Thunderbirds Rebuild

[SB2013]

With the recent signing of first overall pick Mathew Brazal, it seems that the Thunderbirds are set for the future, with prospects in there lineup, also the prospects that will be fighting for spots do you think the Thunderbirds will be a powerhouse in 2 or 3 years? Could they build like the recent Portland Winterhawks with prospects like Brazal, Fabbro, Elder, Kolesar, Flodell, Bear, and Gropp?

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[Skinnyjimmy08]

With the recent signing of first overall pick Mathew Brazal, it seems that the Thunderbirds are set for the future, with prospects in there lineup, also the prospects that will be fighting for spots do you think the Thunderbirds will be a powerhouse in 2 or 3 years? Could they build like the recent Portland Winterhawks with prospects like Brazal, Fabbro, Elder, Kolesar, Flodell, Bear, and Gropp?

Gropp committed to University North Dakota. Sure there is still a chance he could suit up for T-Birds, but highly unlikely. As for the rest, ya the T-Birds future is actually looking unreal!!.. Hopefully they can turn things around pretty quick because I am certain Barzal will possibly be only a 2 year guy(gonna be a very high NHL pick). But in those 2 years, Barzal and Theodore are going to wow the crowd on the PP!

 

[Oh_so_saad]

I think both the tips and seattle are on track to becoming powerhouses again. Seattle had all the talent last year but goaltending really **** them.

 

[SBrisScout]

The Thunderbirds and the Silvertips have both put themselves in a great spot to contend as top teams in a few years. Gropp's decision to play for North Dakota certainly hurt the TBirds, but they still will have an excellent forward group coming in this season.

Silvertips GM Garry Davidson has slowly built up the team's prospect pool, they had a great bantam draft, picking forward Tyson Jost, then selecting a top-five talent in Patrick Khodorenko in the second round. In the import draft they picked Waltteri Hopponen, who is fully committed to Everett, then took a flyer on top Russian talent Ivan Nikolishin, who could be the best Russian in next year's NHL draft.

 

[SB2013]

Gropp committed to University North Dakota. Sure there is still a chance he could suit up for T-Birds, but highly unlikely. As for the rest, ya the T-Birds future is actually looking unreal!!.. Hopefully they can turn things around pretty quick because I am certain Barzal will possibly be only a 2 year guy(gonna be a very high NHL pick). But in those 2 years, Barzal and Theodore are going to wow the crowd on the PP!

Do you think that the thunderbirds have the right players in their lineup right now to be a contending team before brazal is gone to the NHL?

 

[SB2013]

The Thunderbirds and the Silvertips have both put themselves in a great spot to contend as top teams in a few years. Gropp's decision to play for North Dakota certainly hurt the TBirds, but they still will have an excellent forward group coming in this season.

Silvertips GM Garry Davidson has slowly built up the team's prospect pool, they had a great bantam draft, picking forward Tyson Jost, then selecting a top-five talent in Patrick Khodorenko in the second round. In the import draft they picked Waltteri Hopponen, who is fully committed to Everett, then took a flyer on top Russian talent Ivan Nikolishin, who could be the best Russian in next year's NHL draft.

I personally have seen the slivertips get lately, do you think they will be able to compete with the thunderbirds in a couple of seasons?

 

[SBrisScout]

Hiring Kevin Constantine has brought a certain sense of prestige back to the Silvertips. If the Tips can get a commitment from Nikolishin next year, then I firmly believe they can compete with the Tbirds within the next two years.

The Silvertips have listed a large number of probable NCAA prospects, and if they can recruit a few of them then they will definitely be able to be a top contender in the WHL.