The Return of Trader Sam!

It's been awhile now for ol' Trader Sam as I've been sitting on the beaches of the world sipping beers and meeting ladies. 

It appears that during my absence a lot of trades have taken place in the CCHL, with one of the "new" owners going absolutely crazy in roster turnover! 

I'll attempt to talk about each of the more recent trades while I leave the beaches and enter a dry month or two as we approach the annual CCHL draft. 

(03/29/18) NEW trades VIC 1st-18 & NEW 12th-18 to DAY for Daniil Vladar, DAY 2nd-18 & DAY 1st-19...

It appears that Dayton believes that having three out of the first four picks this season is better than having a top pick next season.  While having three of the top four picks isn't bad the potential for that Dayton 1st in 19 becoming Jack Hughes is too great a risk for Sam to swallow. 

Vladar is a decent prospect but isn't outstanding and has a gigantic roadblock ahead of him for playing time at the big league level. 

Ultimately Dayton could win this trade if it doesn't become Jack Hughes and must hope the lottery gods shine upon them in order to lose the lottery next year; otherwise, there could be songs of regret playing in the Musicmen front office next April. 

(03/28/18) GEO trades A. Khudobin to DRT for DRT 6th-18...

It looks like Dartmouth solve their goaltending issues with a reasonable pick.  Georgetown could not resign Khudobin so it looks like a good trade for both teams. 

(03/27/18) FOR trades B. Saad, FOR 5th-18 & POR 1st-19 to SUD for J. Fast & FNT 1st-18...

Fort Erie is loaded up front for this season and the foreseeable future and Saad did not appear to have a shot at cracking the lineup in the 2018-19 season.  At 6.5 million bones for the year, it did not make sense to keep him. 

Sudbury will have plenty of ice time for Saad as they continue their rebuild and give up a pick earlier in the draft for a pick in 2019 when the top prospects appear to meet their needs more. 

That pick should allow Fort Erie to get the player they want in the draft so it looks like a really smart move for both general managers.  Sam likes it when trades make sense. 

(03/24/18) SIB trades J. McCabe to DRT for Libor Hajek-p... 

Siberia give up a player that won't likely impact their lineup this season for a player they hope will impact their lineup in a few seasons - at a greater level. 

This is a good mix of needing it now for Dartmouth and need it later for Siberia in which both teams help themselves.  It's a good smart deal in Sam's eyes and really, that's all that counts today. 

(03/24/18) CGY trades MIN 1st-18 & K. Shattenkirk to GIL for M.A. Fleury & J. Carlson...

Sam had to put down the beer, whiskey, and vodka for a few days when he first saw this deal. 

Calgary trades a middle of the pack first round pick and the underperforming Shattenkirk to Gillam for Marc Andre Fleury and John Carlson. 

Looking at the historical values of trades, Sam can't help but wonder if Gillam could not have gotten more for Carlson alone than he got for both in this deal. 

While Fleury was an unrestricted free agent and Calgary had a spot to sign him, the deal really hurts when Carlson was involved. 

Good deal for Calgary as they get two good players for little impact on their roster this or the next few seasons.  While Gillam gets a much needed first rounder, it still feels like a bit of a low sell given the talent involved.  Sam could be wrong based on how the pick turns out but we won't know that for a few years yet. 

(03/24/18) DRT trades K. Yandle to LAS for C. Grundstrom-p...

Dartmouth moves Yandle and his salary for a prospect to help them in the future and have then since replaced Yandle with McCabe.  While McCabe won't provide the same level of offense as Yandle, he's a lot cheaper and helps the team in their rebuild financially while playing valuable minutes. 

Miners acquire winger Brandon Saad from Fort Erie

CANADIAN PRESS (Sudbury, ON):

Just when all appeared quiet in the Nickel City, the Sudbury Miners were back at it again on Tuesday morning with a couple of transactions.

First, the Miners announced the signing of their 2017 1^st round pick (8^th overall), Casey Mittelstadt to a 3-year entry level contract. Voted the top forward at the 2018 World Junior Championships this past year in Buffalo, Mittelstadt spent only one year at the University of Minnesota before turning pro. Mittelstadt had 11 goals and 19 assists in 34 games and was named to the Big Ten all-freshmen team this year.

The other transaction of the morning, was a little larger in stature, as the Miners pulled off a trade with Fort Erie. The deal came together early Tuesday morning and the details are this:

Sudbury trades pick #11 overall in the 2018 CCHL draft, along with right winger Jesper Fast to Fort Erie in exchange for winger Brandon Saad, a 2018 5th round pick (#107 overall) and a 2019 1st round pick (Portland).

“Brandon Saad is a really good hockey player, a really good person, and to be able to bring in a dynamic guy like him, I think is very important to our hockey team," Miners General Manager Terry James said. "He likes scoring goals, and even though he had a tough year, I am looking for a bounce back from him next season. He is too talented not to. I want him to bring the type of play he has been known for, to us.”

Having been traded for the second time this off-season, having gone from Springfield to Fort Erie and now off to Sudbury, may have caught Saad a bit off-guard to say the least.

"It was definitely pretty shocking. Not something I expected having just been dealt a couple of weeks ago. But it is very exciting. It is nice to be wanted," Saad said. "I heard this morning, and it was definitely shocking to me. I am happy to go to a place that wants me.”

“I look forward to getting adjusted as soon as possible and help do my part to help push this organization ahead. I guess it’s a good thing that I had not unpacked fully in Fort Erie" joked Saad.

It is expected that Miners coach Derek Sutton will slot Saad into one of his top two lines, putting him with some of his better skilled forwards in the hopes of jump starting their struggling offence for next season.

Georgetown GM explains recent moves

After dealing Wayne Simmonds and the 20th overall pick for the 15th overall pick and Tobias Rieder, Millers GM continued to move out the old guard, bring in some new players and acquiring draft picks and prospects. Below is a list of recent moves and the GM’s reasoning behind them as well as updates on other possible transactions.

SIB trades P. Cehlarik-M to GEO for A. Cogliano & GEO 7th-19

Cogliano is UFA after the 2019 season, and with the addition of Rieder and the ascension of Radek Faksa to the 3rd line, “Cogs” was deemed expendable. Cehlarik is projected as a good 3rd line winger who could take a turn on a scoring line and not embarrass himself. He’s not expected to be a full time contributor until the 2019-20 season.

