Watch above: More trades could be on the horizon for the Saskatoon Blades after Cory Millette dealt to the Prince Albert Raiders. As Jack Haskins reports, the Blades wants to give younger players more ice time as the team rebuilds.
SASKATOON – In just the second year of a full scale rebuild, it was clear that this wasn’t going to be the Saskatoon Blades most competitive campaign. Trading away Cory Millette further emphasized that point.
Millette had been one of Saskatoon’s most productive players, racking up 14 points in 22 games. But considering the fact that the Blades are already nine points out of a playoff spot, and are in the process of restocking their shelves for the future, Blades head coach and general manager Bob Woods decided to send his first line left winger up the highway to Prince Albert in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick in 2016.
“If you’re in a rebuild and we’re sitting two or three young guys every night, I don’t think that’s what you should be doing,” said Woods on Thursday. “We want to use this opportunity to take a look at these guys, and when you have nine or 10 young guys, they need ice time.”
The Millette deal likely won’t be the last one the Blades make before the trade deadline in January. There are still six 1995 born players on the Blades roster. They will all be overage players next year, meaning the Blades can only keep three of them.
So it would make sense for Woods to keep wheeling and dealing if the price is right. As it stands right now, not a single player on the Blades roster is an untouchable asset.
“I don’t think in the situation we’re in you ever close the door on anything,” said Woods. “You’re going to field all types of offers, and whatever makes sense for us, we’re going to look at.”
One player who could draw some interest at the trade deadline is left winger Nick Zajac. The scrappy 19-year-old has 203 regular season games of WHL experience under his belt. Zajac’s energy would likely be a welcome addition to any team looking to make a playoff push.
But the problem is, Zajac is committed to the Blades rebuild and doesn’t want to be traded, even if it means joining a more competitive team.
“Of course you don’t want to get traded or moved,” said Zajac on Thursday. “It’s part of the hockey business. If it happens it happens, and you just want to play every game like it’s your hardest, and it’s your last game in a Blades uniform.”
The Blades will fight to snap their three game losing skid on Saturday night when they host the Swift Current Broncos. Bob Woods expects centre Alex Forsberg, defenceman Ryan Coghlan, and goalie Nik Amundrud to return to the lineup for Saturday’s contest.
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