If you think the Leon Draisaitl situation is fascinating, just wait.
What happens, for sake of argument, if the San Jose Sharks send 19-year-old defenceman Mirco Mueller back to the Everett Silvertips after the Jan. 10 trade deadline, since Everett already has the max two imports in forwards Ivan Nikolishin and Nikita Scherbak?
Mueller is still eligible to play in the WHL this season as long as San Jose sends him back by the NHL trade deadline on March 2.
If he’s sent back after Jan. 10, can Everett have three Euros on its roster? And can all three dress for games?
To quote an email from the WHL head office on Friday: “Yes and yes.”
The Sharks loaned Mueller out to Team Switzerland for the world juniors. In 24 NHL games this season, he’s averaging 17:09 of playing time. He has one goal, two assists, a minus-two rating and eight penalty minutes in that span.
And, keep in mind, the Sharks are loaded with defencemen. They made veteran Scott Hannan a healthy scratch in their Tuesday game against the Canucks. Matt Irwin had been a healthy scratch before that.
Everett might be the next-best thing in the Western Conference after the Kelowna Rockets, and they have a chance to get a whole lot better if San Jose decides on Jan. 11 or later to send Mueller.
Let the speculation begin.
http://blogs.theprovince.com/2015/01...three-imports/