Blades Acquire Veteran Netminder

[GBG BLEED BLUE]

From:www.saskatoonblades.com


Saskatoon, SK: The Saskatoon Blades announced this morning that they have acquired 20-year-old netminder Andrew Leslie from the Moose Jaw Warriors in exchange the Warriors receive a 2008 conditional draft pick.

Leslie, a native of Saskatoon is entering his 3rd season in the Western Hockey League following stops in Swift Current, Red Deer and last season with the Warriors. Last season Andrew appeared in 35 games posting a 3.24 GAA while picking up 13 wins between the Rebels and the Warriors. Blades Head Coach and General Manager Lorne Molleken commented on today’s transaction “ We are pleased to acquire a veteran goaltender who will come to training camp and battle for one of the 3 20-year-old spots on our hockey club.”






Andrew Leslie

March, 25, 1986

Saskatoon, SK

6’1, 200lbs

Year Team GP W L OTL SL SO GAA SV%

05/06 Warriors 9 6 2 1 0 0 2.74 .900

05/06 Rebels 26 7 13 1 2 0 3.42 .889

04/05 Rebels 23 12 7 0 0 2 2.64 .891

04/05 Broncos 14 2 5 0 0 0 2.89 .913

[Trav]

but oh well, least Molleken didnt give up much to get him.

[saskdevil]

Well I think that we need a vet goalie to teach the younger ones. Holtby is good but not starter good. With Leslie here it will help even if they trade off games and split the season. The Blades will not be as strong as last year and I think if they were to go with Holtby and the other young guy(sorry his name escapes me right now) they would get killed. But in effect this might take up a 20 yr old spot, so we'll see if he sticks with the club. Maybe lorne is using this for a bigger trade leading up to the training camp.

[GOBLADESGO#3 (among other aliases)]

i dont agreee with trav i think this is exactly what the blades needed an expirienced goaltender to leed the blades in the 2006-07 season with devon setogucji, joe barnes, and wacey rabbit with the blades this could snowball into a good season

[Trav]

sticking here is if Holtby shows he cant be the starter just yet cuz whats the point of wasting a twenty year old spot on a goaltender just cuz he has expierence when u have a rookie capable of doing the job. I do think the Blades will have at least one or two twenty year old d-men. Not having one of Schulz, Cole or Logan on the blueline would make the oldest d-man an 18 yr old with only one year of expierence.

So...

1. One of the d-men.
2. Rabbit or Barnes
3. Leslie if Holtby not ready for starting job.

or

1. Barnes or Rabbit unless both are gone then you could see all three d-men here.
2. Schulz
3. Cole or Logan

or

1. Rabbit
2. Barnes
3. Schulz, Cole or Logan

I think those are three options that Molleken has on his plate right now.

[RebelsFan]

I agree with you GoBladesgo#3, I am just not sure Andrew is the goalie to do it.

[SectionNDeserter]

Me either, aside from the 23 games he played in Red Deer at the tail end of the 04/05 season, and possibly the first 10 or so of the 05/06 season, he has always been in the role of a (mediocre) backup goaltender.