Icecats Offseason, including will they try to trade the #5 pick?

Icecats Offseason, including will they try to trade the #5 pick?

The Siberia Icecats have wrapped up their second full season in the CCHL, after having relocated from Murfreesboro.  We caught up with GM Silvio Saouaf at a team executive meeting in Novosibirsk.  Here is what GM Saouaf had to say.

“Well, we are holding our end of season executive meeting where the leadership of the team gathers
together to start to get ready for next season.  Unfortunately, it was another season of missing the
playoffs, but we hope our fans are starting to see glimmers of the bright future that is awaiting this
team.  Our point total this year was higher than it has been in the past 2 seasons and we have some key young players ready to step in next year.  We have guys like Connor McDavid, Nikolaj Ehlers, Sam Bennett, Anthony Duclair, Colton Parayko and Matt Murray who are poised to lead this team to a much brighter future.  We will also have some returning vets who will have a big impact on this team and will be mentors for our youngsters, like Daniel Sedin, Kyle Palmieri, Tyson Barrie, Mika Zibanejad and Ryan Miller.  I am excited about the future of this team.  It has been a long road but there is a bright light at the end of this tunnel.”

When asked about his goals for next year, GM Saouaf did not hesitate to respond.  “We are absolutely shooting to make the playoffs next year.  The rebuilding is done and we will use this draft to help solidify our prospect pool but I will not hesitate to trade draft picks in this upcoming draft to help put the Icecats into a position to contend for a playoff spot.  I may even consider trading the #5 pick in the draft if the right offer comes along.  This is a talented draft and we will get a very talented player at #5, but this player is a few years away from having an impact on this team.  If I can acquire young talent who can step in now, I won’t hesitate to deal the pick”.

This is definitely a shift in direction for GM Saouaf, who has traditionally traded players for draft picks, so it will be interesting to see what transpires this offseason.  The future is bright for the Icecats but this reporter is getting cold here is Siberia, so this reporter is signing off and heading back to warmth!