Recapping Saskatoon Blades’ WHL Prospects Draft, U.S. Priority Draft

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The Saskatoon Blades were wheeling and dealing during the Western Hockey League Prospects Draft, WHL expansion draft and U.S. Priority Draft.

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Two days.

Five trades.

Thirteen picks.

And a new overage import.

The incoming Blades, from the WHL Prospects Draft, include 11 picks:

·      (F) Kain Martinuik (Shattucks St. Mary’s)

·      (F) Noah Fowler (George’s School prep)

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·      (D) Braden Nowoselski (Prairie U15 AA Storm)

·      (G) Bracken Larocque (Grand Prairie Storm)

·      (D) Dax McDougall (Saskatoon U15 AA Outlaws)

·      (D) Liam Brooks (Minnesota Voygeurs)

·      (F) Nicholas Voinea (Yale Hockey Academy)

·      (F) Bo Skelton (Shattuck St. Mary’s Sabres)

·      (F) Alexander Sharman (Rink Hockey Academy)

·      (G) goalie Max Hartel  (Calgary AAA U15 Bisons)

·      (D) Austen Su (Delta Hockey Academy)

Two new Blades selected in the WHL U.S. Priority Draft:

·      (F) Max Suter (Phoenix, Ariz.)

·       (D) Charles Johnson (Dallas Stars 14U AAA)

Suter, who doesn’t turn 15 until December, impressed with five goals and one assists in five games at the John Reid Memorial Tournament.

With the 41st pick of the U.S. draft, the Blades selecting 5-foot-8 defenceman Charles Johnson, who netted four goals and 19 assists in 59 games with the Dallas Stars Elite 14U AAA. Johnson tacked on 36 penalty minutes as well. In five playoff games, Johnson dished two helpers and added another in four games at U.S. 14U Nationals.

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Obtained in WHL trade with Brandon Wheat Kings:

·      Overage import forward Dominik Petr

Among the Blades moving on to new teams include D-man Morgan Tastad, forward Willy James and list D-man Ethan Weber.

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The Blades began proceedings by sending 2006-born Tastad, Weber and their 2025 second-round pick (31st overall) to the expansion Penticton Vees in exchange of the Vees’ second-round pick (24th overall) in this year’s WHL Prospects Draft on Thursday. The agreement was made in lieu of choosing a Blades player in Wednesday’s expansion draft.

The Blades were not done with the Vees quite yet. They went on to acquire Penticton’s fifth-round (93rd overall) pick in Thursday’s draft in exchange for 2006-born forward James.

On Wednesday night, Saskatoon general manager Colin Priestner pulled the trigger on yet another trade as the Blades struck a last-minute deal with the Swift Current Broncos to move up in the first round.

Saskatoon acquired the 15th overall pick, selecting Martinuik, while giving up the 22nd overall pick, a 2025 fourth-round pick and 2025 fifth-round pick (93rd overall) from the James trade to Swift Current.

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Priestner says the Blades had their top pick Martinuik ranked top-three, overall, in the draft and were surprised to see him still available at No. 15.

“We just assumed that he was gone in the top-five, if not 10,” said Priestner.

“He’s a power centre that we think can be a first-liner and certainly play at 16.”

Martinuik racked up 44 goals and 36 assists for 80 points in 57 games this season with Shattuck St. Mary’s 14-and-under AAA squad.

He becomes the first player to be selected by Saskatoon in the first round since defenceman Isaac Poll in 2022.

On Thursday, the Saskatoon Blades acquired the 43rd overall pick and the 83rd overall pick of this year’s Prospects Draft from the Calgary Hitmen in exchange for the 35th overall pick.

They also acquired 20-year-old forward Petr, the 199th overall pick this year and a conditional fifth round pick in 2028 in exchange for the 83rd overall selection of this year’s draft.

“ This was just an opportunity for us, with an open 20 spot, to use some draft capital here to help our team,” explained Priestner, “He’s an outstanding player. He’s already played on the World Junior team for the Czech Republic. He’s a guy that brings speed. He’s 6-foot-2, and we think he can be a point-per-game guy this year.”

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Petr, a pending overage import forward, played 122 games with the Wheat Kings over two seasons. He scored 32 goals and 60 assists for 92 points in that span. The 20-year-old centre scored a career-high 47 points in 55 games this past season. He has one goal and four assists in nine career playoff games with the Wheaties.

The Blades previously dropped pending overage import forward Frantisek Dej.

dzary@postmedia.com

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