Returning Winterhawk Profile #15 Tyson Predinchuk

(Editors Note: I will looking at each returning Winterhawk, individually on the countdown to the home opener on September 19th).

Next Up (in numerical fashion) is #15 Tyson Predinchuk

Born: June 1st, 1995
Hometown: Regina, Saskatchewan
Position: Center
How Acquired: Picked up and brought to team December 27th, 2013, as Portland was missing players at World Juniors. Was originally a 6th round (#107 Overall) Bantam Draft pick for Spokane in 2010.

Stats:
-2012/13(with Spokane): 25 Games Played: 0 Goals, 5 Assists, 5 Points, -1, 5 Penalty Minutes
-2013/14(with Portland): 20 GP, 2 G, 1 A, 3 Pts, +2, 2 PIMs
               Playoffs: 9 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 Pts, 0 PIMs 

NHL Drafted: Was passed over in 2013 and 2014, is again eligible for the 2015 draft.

Analysis:
- Tyson was added for depth during the World Junior Championships last season, when Portland was missing many players and has shown enough to warrant him being included among the final 15 forwards for this year's team. In his second game in a Hawk's sweater, he potted a goal against the Tri City Americans. He added 1 more goal in limited time with the Hawks over the rest of the regular season and the playoffs. When he did play, he was relegated to the 4th line and played, probably an average of 5-10 minutes a night. Tyson has a big frame (6'3" 193 lbs) and does well along the boards. His skating isn't the best and the few times he was out there against the other team's better players, he looked over-matched. A pro contract is definitely a long shot for him because he again will see limited time, if he is one of the forwards kept on the team after the 6 forwards the Hawks have at pro camps come filtering back.

Outlook:
-Let's just be honest, the outlook is not great for Predinchuk to make much of an impact on this year's team. He has shown very limited offensive ability and is not someone who they have used often on the penalty kill either. When they have enough bodies back, there is a very strong possibility that Predinchuk is sent back to the Melville Millionaires of the SJHL. I just could not see why the Hawks would choose to give him the opportunity to take playing time away from several of the 17 year old wingers that need the ice time at this level to develop. If they do choose to send a few of these 17s down to Midget, I suppose Predinchuk is a guy that you do not worry about as much, psychologically, as far as constantly moving him up and down as a body, due to injuries. But unless the Hawks are beset upon by injuries, I could not see him staying for long.


Previous Returning Winterhawk Profiles: Keegan Iverson, Adam De Champlain, Chase De Leo, Paul Bittner, Josh Hanson, Ethan Price, Anton Cederholm, Brendan Burke