Kamloops makes Trades

[Beaner]

from, www.whl.ca

Three WHL Trades Announced
Created: Jan 5, 2008
BLAZERS MAKE TWO TRADES AQUIRE THREE PLAYERS, TWO DRAFT PICKS
KAMLOOPS, BC – The Kamloops Blazers have completed two separate trades with the Regina Pats and Calgary Hitmen.

The club has acquired 18-year-old defenseman Nick Ross, 19-year-old blueliner Spencer Fraipont (FRAY-pawnt), and a 4th round pick in the 2008 WHL Bantam Draft in exchange for 20-year-old defenseman Ryan Bender and 19-year-old rearguard Victor Bartley. The Blazers have also acquired 17-year-old forward Devon Kalinski and a 2nd round selection in the 2008 Bantam Draft from the Hitmen in exchange for 20-year-old forward Brock Nixon and a 6th round pick in the ’08 Draft.

“These are significant changes to our hockey club,” says President Tom Gaglardi. “We feel we have improved our team, added to our draft options for next May, and created opportunities for the younger players on our roster to step forward. Plus, we have added three players who we expect to have back with us next season.”

Ross has scored 3 goals and added 25 assists in 41 games with Pats this season. The 18-year-old from Lethbridge is also a 1st round pick, 30th overall, of the Phoenix Coyotes in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. Fraipont, from Kelowna, has a goal and an assist in 24 games with the Pats this year. Kalinski, from La Corey, AB, has 2 goals and 5 points in 35 games with the Hitmen this season after scoring 4 goals and 10 points in his rookie campaign.

“Nick is a top-flight WHL defenseman and we are absolutely thrilled to add him to our lineup. He will be able to play in every situation for us. “He’s a skilled player who will run our powerplay plus has a physical component to his game. Together, those attributes make him the key figure in these deals,” continued Gaglardi. “Spencer is a reliable defenseman who will provide us with quality minutes on the back end. Yet, in order to improve our team, we had to pay a price and that meant moving two long-time members of our team in Victor and Ryan. We appreciate all they have done for the Blazers and wish them all the best with the Pats.”

“Devon is a winger who needs more ice time than he was getting with the Hitmen. We’re excited about having him join our team,” says Gaglardi. “We also take this opportunity to thank Brock for all his efforts and accomplishments in his four-plus years in Kamloops and hope he enjoys continued success in Calgary.”

All three players are expected to be in the lineup tonight when the Blazers take to the ice against the Kelowna Rockets.

CALGARY HITMEN ACQUIRE KAMLOOPS BLAZERS LEADING SCORER BROCK NIXON
Calgary, AB – Calgary Hitmen General Manager and Head Coach Kelly Kisio announced today the acquisition of 20-year-old forward Brock Nixon along with a sixth round pick in the 2008 WHL Bantam Draft from the Kamloops Blazers in exchange for 17-year-old Devon Kalinski and a second round pick in the 2008 WHL Bantam Draft.

“We are very excited to add a veteran player of Brock Nixon’s caliber who will add a lot of depth to all facets of our team,” said Kisio. “Nixon has put up some very good numbers in the past and we look forward to him doing the same here in Calgary. Unfortunately when you acquire a good player you have to give up a good player and we thank Devon Kalinski for his contributions to the Hitmen and wish him continued success in Kamloops.”

Nixon is in his fifth season in the WHL, all with the Blazers, and has played 286 career games picking up 81 goals and 100 assists for 181 points. His best offensive totals came last season when he led Kamloops in scoring posting a career high 79 points (35 goals, 44 assists).

Brock Nixon – CENTER
BORN: Russell, MB (February 4, 1987)
HEIGHT: 6’0” WEIGHT: 182 lbs.
NHL DRAFT STATUS: Free Agent.

[scamperdog]

WOW! Man has this team changed from the beginning of the year, Not surprised at Bender and Nixon being moved as that has been rumoured for weeks, But Bartley he has been by far our best defenceman all year. So now the question is, who fills the 20 year old spots?