DAY trades D. Ryan & SIB 6th to GEO for Sam Anas-p and $800K…

As mentioned above, Radek Faksa is taking over 3rd line Center duties, leaving an opening on the 4th line. Although internal candidate Zack Smith can play the pivot the team preferred to go with a player more suited to 4th line duties. Derek Ryan led Dayton in scoring this past season with 37 points but he’s being looked upon for his face-off prowess moreso than his offense.

DRT trades Z. Parise & WIS 2nd-18 to GEO for DRT 5th-18 & Casey Fitzgerald-p…

Although Parise is respected for his 2-way game, his toughness in front of the net and his leadership abilities, the real prize in this deal was the acquisition of the 37th overall pick in the 2018 draft. Parise is owed $13 million in the last year of his contract, and as of right now would not have a role above the 3rd line, if that.

Mike Hoffman?

Rumors have swirled that Mike Hoffman could be moved. To this point the club has not received an offer to their liking and are more than prepared to have him start the season on the 1st line with Brayden Schenn and Reilly Smith.

Rick Nash?

The market for Nash (and his $8 million salary) has not developed, which isn’t necesarily a surprise. The Millers are content to keep him and play him on the 3rd line and special teams until his contract expires.

Goalie?

To date the team has not been able to acquire an upgrade over James Reimer. All signs point to the team bidding for one in free agency.

UFA re-sign?

The club has opened talks with Henrik Zetterberg and the expectation is that he will re-sign for 2 years and take over 2nd line Center duties. Jeff Carter wants to test the market but both sides are keeping the lines of communication open. Mike Green was told several weeks ago he will not return.

Miners acquire Tierney and Kuemper from Gillam for picks.

 Miners acquire Tierney and Kuemper from Gillam for picks.

CANADIAN PRESS (Sudbury, ON):

The Sudbury Miners and the newly relocated Gillam Sharks made a move early Thursday morning as the Sharks sent pending RFA forward Chris Tierney and goaltender Darcy Kuemper to the Sudbury in exchange for a 4th round, 7th round and a 12th round pick – all in 2018.

In looking at the current roster make-up of the Miners, Tierney will slot into the #3 or #4 center role, while Kuemper will provide some goaltending insurance for both Fredrick Andersen and Jake Allen.

“We needed a little depth at center, particularly in our 3rd line/4th line center spot, and we think Tierney can fill that nicely for us.  We are happy to get another young, developing player in him.  He is ahead of the curve when it comes to defense over most players his own age.  He will be a nice asset”, stated General Manager Terry James.

Tierney was originally drafted in the 2012 CCHL Entry Draft (87th overall) by the now defunct Winnipeg Ferrets.   In 79 games this year with the Halifax Hammerheads, Tierney saw action in 79 games, contributing 9 goals and 8 assists for 17 points.   In 5 playoff games, Tierney would get on the scoresheet with a single tally.  He is seen as a young player who has a very good two-way ability and can chip in with a few goals from the bottom six.  He owns excellent hockey sense and can be an asset in all three zones, especially on the penalty kill.

In Kuemper, the Miners solidify their goaltending rotation for the next few seasons.   While the days of Kuemper developing into a starting goaltender have passed, he can provide relief for short periods of time and is an ideal back-up.  His salary is less than $2 million per year, which provides good value going forward.

The classic butterfly goaltender is an excellent puck-handler and uses his huge frame and butterfly style to full effect when filling the net.   However, at times, he needs to do a better job when challenging a shooter and can go into his butterfly a bit too quick at times.  He has also been known to get caught out of position when out to handle the puck, despite this being an asset for him.

Offseason Update for the Millers...

Offseason update for the Georgetown Millers

With the free-agency re-signing deadline about 3 weeks away the Georgetown Millers have yet to announce who is staying and who is leaving. At press time the Millers had the following UFAs that are playing in the NHL this season:

Jeff Carter
Tyler Bozak
Mike Fisher
Brian Gionta
Mike Green
Anton Khudobin
Henrik Zetterberg

Despite leading the Millers in scoring this past season and being named the team’s MVP, it’s expected the Millers will let Carter walk and attempt to re-sign him at a lesser salary once the UFA process begins due to his injury issues this NHL season. Green’s spot on the blue line has already been replaced by Jeff Petry, and Bozak is not seen as an answer to the team’s 2nd line C quandry nor would he be brought back for the 3rd line C role which is expected to be filled by Radek Faksa. Fisher and Gionta have barely played this NHL season.

That leaves Zetterberg and Khudobin as the most likely re-sign possibilities. Khudobin could share G duties with James Reimer, although neither has played to the level of a starter this NHL season. Zetterberg would seem to fit the 2nd line C spot, hopefully keeping it warm until a younger replacement is drafted, promoted or acquired.

The Millers have 5 pending RFAs, including the newly acquired Tobias Rieder.

Ben Chariot
Nick Cousins
Tobias Rieder
Brayden Schenn
Teuvo Teravainen

Schenn and Teravainen are no-brainers and expected to be extended for 3 years. Rieder is also expected to be extended, probably for 2 years. Chiarot’s odds of receiving a new contract were greatly enhanced when Michael Kempny was dealt to Dayton, but Chiarot should only expect a one year deal. Cousins is a borderline call and his fate really depends on if the Millers can move out some vets currently projected to play on the 4th line.

If the 2018-19 season began tomorrow, and assuming Zetterberg is their UFA re-sign and all 5 RFAs come back, the Millers would line-up thusly:

Forwards:
Schenn-Hoffman-Reilly Smith
Zetterberg-Teravainen-Boeser
Faksa-Nash-Pitlick
Zack Smith-Cogliano-Reider
extra Forwards - Cousins, Wilson, Hannikainen
(Brian Flynn is signed for 2 more years but has not seen any NHL time this year and is expected to eventually be released.)

Defense:
Josi-Orlov
Fowler-Pesce
Dillon-Petry
extra D - Chiarot, Sproul

Goaltenders:
Reimer
A netminder yet to be acquired
Budaj

The Millers have traditionally used UFA signings for depth purposes, preferring to not go above $1 million on contracts. It’s looking likely that the team will have to spend much more than that to cover their hole at G and they’ll look to use their typical budget signing to acquire a 4th line C.

