Barzal missed Seattle’s season opener in Vancouver and it looks like he will miss some more games as he is still in camp with the New York Islanders.

It was a bit surprising this week to see the Islanders send Michael Dal Colle – their first round pick last year – and Anthony Beauvillier – who was a first round pick this year – back to junior. Barzal survived that early cut which says a lot about how well he has played in camp and in preseason.

Do T-Birds fans have to worry about Barzal sticking with New York?

Talking to people who cover the Islanders the general consensus is that the Islanders will return Barzal to the T-Birds at some point. That could happen before the Islanders season starts on October 9th but there is also a sense that New York may keep Barzal into the regular season – something they have done with top picks in the past.

NHL teams can keep signed junior players for nine regular season games before the first year of their entry level contract kicks in. New York will not want to burn that first year of Barzal’s contract if he’s not going to get a lot of playing time so it makes sense that he will return to Seattle.

If New York does keep him for the full nine games then he will be out through October 26th. The T-Birds will have played ten games by that time and may have to do so without their best player.

Jamal Watson sent to AHL camp

After being in camp with Montreal, Watson was sent to the Canadiens’ AHL camp with the St. John’s Ice Caps. As a 20 year old. Watson is eligible to play in the AHL this season which would mean that the T-Birds would lose a key part of their club before he even suits up for a game.

Watson has not signed yet and if he did, it would be an AHL minor-league deal rather than a three-year NHL entry level contract. If he is offered such a deal from St. John’s he will have to decide between that or coming back, having a big year, and trying to snag an NHL contract after the season.

Former T-Birds making a mark

Seattle has had a successful run the past couple years and it’s starting to pay off with players getting pro attention. They had nine current players in NHL camps and several former T-Birds are looking to join the pro ranks.

Shea Theodore had a good camp with the Anaheim Ducks but will start the season in the AHL with the San Deigo Gulls and he may have to face some of his former mates during the AHL schedule. One of those players is defenseman Evan Wardley who signed an AHL contract with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins last week. The big defensman was in rookie camp with the big league Penguins but suffered an injury that will keep him out for a few weeks. Pittsburgh was impressed enough however to send him to their AHL affiliate.

Justin Hickman was in camp with the Boston Bruins and got some ice time with them during the preseason. He has since been sent down to their AHL club in Providence. Hickman signed an entry-level contract with Boston this past march.

Taran Kozun got an invite to the Washington Capitals camp after playing with them in their rookie camp. He since has been assigned to the Hershey Bears in the AHL. He has yet to sign a deal with the Bears however.

The week ahead

Regardless of whether Barzal or Watson get returned, the schedule moves on for Seattle. They will open their home schedule Saturday night against the Prince George Cougars and then hit the road for a Sunday evening game with the Tri City Americans.

Prince George is a much improved hockey club this year and the T-Birds will have to bring their A game. The Cougars are led by Winnipeg Jets second round pick Jansen Harkins and added some toughness this off season when they picked up former Brandon Wheat King and Regina Pats’ forward Jesse Gabrielle.

Sunday the T-Birds will play their first divisional game against the Americans in Kennewick. The Americans are thin up front but have a strong defensive group led by Boston Bruins prospect Brandon Carlo. Seattle will most likely have to deal with Black Diamond native Evan Sarthou in net as well. It’s always a tough go at the Toyota Center and the T-Birds will have their hands full again.

Two T-Birds on the Watch List

NHL Central Scouting published their first Watch List for the 2016 NHL Draft this week. Two T-Birds showed up on the list as both Scott Eansor and Nolan Volcan were listed. Both players were given a C rating which indicates they are looking to go in rounds 4-6. This is just the first version of this list and the NHL will update it during the season. There is often movement on this list as Seattle saw last year when Keegan Kolesar didn’t appear on it in September but ended up as a third round pick in the draft.

The WHL season kicked off this past weekend, bringing excitement back to hockey fans, but with an unusual schedule that leaves teams with a week off before the next games. As the Seattle Thunderbirds prepare for their home opener against Prince George, the anticipation is palpable. In the world of sports, the UFC has also seen its share of thrilling events, with 2021 showcasing some of the best fight purses in its history. Just as the T-Birds are looking to make a strong impression in their upcoming match, UFC fighters have been making headlines with their lucrative bouts, highlighting the competitive nature of both hockey and mixed martial arts.

Follow Andy Eide on Twitter @andyeide.

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