[Beaner]

WOW! Man has this team changed from the beginning of the year, Not surprised at Bender and Nixon being moved as that has been rumoured for weeks, But Bartley he has been by far our best defenceman all year. So now the question is, who fills the 20 year old spots?

I don't think you do. I think this move is obviously a move to get younger.

Blazers probably think they have a very good chance at making the playoffs, but a long run this year is a longshot. So trade away assets get younger and get setup for next year.

If you are going that route then makes no sense to bring in 20 year olds trading youth or picks to get them.

[witness]

Ross needed a change. He could never live up to the expectations here in Regina. For his sake, I really hope that the change elivates his game and his expectation of himself. He is a first rate talent, but is a bit on the lazy side. Can dominate his end of the ice with his physical play and can log a ton of minutes. His has bit of an offensive upside.
Fraipont is more that just a throw in. He is a big body that will step up to defend team mates. Has played a couple of games up on forward and has impressed me. Will throw his body around and doesn't really hurt you. Has been a really good team mate here and Parker felt obliged to find him somewhere that he can play. He could be back as a 20 year old.
Good luck to both guys, they are nice kids.

[scamperdog]

http://gdrinnan.blogspot.com/
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><!--[endif]--> The rumours that were so rampant during Friday night’s WHL games proved to be true as the Kamloops Blazers purged their roster of three veteran players Saturday morning, unloading D Ryan Bender, 20, D Victor Bartley, 19, and C Brock Nixon, 20.

Bender, the team captain who was in his fifth season, and Bartley, a fourth-year player, were dealt to the Regina Pats for D Nick Ross, 18, D Spencer Fraipoint, 19, and a 2008 fourth-round bantam pick.

Nixon, also in his fifth season and the team’s leading scorer, goes to the Calgary Hitmen along with a sixth-round pick in the 2008 draft. In return, the Blazers get F Devon Kalinski, 17, and a 2008 second-round pick.

Regina has also acquired D Dallas Jackson, 18, from the Red Deer Rebels for LW Troy Ofukany, 20, and D Juraj Valach, 18. As part of this deal, Regina gets back a 2009 third-round bantam pick acquired New Year's Day from Red Deer,while Red Deer gets back a 2009 fourth-round pick.


It is obvious that the Blazers’ new ownership group – Vancouver businessman Tom Gaglardi is the majority owner and is running the team, while the minority owners are ex-Blazers Shane Doan, Jarome Iginla, Mark Recchi and Darryl Sydor – is intent on erasing the recent past. At some point in time they will begin talking about redoing the culture.

Right now it is obvious that they are working at moving out those people in the organization who were closest to Dean Clark, who was fired as general manager and head coach on Nov. 7. To date, assistant coach Andrew Milne is gone (he hasn’t been replaced), as is goaltending coach Larry Robinson (who was replaced by Steve Passmore). And now the three most senior players, all of whom were Clark loyalists, are gone.

And there are a lot of people – players, front-office types and others – wondering if they are next.

Ross, Fraipoint and Kalinski are expected to be in the Blazers’ lineup tonight in Kelowna.

Ross, taken 30th overall by the Phoenix Coyotes in the 2007 NHL draft, has 28 points in 41 games with Regina this season. Fraipoint has two points in 24 games. Kalinski, with the Hitmen, has seven points in 35 games.

Nixon led the Blazers in goals (14), assists (25) and points (39). Bartley, who is out for up to 10 days with a groin injury suffered in practice Wednesday, has 18 points in 36 games. Bender, a hard-nosed type, has two points and 114 penalty minutes in 39 games.

<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><!--[endif]--> The Pats, who acquired RW J.D. Watt, 20, and RW Scott Doucet, 19, from the Red Deer Rebels on New Year’s Day, certainly have let other teams know that they’re in this for keeps. Watt, Doucet and Bender had a whole lot of sandpaper to Regina’s game and Bartley gives the Pats a solid No. 2 defenceman behind Logan Pyett.

<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><!--[endif]--> It will be interesting to see how other Eastern Conference contenders react.

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[old_time_hockey]

Ross was a very nice pickup for you guys.

Very mobile and a great passer.