Miners continue to deal; acquire hard-nosed winger Simmonds

Miners continue to deal; acquire hard-nosed winger Simmonds

CANADIAN PRESS (Sudbury, ON):

The Sudbury Miners and Georgetown Millers made a move early Monday morning, as the Miners sent Tobias Rieder and a 1^st round pick (15^th overall), to the Georgetown Millers in exchange for hard-nosed winger Wayne Simmonds and Georgetown’s 1st round pick in 2018 (20^th overall).

Simmonds, a restricted free agent, is expected to sign with the Miners in short order. The contract is reported to be two (2) years at an AAV of $5 million dollars. Rieder, a restricted RFA at the end of the 2017-18 CCHL season, was signed to a 2-year deal at an AAV of $2.45 million last week.

Given the youth on his roster, Sudbury General Manager Terry James was looking for some veteran guidance to help the young kids continue their development.

"It's not every day that you can acquire a player like Wayne Simmonds and what he can bring to the team," said James. "He is going to compliment the type of game that we plan on playing. He brings grit and sandpaper, to go along with versatility in being able to play in all situations. He brings along a tremendous amount of experience to fit into our lineup, and it just adds to the depth of our forwards."

Simmonds basically saw the writing on the wall at the end of year being an RFA and with the Millers going public with their desire to get younger. However, as any player will tell you, it is never easy to be traded, even if you are a seasoned veteran.

"It was extremely difficult (to leave Georgetown); the owners, the organization has been first-class to me over the time I've been here," Simmonds said. "For my family, it is going to be extremely tough to now have them move to a new country but everybody in our house is extremely excited to be a part of the Miners and where they are going. I'm ecstatic to be a part of that."

Simmonds was originally drafted in the fifth round of the 2007 CCHL Entry Draft (106th overall) by the Dayton Musicmen. The gritty forward got into all 82 games this year with the Millers, scoring 33 goals and 22 assists for 55 points and was among the league leaders in both hits and penalty minutes. 

In the playoffs, Simmonds would chip in another 4 goals and an assist for the Millers before they were ultimately swept in the Canosa Conference Final by the Reyjkavik Puffin.

"It's not every day that you can acquire a player like Patrick Marleau and what he can bring to the team," Toronto general manager Lou Lamoriello said. "He fits right in with the type of game that we play. His skating ability is still exceptional, his versatility in being able to play in all situations, a tremendous amount of experience into the lineup. It just adds to the depth of our forwards."

Norsemen Discuss Reworked Roster....

[SAINT PAUL . Minnesota]

Still on the doorsteps of April, and a LONG time before the 2018-19 CCHL season starts in September/October, the Minnesota Norsemen are somewhat quietly (relative to some of the bigger names or rumored bigger names/picks moving in the CCHL) addressing needs and upgrading in spots with relative efficiency.

“There are some motivated teams right now, whether it be new generals putting their stamp on their team, or clubs looking to take the leap or continue building, that have made this a very active environment to be working in,” said Norsemen general manager, Blake Wendt. “With what we accomplished this last season, and seeing what we have going into next season, we are obviously in that transition into contender mode. I don’t expect the Canosa Conference to be any less of a dogfight next season as it was last season. If we want to come out on top of that pile, we have to be smart about where we update and replace our personnel. When we’ve identified an area of liability, we have so far not only plugged that hole but put a quality asset in that spot.”

Going into the 2018-19 season, Minnesota is expected to have some big point producers on their top-two lines. Phil Kessel is likely locked in on the top line at right-wing. From there, the flexibility of some players to play center or on the wings, will keep things fluid and give the head coach, Mike Yeo plenty of options with his lineup on a nightly basis.

The Norsemen are incredibly deep at center. The top line could see Eric Staal, Tyler Seguin or William Karlsson there on Opening Night. There’s also the possibility of slotting Seguin in a 2RW role and/or Karlsson in a 1-2LW role. To give the club depth down the middle if that happens, and to avoid going crazy trying to find that depth at the Free Agent Frenzy, the Norsemen went a trade route and picked up Colton Sissons from Parry Sound on Friday (with forward Tyler Motte for Hunwick and prospect forwards, Forsbacka Karlsson & Bjork). Sissons checks off so many boxes beside being a depth center. The former Kelowna Rocket captain basically locks down the third line role. Size, defensively stout and an ever-improving face-off specialist that ranks as one of the better ones in the game. The departure of Hunwick clears out an enormous amount of money remaining on his deal that was signed in the last Free Agent Frenzy. While also cleaning up some ugly contracts that Wendt has been open in admitting in hindsight, were some bad moves.

To go along with the winger options of Seguin and Karlsson, there are some giants to fill out the remainder of the top-9. Anders Lee, Charlie Coyle, Nick Bjugstad, Anthony Mantha and Andreas Athanasiou will take up a lot of space on the ice. Plenty of options and different styles to give Yeo the right mix in the given situation.

The blue line is the perfect mix of cerebral, gifted skating defensemen that Wendt has been trying to piece together for years to his liking. The emergence of Charlie McAvoy will likely see him up on the top pairing with the insanely underrated, Ivan Provorov. Newly acquired Tyson Barrie will be McAvoy’s biggest competition for those 1D minutes on the right side. With him will be either be the equally shifty Nate Schmidt or the smooth-skating, smart Jonas Brodin. Rounding out the bottom pairing will see Deryk Engelland keeping the opposition honest and providing a cannon from the point.

In net will be the greatest strength of the Norsemen. Pekka Rinne is arguably one of the best, if not THE best goaltender in the game today. To think he was acquired WITH future franchise goalie, Carter Hart from Hamilton for Devan Dubnyk! He is a workhorse, but on the rare off day, there will be no drop off in his fellow countryman, Antti Raanta. In a pinch, or if injuries were to unfortunately arise, Minnesotans Alex Stalock or possibly Alex Lyon will be at the ready.

With the Free Agent Frenzy being the next major event in the CCHL, don’t expect the Minnesota Norsemen to be very active, if at all during that process. Whether it be gun shy from the aftermath of last year’s signings, or just not needing much of anything from it.

-----

Springfield Offseason Trade reviews

Springfield Offseason Trade reviews

Note: These reviews are done at the time of the transaction, with comments added after.

(02/28/18) SPR trades R. Getzlaf & Caleb Jones-p to VIC for J. Bouwmeester...

To be honest this reporter does not understand the thought process here.  Yes, the ‘topes needed help on defense but this seems like a risky move.  Losing Getzlaf and a prospect for Bouwmeester might be tough to swallow for Springfield fans*.  Bouwmeester is a smooth skating defense who can play big minutes, he can be counted on to stay pretty healthy** and should help Springfield this coming year and the year after.

