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WHL: All-time Everett goal-scoring leader Maxwell asks for trade, gets sent home

scott sepich

It's been rough going so far this year for the Everett Silvertips. Captain and elite prospect Ryan Murray has been sidelined the last 10 games with an ankle injury, and now word has come that the franchise's all-time leading goal scorer, Tyler Maxwell, has requested a trade.

The 'Tips responded to the request by sending the 20-year-old left winger home to Manhattan Beach, Calif. It was no secret that this would be a rebuilding year for Everett under rookie coach Mark Ferner, but coming off a dismal trip to the Eastern Conference that left the Silvertips sitting at 4-13-0-3, Maxwell has apparently decided he's had enough.

Nick Patterson of the Everett Herald broke the news Tuesday afternoon. Maxwell and his teammates (for now) declined comment, but GM Doug Soetart indicated that if Maxwell wasn't going to be on board with the team's rebuild, they didn't want him around the team:

"He's been a very good player for us," Soetaert added. "But there's a program here we want people to follow that started last year and hasn't changed. We're making that change, and when a player comes to you with (the trade request), he's placing himself above the team, and we're not going to stand for that."

"I can't answer what it is he wants," Soetaert said. "He wants to play on a winning team? Well, we all do. This is where we're at and this is what we're doing. Either you buy in or you don't buy in. The rest of the guys in the dressing room bought in. We've had a tough time, but we're going to get better and we're building this thing. We'll keep moving forward without him." (Everett Herald)

There's no doubt it's been a rough go in Everett as of late. The Silvertips wrapped up a nine-game road trip with an 8-1 loss in Spokane. They were also beaten 10-2 by Medicine Hat on the trip, but did earn victories at Seattle and Red Deer.

Maxwell has 11 goals in 19 games this year, and his sudden appearance on the market could be a boon for a contending team looking for proven offensive punch. Of the 15 WHLers who scored at least 40 goals last season, only five are still in the league. Maxwell, who scored 41 goals in 2010-11, is one of them (the others are Emerson Etem, Jordan Weal, Brendan Gallagher and Quinton Howden). Maxwell has 107 goals in 216 career regular-season games and nine in 16 playoff games.

Because of his ability to produce despite a weak supporting cast (he represented 23.8 percent of Everett's scoring offence last year), a lot of contending teams could line up to request Maxwell's service -- for a modest price, of course.

It stands to reason that the 'Tips are in a bad negotiating position, given that this situation has blown up publicly and everyone knows Maxwell is done in Everett. But there aren't many guys in the league who can put the puck in the net like he can.

Further complicating matters is the fact that every team in the league except Victoria is at their limit of three overage players. The Royals (formerly the Chilliwack Bruins) lost sniper Ryan Howse this season, but the major issue there is defense. Victoria needs to worry about a defense that's giving up more than 4.5 goals per game and reminding folks of the dying days of the old Victoria Cougars, so perhaps Maxwell isn't their answer.

Some may be concerned about Maxwell's attitude given this request, but it sure seems like it would be worth it for a teams to see if a fresh start reinvigorates him. This is Maxwell's last chance to shine in the WHL, and he should be motivated to make a run at a pro career. He went undrafted, but attended camp with the Minnesota Wild this year.

Scott Sepich is a contributor to Buzzing the Net. Follow him on Twitter @SSepichWHL (Photo: WHL/Everett Silvertips)