Overage transaction
Sudbury Wolves have acquired overage defenseman Doug Blaisdell from the Kitchener Rangers in exchange for a fourth-round pick at the 2020 Ontario Hockey League draft.
The Michigan-born Blaisdell is in his fifth season in the OHL and has played in more than 200 games. He becomes the second overage defender on the Wolves roster, joining off-season acquisition Kyle Rhodes.
“Doug is a strong player, a solid defensive player with strong leadership skills and an abundance of experience playing with a solid organization,” relayed Wolves general manager Rob Papineau.
“He is a big defenceman who takes care of his own end first. It was important for us to find a leader and an experienced player early in the season so that the players can get familiar with each other,” Papineau added.
Kitchener general manager Mike McKenzie paid tribute to the traded defender.
“Doug has been a part of this team for over four seasons and it was an extremely difficult decision to part ways with him,” said McKenzie. “He will be missed here in Kitchener by the staff and his teammates.”
The trade of Blaisdell leaves Kitchener with an overage spot open on its roster.
And sources are saying that the Rangers are talking trade with the Flint Firebirds, who have five overagers on their roster, including forward Kole Sherwood, who recently returned from the National Hockey League farm system of the Columbus Blue Jackets.