*next trade makes things clearer
**sigh, looks like he is good for 35 games this year

(02/28/18) VIC trades R. Getzlaf to SPR for SPR 1st-19...

OOOOOOOH, that makes sense now.  Springfield looks to be able to sign Backstrom as well as keep Getzlaf.  Getzlaf will spend some time on the IR this year but he is having a great season and should play some important sheltered minutes.

(03/07/18) FOR trades K. Alzner & SPR 11th-18 to SPR for Dylan Wells-p...

Dylan Wells was hopefully going to be a future starting goalie for the Isotopes but with the current issues on the defensive end on the roster the team needed to part ways with him to bring in steady K. Alzner.  Alzner should hopefully provide a solid presence for years to come.  The 11th pick coming back to Springfield highlights GM Stacey’s odd fascination with late picks.

(03/10/18) FOR trades J. Spezza & J. Spurgeon to SPR for B. Saad & P. Berglund...

Saad and Berglund leaves the team he has known since 2015.  It was highly unlikely that Springfield would have signed Berglund but he was still included as a way to balance the trade*.  Spurgeon while not a giant on defence will likely give the team a friendly kick in the butt on the power play and play some solid minutes.  J. Spezza and his contract join the team and it is likely he will see the press box for the season unless the team can get a late pick (Stacey loves them).

*FOR did not sign Berglund

Unofficial Trade - SUD trades M. Perreault to SPR for D. Malgin & SPR 3rd-18...

Springfield draft pick (we really need to keep some) Malgin is moved along with a 3rd from 2018 for M. Perreault.  It is expected that Perreault will fill a role much as he does in Winnipeg, where he moves up and down the lineup as needed.  It looks like he has a role on the 3/4th lines but could move up depending on injuries.

Incoming Players:
Trade - J. Spurgeon, K. Alzner, M. Perreault, J. Bouwmeester
Farm Team – A. Lindholm, M. Nutivaara
Rookie Contracts – M. Grzelcyk, C. Hudon

Outgoing:
Trade – B. Saad, D. Malgin, P. Berglund
Expected Unsigned – J. Williams, K. Brodziak, S. Gionta, A. Greene, A. Montoya, N. Schultz, M. Staal, J. De La Rose, J. Glass



Springfield Times

Defensive changes in Springfield...

Defensive changes in Springfield...

The playoffs ended earlier than planned for the Isotopes.  Losing in game 7 to eventual Canosa Conference champions Rekajvek in the first round was not in the plans that GM Stacey drew up.

“People forget, in that series we were up 3-1.  Then they just beat us.  The only positive we beat them three times and after our series they only lost one more game before the finals”, said Stacey.

This is likely a little bit of revisionist history; simply put the Puffin outclassed the ‘topes in a thrilling series.  After the series there was time to reflect on what went wrong and what went right in 2017-18. 

One of the clear messages that came from the unofficial survey (Table 1) was that the team was weak on defence.  The team has made some changes with veterans A. Greene, M. Staal, and N. Schultz all expected to leave the team via free agency there are roster spots to fill.  So far this off season Springfield has brought in J. Bouwmeester, K. Alzner, and J. Spurgeon to shore up the defence and round out the abilities a bit more.

Issue              Responses

Weak D             17

Weak F            4

Weak G            0

Weak GM*    1


Table 1: Survey results for issues in SPR
* likely response from rival GM Matt Young but we can’t be sure
In terms of forwards, much of the team is returning with the exception of B. Saad who was moved in the Spurgeon deal.  A recent trade has been rumoured with M. Perrault being brought in to essentially replace Saad on the wing.

The offseason has really just started but it looks like Springfield is gearing up for another run at the playoffs where this time they hope to advance past the first round.  The Canosa conference was a tight race all season so it won’t be an easy task but the hope is that with a bolstered defence the team can go far!




Springfield times

Perreault is Springfield bound in Miners latest deal

Perreault is Springfield bound in Miners latest deal

CANADIAN PRESS (Sudbury, ON)

Mathieu Perreault didn’t even have time to unpack.  

Less than two weeks after acquiring the veteran winger, the Sudbury Miners have deal Perreault to the Springfield Isotopes in exchange for F Dennis Malgin and Springfield’s 3rd round pick in 2018 (60th overall). 

Perreault and a 2019 3rd round pick had been previously acquired by the Miners in exchange for forward Drake Cagguila and prospect Teddy Bluegar.

“When we acquired him (Perreault), we had every intention of re-signing him, but things can change quickly in the CCHL and an opportunity presented itself to acquire a young asset in Malgin.   We see him growing into an important role within our franchise”, commented General Manager Terry James.

Malgin, a native of Olten, SUI, is one of a few Swiss-born players in the CCHL.   He was originally drafted in the 6th round of the 2015 CCHL Entry Draft (121st overall) by Springfield.  He spent last year playing with Springfield’s farm team but is expected to see full-time CCHL duty in 2018-19.

Malgin possesses a wealth of skill and puck-handling ability.  He is a creative offensive player with excellent playmaking acumen.  He is also a very mobile and elusive forward given his diminutive size and speed.  The only knock on Malgin is that he needs to gain more strength, in order to better handle CCHL defenders.  Scouts have also pointed out that he must also learn to shoot the puck with greater frequency.  With further development, he has the potential to be a top-6 forward.

In Perreault, Springfield gets a veteran forward who will help their forward depth as they continue to make a push for a championship calibre club going into the 2018-19 CCHL season.   Springfield was ousted in the first round this past spring after a tough seven game series with the Reykjavik Ruffin.

Miners pull off a couple of moves over the weekend.

Miners pull off a couple of moves over the weekend.

CANADIAN PRESS (Sudbury, ON):

The Sudbury Miners were back at it again over the weekend, swinging a couple of deals prior to the CCHL UFA-RFA signing deadline in April.
The lesser of the two deals, involved Sudbury sending their 2019 7th round pick to Siberia, in exchange for goaltending prospect Phoenix Copley. 

Copley was drafted in the 2015 CCHL Entry Draft (144th overall) by the Siberia IceCats.  Standing at 6’4”, he fits the mold of the current CCHL goaltender by being able to cover a lot of the net and leaving little room for shooters.   While scouts say that his upside is limited, he is seen as a prospect who could become a back-up and provide depth in the right situation.

