New look as Blades return home after trade deadline

The Saskatoon Blades returned home this past weekend, for the first time in nearly two weeks with a team that looks completely different than the one that left the Queen City on Jan. 4.

After going “all-in” last season to try and win the Ed Chynoweth Cup, the Blades were forced to recoup prospects and picks after trading that currency away for high-end players like Fraser Minten and Alexander Suzdalev.

With the trade deadline on Jan. 10, the Blades were forced to part ways with veterans Tanner Molendyk, Brandon Lisowsky, Misha Volotovskii, Ben Riche, Lukas Hansen and prospect Lochlan Tetarenko.

In return, the Blades picked up veterans Tanner Scott, František Dej, and Calgary Flames prospect Hunter Laing.

The Blades also secured top prospects Hayden Harsanyi, Jack Jachkowski, Kazden Mathies, Adam Halat and Luke Dumas, along with 10 draft picks spread out over the next three seasons.

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With all the changes in the locker room, head coach Dan DaSilva admitted the last week has felt like a second training camp for his group.

“It’s felt a little bit like training camp 2.0 with all the new faces. We’re having to revisit things we haven’t done in a while, but it’s also a good reminder for the guys that have been here. So we’re just refreshing up on systems,” DaSilva explained.

“We had a phenomenal practice Monday as far as intensity and urgency. We push forward and the guys are in line up tomorrow, we have the same expectations as far as work and compete.”

Hayden Harsanyi was traded to the Blades from the Medicine Hat Tigers in a blockbuster trade for defenceman Tanner Molednyk. Harsanyi admitted there were still some mixed feelings after being traded from a contender in Medicine Hat to a team in transition in Saskatoon.

“It was hard for sure, but I think this is where I would get the best opportunity. I love those guys over there, but I’m excited for a new opportunity,” Harsanyi said.

He’s looking forward to hopefully getting some chemistry with some of the younger additions and developing that over the coming years.

“It’s special. It’s good that we get to start at such a young age and kind of build-up that culture over the next number of years,” Harsanyi added. “I think lots of people are still counting us out this year and I think we could still make a good push this year as well.”

For newly acquired Hunter Laing, the trade is a homecoming of sorts for him.

Although the 6’6” centre grew up playing in Kelowna, the 18-year-old who played for the Prince George Cougars has plenty of Saskatchewan ties.

His father Quintin was born in Rosetown, Saskatchewan and grew up in Harris.

Quintin played his U15 AAA hockey with the Saskatoon Blazers, before continuing his WHL career in Kelowna with the Rockets.

Quintin then spent the better part of 13 years bouncing around the ECHL, AHL and NHL. He won a Calder Cup (the AHL championship) in 2008-09 with the Hershey Bears.

Hunter said his family is very excited to see him return close to home.

“I lived here for a couple years, and I have a lot of family here. I’ve kind of watched the Blades when I was younger and kind of followed them with my papa playing here. When I heard I was coming here, I was texting (my parents) right away and they’re all happy,” he explained.

“When I got traded here my dad was super excited. He pulled out some of his old uniforms and jackets the other day that are really old – they haven’t been out in a while. He was super pumped, my whole family’s pumped. My dad’s coming down Wednesday, so he’ll be able to see the family and see us play,” Hunter added.

With the march to the playoffs inches closer, DaSilva is excited to see what he can get out of his new young team.

“We have a younger group for sure, but it’s an exciting group. There’s a lot of talent out there and a lot of skill and we’re trying to get everybody to buy into playing Blades hockey,” he explained.

“We expect that each player in each line to give everything they have every night.”

The Blades face the Portland Winterhawks at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 15 at SaskTel Centre.