Calgary-Portland trade

Another overager traded tonight as the Winterhawks sent defenceman Ryan Kerr to the Hitmen for a conditional 2010 draft pick. Likely the "conditional" part of the deal requires Kerr to be on the Hitmen's roster past the overage deadline in October. The round of the pick was not specified in any of the press releases I saw but I would guess it's about a 5th or a 6th round pick.

As a Hitmen fan, this deal surprises me not one bit. In looking at Calgary's blueline, they were going to be a little inexperienced next year after losing Seabrook, Plante, and Postma off last year's team that only used four defencemen for the most part of most key games, and I think most Hitmen fans expected a deal for a veteran defenceman. Kerr's not an all-star but he is a four year vet who can provide some experienced minutes for them.

Calgary also had open overage spots, with only utility forward Jason MacDonald a sure thing to be back. Joel Broda and Bostjan Golicic are maybes. So, there were openings there. And the move takes another step in Portland clearing up their overage logjam too - with Kerr and Travis Ehrhardt out of the picture now, it's looking better for Brock Cornish to be back on the Hawks blueline next year if he's healthy, or Stefan Schneider if Cornish can't come back from his injuries. Right now it's Mucha, Francis, and either Cornish or Schneider as the overage choices in Portland....