The larger of the two deals came together late Saturday evening and the details are this:
Sudbury trades pick #6 and #50 in the 2018 CCHL draft to New England for C/RW Sam Reinhart, a 2018 1st round pick (#18 overall) and a 2018 5th round pick (#97 overall). 

“We are happy to get another young, developing player in Reinhart.  He fits the mold of what we are trying to build here in Sudbury.  While you would always like to pick as high as possible in the draft, we felt comfortable trading down to get an asset like Sam.  We think he has a bright future here in Sudbury”, stated General Manager Terry James.

Reinhart was drafted in the first round of the 2014 CCHL Entry Draft (2nd overall) by the now defunct Boston Banshees franchise.  The former Kootenay Ice star, spent this past year with Fort Erie Falcons where he was third in team scoring with 80 points.  He was traded to New England just days prior, as part of a package that sent Zach Werenski to Fort Erie.

Scouts have said that Reinhart has excellent playmaking skills, plus the ability to play both wing and center.  He can also be a two-way presence and is what scouts like to is “low-maintenance”.   He owns a great family pedigree with both his Father (Paul) and Brother (Max) having played in the NHL.

Miners Land Compher...

Miners and Aces exchange young talent.

CANADIAN PRESS (Sudbury, ON):

The Sudbury Miners and Las Vegas Aces made a move late Thursday evening, as the Miners sent prospect defenceman Henry Jokiharju, to the Las Vegas Aces in exchange for forward J.T Compher.

“I think this is a good trade for both teams. Jokiharju is a very good defense prospect but in looking at our club, we have a good pipeline of defencemen coming in Sudbury. That depth has allowed us to address a need in getting a young, developing forward in Compher. The deal came together pretty quickly and we were happy to make it. I think J.T. is going to be a big part of our team going forward”, stated General Manager Terry James.

Compher was drafted in the third round of the 2014 CCHL Entry Draft (47^th overall) by the Dayton Musicmen. The former University of Michigan star spent this past year with the Las Vegas farm system but is slated for full-time duty with the Miners next season. Scouts have said that Compher is a developing two-way center with adept defensive abilities and outstanding work ethic. He has great hockey IQ and can be placed in various situations. While his skating is a bit suspect at times, his control of the puck and ability to make the simple, yet effective play is what makes him such an attractive forward.

Jokiharju was a second-round pick of the Miners in the 2017 CCHL Entry Draft (43^rd overall) and continues to play his junior hockey with the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL. He is a good skater and handles the puck well, often making a good first pass and then joining the play. If there is a knock on the Finn, is that his play without the puck needs improvement. He will require some minor league seasoning.  

TSN acquires regional broadcast rights for Sudbury Miners games...

CANADIAN PRESS (Toronto, ON):

The Sports Network (TSN) announced today that it has secured the exclusive regional English-language broadcast rights for Sudbury Miners games. The multi-year agreement will see TSN present 24 games this upcoming season to viewers in Northern Ontario and parts of Eastern Ontario, including Ottawa, Belleville, Kingston and Pembroke, on one of the five TSN channels. That number will increase, with at least 30 Miners games set to be broadcast regionally during the 2020-21 and 2021-22 CCHL regular seasons.

TSN’s regional coverage of the Miners games will be presented in both HD and standard definition, the broadcasts will be produced by TSN, with veteran broadcaster Chris Cuthbert calling the game action on Monday along with analyst and former NHL player Jamie “Noodles” McLennan.

TSN has also secured an agreement with Bell Satellite TV to broadcast on channel 1402 in HD and channel 402 in SD. TSN is still working with other distributors in the territory to ensure the broadest possible distribution of the Sudbury Miners games. Fans should contact their local television service provider for specific channel details.

“The Sudbury Miners are extremely pleased to have concluded a broadcasting agreement with TSN that will enable a greater number of hockey fans in the province of Ontario and in other parts of the country to see the Miners in action,” said General Manager Terry James. “Over the years, TSN has been an outstanding partner of the CCHL and the quality of their broadcasts will continue to enhance the hockey experience on television for our fans.”

“TSN is thrilled to deliver more coverage of one of the CCHL’s newest franchises to fans in Ontario with exclusive English-language broadcast rights to 24 Sudbury Miners regular season games,” said Stewart Johnston, President of TSN. “The addition of these Sudbury match-ups bolsters TSN’s already impressive hockey broadcast schedule and gives Miners fans more coverage of their favourite team than ever before.”

Four Trades Announced in Dayton in last 24 hours!

Four trades out of Dayton, OH in the last 24 hours, as the Musicmen continue to tweak their roster to avoid the upcoming UFA Bidding process if at all possible...

A quick breakdown of the trades:

1) NEW trades prospect defenseman Ian Mitchell of Denver University & NEW 8th and NEW 10th in the next CCHL Entry Draft to DAYTON for prospect forward Jonah Gadjovich and POR 3rd in 2018.

Analysis:

 Dayton acquires another offensive minded dman who has recently been promoted to the 1st PP unit at Denver. As a freshman, that's a pretty good indication of his talent and upside. Still years away, the Loons will likely see Gadjovich in their lineup before Dayton sees Mitchell. Two good prospects with NHL careers in front of them. 

2) FOR trades HAM 4th -18 to DAY for forward Tom Pyatt.

Analysis: 

Dayton saves some salary and picks up a late 4th for Pyatt, who will play a regular3rd line role the Falcons next season. 

3) GEO trades Michal Kempny to DAY for a conditional pick.

Analysis:

Kempny, who has been generating surprisingly good possession numbers in CHI and WAS this season, will help cover the next few years on the Dayton blueline until the young guns arrive. 
4) WIS trades Jamie Oleksiak to DAY for ROM 3rd-19...

Analysis:

Similar to the GEO deal, Oleksiak will serve as a bridge player until the Fabbro's, Sanheims, Dahlin's and Brannstrom's are ready to take the jobs...

Botton line: The Musicmen now have control of seven NHL dmen through the end of the 2019-20 season. Nine blueliners are signed through the end of this coming season. Dayton's goaltending is set through the end of next season as well. Fifteen forwards are under contract for next season as well, which should give DAY the option of participating in the upcoming UFA Bidding.

A very different vibe in the UFA Bidding party when you HAVE to get a bunch of players versus when you don't need to, but will still do some shopping to fill out the roster, if the right player(s) are available.

With 32 players under contract for next season, including the rookies coming on board, Dayton's payroll sits at approximately $42.5M with no real needs to address in the next 6 months.

