The Everett Silvertips announced the acquisition of overage defenseman Matthew Pufahl and a fifth-round pick in the 2015 WHL Bantam Draft from the Saskatoon Blades in exchange for defenseman Ayrton Nikkel. Pufahl becomes the fourth 1993-born player on Everett’s roster ahead of next season, joining forwards Manraj Hayer, Reid Petryk and Josh Winquist.

Pufahl, who turns 20 next month, produced 43 points with six goals and 37 assists in 69 regular season games, in addition to a +11 plus/minus rating and 21 penalty minutes.

“We’re very happy to add a 20-year-old defenseman who had a great experience on a Memorial Cup team last season,” said General Manager Garry Davidson. “We were lacking some experience on the back end for next year, and that’s exactly what Matt brings us. He is coming off a good season statistically, but understands the rebuild that is happening now in Saskatoon. I think he’s excited about coming here and becoming a key part of a team that is looking to make big strides next year.”

“Of course you have to give something up to get something, and we had to give up a good defenseman in Ayrton Nikkel.”

http://www.everettsilvertips.com/art...ahl-draft-pick

The Silvertips selected 1996-born forwards Waltteri Hopponen of Helsinki, Finland and Ivan Nikolishin of Moscow, Russia in the 2013 CHL Import Draft. Hopponen and Nikolishin join San Jose Sharks draft pick Mirco Mueller as import players on the Silvertips’ 50-player protected list.

A new CHL rule allows Everett to temporarily keep three import players in case Mueller is retained next season by the San Jose Sharks, who selected him with the 18th overall pick in the first round of the NHL Draft. If and when Mueller is returned by San Jose to the Silvertips next season, Everett would once again be limited to two European imports.

Hopponen, 17, was selected by the Silvertips with the 10th overall pick on Wednesday, making him the third Finn chosen by the Silvertips among their 15 all-time import draft selections. In 20 appearances with Espoo U18, he averaged over a point-per-game with 12 goals and 11 assists for 23 points to go with 26 penalty minutes. He also played ten playoff games, notching four points (3g/1a) and eight penalty minutes.

A 6-foot-1, 185-pound winger with a left-handed shot, Hopponen also represented Finland in the 2013 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Quebec (1g/2a) over five games.

Nikolishin, 17, was chosen by Everett with the 70th overall selection in the second round of the import draft. The Moscow native scored 11 goals and added 12 assists for 23 points in 53 games with the Moscow CSKA Red Army junior program. He also captained Russia’s Silver Medal-winning team at this year’s World Under-17 Hockey Challenge (4g/4a).

The 5-foot-9, 160-pound left winger was recently drafted in the first round (29th overall) of the 2013 Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) Junior Draft and has yet to decide his playing destination for next season. Ivan’s father, Andrei Nikolishin, played ten seasons and over 600 games in the NHL, suiting up for the Hartford Whalers, Washington Capitals, Chicago Blackhawks and Colorado Avalanche in that time.

http://www.everettsilvertips.com/art...n-import-draft