This complicates the Blades' overage and import situations since they will have four quality overagers, all forwards (Kytnar, Derek Hulak, Chris Langkow, and Walker Wintoneak) and three imports (Kytnar and rookie forward Hampus Gustafsson, plus returning defenceman Jyri Niemi) and of course they can only keep three overagers and two imports. Logically, moving Kytnar is the simplest move since it resolves both situations with one trade.
Teams with openings for imports in the league are Calgary, Kelowna, Lethbridge (if Luca Sbisa does not return from the NHL again), Medicine Hat, Swift Current, and Tri-City (if Alex Pechurski does not show up as planned).
Not all of those teams have openings for overagers (Lethbridge is the only one who does) but some of them could surely make room for a guy like Kytnar, who could score 30-40 goals this year.
One other complicating factor to consider as well - Portland is probably also looking to move an import overage forward (Radim Valchar) although theirs is not as valuable as Kytnar. But both those guys could/should find work in the league as two-spot players this year though....there's enough teams short of quality imports this season anyway.
4 comments:
Kytnar is staying as a Blade and will be on the top line with fellow Oiler prospects Gallimore and Hulak. Chris Langkow will likely be moved for a 4th round bantam pick and Hampus Gustafsson will either return to europe or find a new home likely for an import pick since the Blades will lose both Niemi and Kytnar next season.
The Blades look to have perhaps the top depth amongst any forward group in the league as these are the lines being used in camp:
Hulak-Kytnar-Gallimore
Dziurzynski-Patterson-Wintoneak
Hamilton-Toomey-Nicholls
Inglis-Benson-Crooks
Who exactly do you key on if you are the opposition?
Saskatoon will return 8 of its top 9 goal getters from last year and return something like 8 guys with over 48 pts plus Niemi who had an off year with 32.
Defence will be solid if they can acquire a good #4 guy so Siemens doesn't have to have that pressure on him early but Siemens is good enough
Elliott, Niemi, Zahn, Siemens, Wall, Thrower look very strong.
Add in Morrison in goal who was outstanding when he played last year and a 3rd round pick of the flyers and the Blades could hang in with Brandon I think!
I definitely agree about the strength of the Blades. In my books the only question on that team heading into the season is whether Morrison can stand up to the pressure of being the #1 goalie. He looked good last year and has some good credentials, but until they prove they can do it, you never know for sure.
I'm working on my season previews right now and I still haven't decided whether to put Saskatoon or Brandon at #1 in the East. I do think they are far and away the top two teams in the league heading into the season though. There's some other good teams out there but none with the kind of depth those two teams have.
agreed Alan,
I can't understand why the CHL rankings have Calgary at #2 at all. Now I think if they happen to get Broda back to go with Kozun, Foucault and Schultz with some decent defence and goaltending that they can be up in the top 4 in the conference, maybe!
Brandon is being ranked in first I think due to the fact they are hosting the MEM Cup and people have it in their heads that they will load up even more! I think Brandon has even more questions in goal than the Blades have. Morrison has always been a top prospect in bantam, Midget and now the Flyers took in the 3rd round so they must've seen something in him. To me, the only piece the Blades are missing is another dman so Duncan Siemens(although ready) doesn't have to be pressured into a top 4 roll off the bat. Just a servicable dman who is a veteran and leader would be fine for that team.
I am really struggling to find a team to slot in the #3 hole in behind Saskatoon and Brandon and the only teams coming to mind are MH and EDM right now but Calgary seems to have some pieces as does SC so I guess they can be teams 3-6 with Regina and RD rounding out the top 8? MJ is improved, PA defence is good and LH and Kootenay should be ok too, ughhh!
Tyler-PA
This a great site Alan, it is full of usefull information of hockey look forward to reading it everyday.
Post a Comment