Dayton's prospect system will be the largest and deepest in the league by the end of the 2018 Entry Draft.

Dayton has almost 100 draft picks in the next two entry drafts combined.

Dayton should make a TON of money next season, moving it from the middle of the pack to the upper 25% in cash on hand.

The team has come a long way in 12 months...

The Latest from the Loons: Dissecting a Blockbuster...

A few weeks ago I traveled down to Hartford, CT in order to scout the upstart Umass hockey team. As I took my seat I immediately noticed that Portland GM Brandon Zoladz was sitting in the next seat over. During the game it became obvious that Zoladz was there to see Umass defenseman Cale Makar. Nothing was discussed but that’s where the idea of a blockbuster all started for me.

It’s no secret around the offices at the Nest that after acquiring Jean Luc Dubois, I have been obsessed with the idea of possibly pairing him with fellow 2016 draftee Jesse Puljujarvi. It is also no secret that defenseman Rasmus Dahlin is the clear cut choice to be taken by Dayton and gm Corfield in the upcoming draft. Dayton also happens to own the rights to Makar. I wondered if the addition of Dahlin would make Makar available. After reaching out to Corfield it was obvious that I would have to take a loss in order to acquire Makar as the price was steep.  I decided to step away without making a deal. A few hours went by and the thought of Dubois and Puljujarvi as line mates was too much to resist. I once again reached out to Corfield and agreed to send stud defenseman prospect Brannstrom along with a top 10 pick for Makar, Laaksonen and a 4th rounder. Step 1 was complete and even if a deal couldn’t be reached with Portland, I was comfortable with Makar and Ristolianen as the future of the Loons.

Step 2 was completed in a matter of minutes. I was right in my belief that Zoladz pined for Makar to don the Owl sweater. Makar and Puljujarvi were easily agreed upon as the principles. Zoladz also expressed the need for a top 6 center. As a rebuilding franchise looking to cut payroll and give our veterans a chance to win, we were happy to send the Owls Paul Stastny for a 2019 first round pick. A few smaller pieces were added to the deal and the blockbuster three team trade was complete.

I believe that the best trades are ones where everyone is happy, and I think all three franchises are pleased with their returns even though they had to give up valuable pieces.

I won’t rule out any future moves. Especially if a certain northern leprechaun becomes available, but with our payroll under control and a solid young core the Loons satisfied with our roster and excited for the 2018-19 CCHL season.

Siberia trades top prospects!

Hello, sports fans.  

Recently we met up with GM Saouaf in Siberia during his dinner out.  GM Saouaf gave us a clue as to who he was targeting by pointing to a picture on the wall of some chowder.  We now know that GM Saouaf was not just hungry, but he was referring to a massive deal with the New England Loons.  

While on vacation in sunny and warm North Carolina, we caught up one again with GM Saouaf, this time while attending a NASCAR race.  It was a bit hard to hear Silvio, but we were able to catch some words.  "You again?  What are you, stalking me? Didn't you bring me some beets and vodka last week?  Oh, you want to talk about my big trade with New England?  Well, it was hard to trade so many pieces of our future, but we got back some quality young talent.  Specifically losing Dubois hurts, but getting back our future #1 goalie and a top 6 forward and original Icecats draftee in Schmaltz was too much to pass up.  With McDavid and Ryan Johansen as our top 2 Cs, we felt we could trade away some of our future.  Getting Michael Stone also gives us some depth on D.  We wish those prospects we traded away all the best and we think they will get a real shot in New England."  

When I asked him if he was done dealing he said, "Oh heck no. We filled our gap in goal and on LW, but I am always on the lookout for one more stud LD and maybe a very good defensive C.  The UFA market is around the corner and with a healthy balance sheet and a low payroll, we will definitely be active.  My preference is always to acquire top young talent via trades.  Now be a dear and get me some beets and vodka, would you?"  Well sports fans, it seems as though the Icecats will continue to wheel and deal, and with a lot of draft picks in the upcoming draft, the Icecats will be active.  

Stay tuned for more!

Analysis: Will Dayton Trade Rasmus Dahlin?

Future Dayton Musicman Rasmus Dahlin

The Dayton Musicmen will probably draft Swedish defensive phenom, Rasmus Dahlin with the first pick of the 2018 CCHL Entry Draft.

This pick will be announced very close to 1:00pm on Sunday, June 24th, 2018.

Dahlin will join other Dayton prospects in the opening of the Musicmen training camp in September at the Hobart Arena in Troy, OH. Dahlin's goal, like all the other prospects attending the training camp, will be to make an NHL Team Roster for Dayton's 18-19 regular season.

Dahlin's upside is as high as anyone's has been in the last several years. It will surprise no one if Dahlin spends all of the 18-19 season on an NHL team. From there, he'd join Dayton in the 2019-20 season as he starts his promising career.

Unless, of course, he doesn't belong to Dayton.

What would have to happen for Dayton to trade away the rights to the first overall pick, and surely Mr. Dahlin's services for the next decade or so? What would the return look like?

Dahlin is described as the "no-brainer" first overall choice in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. Scouts and pundits have already predicted his skills and talents will make him better than Erik Karlsson, Victor Hedman or Drew Doughty. The praise stops just short of former Red Wing legend Niklas Lidstrom.

That puts Dahlin in a very special place. A first overall selection comes with a high price tag. A generational player carries an even higher price tag. A top ten pick and a later 1st or a solid prospect still carry with it an element of risk that Dahlin likely doesn't have.

Looking at the Musicmen's prospects, depending on which prospect ranking you look at, they are well represented.

According to Hockey Writer's, they have 7 of the top 100...

According to the Athletic, they have 7 of the top 50...

According to Hockey Prophets, they have 8 of the top 50 forwards and 5 of the top 50 defensemen...

They are tied for first in the CCHL with Hamilton for the most prospects with 73. They hold the rights to 92 picks over the next two CCHL Entry Draft.

A package of many different assets for the rights to Dahlin probably holds little interest for GM Corfield in that Dayton is already established in terms of quantity of prospects. At some point, a team can have too many prospects all arriving in the NHL at the same time, so there is a point of diminishing returns on adding additional prospects.

It is more likely Dayton will more likely consider a smaller offer than a huge one. Anything is possible from the Musicmen, as they have proven over and over again they will trade anyone, any pick or any prospect if they think it makes the team better.

