The Balance of Power Shift?

Photo by Jon Howe

In a move that is likely to cause a shift in power in the Eastern Conference, the Prince Albert Raiders have traded their first round pick from this year's Bantam Draft Jake Kryski and a seventh round pick in next year's Bantam Draft to the Kamloops Blazers and will get goaltender Cole Cheveldae in return.

Cheveldae will take his 70-27-3-4 record and 2.50 GAA to a Raiders team that faded badly down the stretch, ultimately getting swept in the first round by Red Deer.  This off-season, the Raiders hired Cory Clouston as head coach, a move that was widely lauded in Prince Albert.  Along with Josh Morrissey (first round pick of the Winnipeg Jets this year) and Leon Draisaitl, who is a top prospect in next year's draft, the Raiders have a foundation in which to work with.  Now, with Cheveldae in the fold, that effectively solves the team's goaltending issues that caused their downslide.

As for the Blazers, they are a team that is likely in rebuilding mode, and having moved Cheveldae, that means the Blazers now have four players vying for three over-aged spots on the roster.  Kryski is expected to be a major player in that rebuild, and it will keep him closer to his home in Vancouver, something that played a role in the trade, as Kryski had concerns about playing so far from home.  In his last season, Kryski averaged a hair more than a goal and an assist a game, with 59 of each in 58 games.