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Sbisa returning to Lethbridge |
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Written by Dale Woodard
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Monday, October 26 2009, 12:03 AM |
Rich Preston doesn’t have much of a scouting report on Luca Sbisa.
Then again, the general manager and coach of the Lethbridge Hurricanes doesn’t really need one.
All he needs to do is consult is his buddy, former teammate and general manager of the Anaheim Ducks, Bob Murray, for any lowdown he needs on the 19-year-old blue liner.
Soon, Preston will be getting a first-hand glimpse of Sibsa and all he’ll have to do is glance down the bench.
In an announcement that will no doubt have a Hurricanes fan or two dancing a happy jig, the Ducks announced Sunday that they were sending Sbisa back to the Hurricanes for another year of junior seasoning.
And Preston didn’t have to wrack his brain too hard to figure out where he was going to slot the native of Ozieri, Italy.
“Well, I’ll guarantee you one thing, he’ll be in the top-two (defencemen),” said Preston with a chuckle following Sunday’s 5-4 victory over the Moose Jaw Warriors. “I hear he’s a pretty good player, so I’m anxious to see him.”
Sbisa, who is six-foot-two and 204 pounds, was pointless in eight games with the Ducks this season.
He spent the majority of last season in the NHL as well, lacing up with the Philadelphia Flyers — the team that drafted Sbisa in the first round and 19th overall in the 2008 NHL entry draft — before being returned to the ’Canes in February.
“I talked to Bob a couple days ago and we had a good chat,” said Preston. “He said that was their plan. So I said ‘good’ and we’ll welcome him with open arms. He actually called me and I missed his call before the game.”
Sbisa’s arrival puts Hurricanes forward Radim Valchar on the outs as the team tends to its quota of European players.
“We’ll have two weeks to move Radim and see what happens,” said Preston.
Having seen Sbisa’s blueline talent first hand, Hurricanes captain Carter Bancks was understandably unbeat on Sbisa’s return.
“That’s huge for us,” Bancks. “First of all, he’s a great leader and a great kid. He’ll bring so much to our dressing room. He’s one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet. Obviously his play talks for itself. He played almost a full year last year in the NHL and started there again this year. He’s only a 19-year-old. He’s unbelievable. He does it all. He’s physical, he can shoot the puck and he skate. We’re thrilled to get him back. We didn`t think we had a chance to get him this year. But obviously Anaheim thinks another year of development for him will be good. It’s good.”
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