Bottom line, if a team brings a small package of undeniable quality, Corfield will have to consider it seriously. But for other teams to give up a stud young prospect and something to acquire a prospect like Dahlin, it may not have the appeal to actually get any deal done.

If Dahlin wasn't expected to be so good, it might be easier. If there was less separation between Dahlin and the next 3-5 draft-eligible players, that might make it easier for a trade to happen. That's not the case this year and this draft.

We hear next to nothing about any pending deals involving Dayton's 1st pick at this time. Unless something comes up unexpectedly, look for the Musicmen to add Rasmus Dahlin to their already nice stable of young dman (Makar, Sanheim, Fabbro, Hague, Bowey, Cholowski, Guhle & Lindstrom) once the 2018 CCHL Entry Draft begins.

Miners make another trade; send Foligno to Dayton for picks.

CANADIAN PRESS (Sudbury, ON):

The Sudbury Miners and Dayton Musicmen made a minor move late Thursday evening, as the Miners sent utility forward Marcus Foligno to the Musicmen in exchange for a 4th round, 7th round and 12th round pick in 2018.  The Miners will also retain $1.3 million of Foligno’s $2 million salary for the upcoming season.

Dayton was looking to add some veteran help for the next season as the franchise continues its re-build.  While Foligno will not come to Dayton and break scoring records, he will be a reliable veteran that will help serve a purpose during this transition phase.

At times, Foligno had trouble cracking the line-up in Sudbury, only seeing action in 42 games last season.   He chipped in with 4 goals and an assist, along with 33 penalty minutes while playing limited minutes on the Miners 4th line, when he did get into the line-up.

"(Marcus) is a really good person, he competes, he wants to win," General Manager Terry James said.  "He's been caught in a bit of a numbers game here with what we are trying to do.  He knew that.  But he can still be of some value to a team in the right situation and I think heading to Dayton will be good for him.  We will miss seeing his old-man around the rink though.   You know he still wears that funny looking helmet whenever he is out for a skate?"

For the Miners, with this latest transaction, they again move a veteran contract who did not really fit into their future plans, for a couple of draft picks.  As it stands right now, Sudbury will pick 22 times in the 2018 draft, 14 of which will be within the first 100 selections barring any future transactions.

Loons acquire Risto!

Finally, general manager Trevor Czepiel has given New Englanders a reason for optimism. Early Wednesday afternoon word leaked out that after lengthy trade discussions with Georgetown, Czepiel acquired defenseman Rasmus Ristolianen.

“We were stunned that Risto was available and we paid a high price, but it isn’t often you have the opportunity to land a player of his abilities,” said Czepiel Wednesday evening. “Risto plays a fast, two-way game. At only 23 years old Risto can captain a power play while also logging 25+ minutes per game.” Czepiel added.

New England sent the higher of their two first-round picks in the upcoming draft to Georgetown. “We knew we would have been able to draft a great player at 8th overall, but with Risto being only 23 and as accomplished as he is, we couldn’t pass this up. Georgetown is gonna get themselves a hell of a player” said Czepiel.

Rumors swirl that Czepiel may have his sites set on a bigger prize for the New England fans. An unnamed source speculated that Czepiel is acquiring “chips” in case a bigger move presents itself. The source told me “ With St. Patrick’s day approaching, Czepiel is chasing after a certain leprechaun.”

The acquisition of Ristolianen shows that maybe there is a method behind Czepiel’s madness. The Loons now have a solid young core with Ristolianen, Dubois, Wennberg, Wood, and Jarry. We don’t know how they will do five on five, but the power play featuring Barrie, Ristolianen, Wennberg, Stastny, and Dubois has the potential to be lethal.

Notes:

On Thursday the Loons and restricted free agents Wennberg, Ritchie, Ouellet, and Barrie came to agreements on new contracts.

And in a sign and trade, Hjalmarsson was sent to Portland for young defenseman Troy Stecher.

With all these moves New England fans have to think twice before purchasing any player jerseys.

Dayton says goodbye to some players, welcomes two vets...

AFTER MUCH DEBATE within the Dayton Musicmen headquarters, decisions have been made.

With a last-place finish, everyone knows changes are on the way. Since the season ended, there was a list UFA and pending RFA players that were unlikely to return to the Musicmen next season and those changes have begun.

DAY turned in its contract resign information into league office on February 26th, the first CCHL team to do so. To no one's surprise, UFA Mike Smith was resigned to a two-year deal worth $3.85M per year. Not offered contract and being released into free agency were Matt Irwin, John Mitchell, Mark Barberio, Reid Boucher, Phil DiGiuseppe, Luca Sbisa and Matt Tennyson.

Mike Smith was then traded to the CCHL Champion Calgary Chinook, along with prospect Emile Pourier for netminder Jimmy Howard, prospect Maxime Comtois and Calgary's 2nd round in 2019.

Citing a need for adding some players to the Dayton roster, the word went out from the Musicmen that affordable players, with good games played, would be of interest. After 48 hours, the team welcomed two veteran NHL-ers to Southwest Ohio.

First aboard was defensive-minded Zemgus Girgensons. who was then followed by the likewise defense first, Marcus Foligno.

Girgensons, 24, has two years remaining on his $1.6M / year deal.

Foligno, 27, enters the final year of his $2M contract.

Of the $3.6M dollars due to the two new Musicmen, the out of pocket financial expense in the 18-19 season will be just $2,000,000 dollars. Also moved out were a 4th, a 6th, a 7th and a 12 rounder in the coming 2018 CCHL Entry Draft.

"We knew we'd need to add a few forwards this UFA session and we felt we could acquire a couple at a lower cost this way than we would've through the free agent bidding process. We like our depth and feel we've improved our defensive skill level up front. We'd still like to improve at Center if we can and we'll be seeking 1-2 dmen to help us through next season. We have our core guys, but we know there will be injuries that come up, and we want to have an answer for those times instead of resorting to signing free agents. The waiver draft will also be an opportunity for us to add up to three additional players." said General Manager Bill Corfield.

Miners send Bishop “Flying” to Fonthill...

CANADIAN PRESS (Sudbury, ON):

The Sudbury Miners and Fonthill Flying Squirrels made a move early Sunday morning, which ends weeks of hard discussions between the two organizations.

News of the trade broke early Sunday morning but wasn’t able to made official until the trade call was completed at the CCHL Headquarters in Dayton. The trade, which is now official, breaks down as follows:

• Sudbury sends G Ben Bishop, F Philip Danault along with a 2018 4^th round pick in exchange for F Zack Hyman, prospects Shane Bowers and Cal Foote and a 2^nd round pick in 2019.

Fonthill will take on Bishop’s $5.75 million cap hit, which expires after the 2018-19 season. Sudbury had to get Bishop to waive his no-trade clause to make this deal happen; the veteran had five teams on a no-trade list. Given Sudbury’s recent acquisition of Fredrick Andersen, Bishop knew his days in Sudbury were numbered.

"No one ever expects to be traded," Bishop said on a conference call. "But given the recent addition by the Miners, it’s something I knew would probably come this off-season. I’m excited to go to Fonthill but is it true that they have flying squirrels there?”

Bishop, who had a trying year in Sudbury, considering the Miners are in a rebuild mode and are one of the league’s youngest and weakest teams. He is expected to solidify the goaltending in Fonthill by giving them a true No.1 stopper and is another name that a new fan base can identify with.

From the Miners perspective, there was not enough crease for both Andersen and Bishop to thrive. Given Andersen is younger and has a smaller cap hit, the logical choice for the Miners was to get some assets for Bishop. By acquiring a couple of higher-end prospects and an early draft pick, this move stays in line with the franchise’s philosophy to build through the draft and promote from within.

“It’s never easy to part with a player of Bishop’s talent and character. He was an excellent player for us and he deserves a chance to win. We wanted to make sure he went to a team that would give him the chance to be a true No.1. But for us, at the end of the day, to acquire two high-end prospects (in Bowers and Foote) and also secure another high pick in 2019, it was a deal that we felt comfortable in making” stated General Manager Terry James.  

Miners continue to deal; trade Crouse to Loons

CANADIAN PRESS (Sudbury, ON):

The ink probably had not even dried on their first move earlier in the week, but the Sudbury Miners and New England Loons were at it again, making their second deal within a week.

The trade breaks down as follows:

Sudbury trades F Lawson Crouse, a 2018 1^st round pick (8^th overall) & a 2018 9^th round pick to New England in exchange for a 2018 2^nd round pick (41^st overall) and New England’s 2019 1^st round pick plus a conditional draft pick.

Here is where the deal has the potential to be confusing. The condition of the pick is that Sudbury will receive New England’s 2019 2^nd round pick and New England will receive Sudbury’s 2019 4^th round pick, only if the New England 1^st rounder in 2019 is lower than the 5th overall pick (ie. 6th, 7th, 8th and so on etc.) If the draft pick is the 5th overall pick or higher (ie. 1st, 2nd etc.) than no picks will change hands.

Crouse was originally drafted in the second round of the 2015 CCHL Entry Draft (10th overall) by the Springfield Homers. Sudbury had acquired Crouse as part of a trade with the Fort Erie Falcons at the end of last season that brought defenseman Shea Theodore to the Nickel City. Crouse spent the past year with the Miners farm team affiliate in Brantford.

The question surrounding Crouse lately is he will he ever reach his potential. In his draft year, Crouse was a prospect that scouts said owned all the qualities of a true power forward. He could score goals, play a physical game and be a force down low, in the corners and in front of the opposing goal. However, lately, his development seems to have stalled and some scouts question if he will be anything more than a 3^rd line winger in the CCHL.

It is worth noting that Crouse is still relatively young in CCHL terms (21 years old), so there is still time for him to develop what scouts had seen during his junior hockey days with the Kingston Frontenacs. He will get that chance in New England.

Miners at it again; acquire Perreault from the Loons...

Miners at it again; acquire Perreault from the Loons

CANADIAN PRESS (Sudbury, ON)

The Sudbury Miners and New England Loons made a move after the conclusion of the CCHL Finals over the weekend. The Loons sent pending UFA forward Mathieu Perreault and a 2019 3^rd round pick to the Sudbury Miners in exchange for forward Drake Cagguila and prospect Teddy Bluegar.

It is believed that Sudbury plans to re-sign Perreault at a reasonable $3.3 million cap hit for the next 2-3 years, and with the 2019 3^rd rounder, it gives the Miners another pick in the top 60.

“Mathieu was one of those players we had identified at the end of the year that might be available, given the fact he was an upcoming UFA. While he is a mature player, we think he can bring some leadership to our young dressing room”, quoted Miners GM Terry James.

“We think his playmaking skills and hockey sense are outstanding, and he's also very quick. We like the flexibility he provides by being able to play both wing and center, and he can help us in the face-off department”.

In exchange for Perreault, the Miners gave up a low level prospect in Bluegar, but the real key to the deal for the Loons was getting Cagguila. While a versatile player, Cagguila was never going to land a top-6 role with the Miners going forward, but is very anxious to earn a that shot with the Loons.

“I enjoyed my time here with Sudbury. The organization is top notch and I think they have a very bright future. But, at this stage of my career, I want to go to a place where I can play regularly and show what I am capable of doing”, stated the out-going Cagguila.

Miners get to work in the off-season; acquire Andersen.

CANADIAN PRESS (Sudbury, ON):

General Manager Terry James made it clear at his season-ending press conference in February that he owed it to the loyal fans of Sudbury to be much better for the 2018-19 season.   And as soon as the trade freeze was lifted, James wasted no time getting to work in addressing one of his biggest needs.

Goaltender Fredrick Andersen makes his way to Sudbury from Fort Erie, in exchange for a 4th round and 11th round pick in 2018, and a 1st round pick in 2019.   With the move, James hopes he has now brought some stability to the Miners crease going forward.
 “We love that Freddie has a tremendous size for a goalie and he has shown to have loads of natural puck-stopping ability.  He has already put up some great numbers and we just feel he is just starting to come into his prime and will be good for years to come” stated James.  “When we found out that he was available, we did not waste much time talking to Fort Erie and the deal came together pretty quickly”.

Andersen will come to camp in the fall as the undisputed #1 goalie, relegating the incumbent Jake Allen to a secondary role.  Andersen is signed for the next two years at a $5 million dollar cap hit, which in today’s market is very reasonable for a goaltender of his caliber.  He is slated to become an unrestricted free agent in 2020.

While the price was significant (three draft picks), Sudbury was dealing from a position of strength and at the time of the deal, still owned four (4) 1st round picks in the 2019 draft.  The pick sent to Fort Erie is Calgary’s 1st, which James is expected to be at the latter end of the draft.