The Prince Albert Raiders swung a major deal last week landing Seattle Kraken prospect Lukas Dragicevic from the Tri-City Americans.
The Raiders sent 19-year-old defenseman Terrell Goldsmith, 18-year-old forward Grady Martin, 19-year-old netminder Nathan Preston and a third round selection in 2025 to the Americans in exchange for Dragicevic, 18-year-old netminder Eric Kahl and a seventh round pick in 2025.
It was revealed in a press release by Tri-City general manager Bob Tory that Dragicevic had requested a trade from the Americans.
“My time in Tri-City was really good.” Dragicevic explained in an interview with the Daily Herald. “My time that I spent there for three years was really good. They treated me really well, so I’m not going to say too much about why (I requested a trade), but I just want to thank them for everything they did for me for my three years.”
“I had no idea where I was going, but I’m super excited that it ended up being Prince Albert. I wasn’t sure where (I’d end up) but when I found out it was Prince Albert, I was really excited and I was really happy with where the trade led me to.”
In 66 games for the Americans last season, Dragicevic posted 14 goals and 36 assists for 50 points, down from his total of 75 points in the 2022-23 campaign. He was selected 57th overall by the Seattle Kraken in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft and is signed to an entry level contract.
Dragicevic will join a defense corps in Hockeytown North that features younger returning players in Doogan Pederson and Tyrone Sobry, a veteran leader in Justice Christensen and younger players trying to make the roster out of training camp including 2023 first overall pick Daxon Rudolph.
Dragicevic says he wants to bring his experience with him and work with his new teammates.
“I’m really excited. My game is the offensive side of it but I think I’ve also grown as a defensive player as well and that’s where I can lead by example. Lead every time I’m on the ice, every time I show up at the rink. I just want to lead my way. With the younger guys, even with so many older guys as well. Just play my game every single day and hopefully the guys follow and hopefully it’ll lead to good things.”
Dragicevic has one career WHL game under his belt at the Art Hauser Centre already. He posted two assists back on November 1, 2022 when the Raiders defeated the Americans 5-4 in front of a Tuesday night crowd of 1,972 spectators.
The Raiders held an early 4-0 edge five minutes into the second period that night, but the Americans would storm back to tie the game after forty minutes.
A roughing call against Dragicevic would allow Landon Kosior to score the game winning goal for the Raiders on the power play just 1:09 into the third period.
“It was actually a fun game.” Dragicevic recalled. “We didn’t end up winning, which sucked. It was actually a good game, and the fans were there. I remember the fans showed up. When you play a team from the other side of the league, you’re not sure how many fans you’re going to get. They showed up, that shows how good of fans they are. It was super cool to play on that Saskatchewan road trip and I’m just really excited to get back and play there full time now.”
After his 18-year-old season had come to a close with the Americans, Dragicevic got the call to suit up for the Coachella Valley Firebirds, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Seattle Kraken.
During his three game tenure, Dragicevic would earn his first professional point picking up an assist on a second period goal by Luke Henman in a 7-2 Firebird win over the Abbotsford Canucks on April 7.
Dragicevic says the time he had with the Firebirds was invaluable in showing him what it takes to play at a professional level.
“For me, it was probably the compete level. Those guys never took a shift off in the game, every time they were on the ice, it was go, go, go, which was awesome to see. To be able to see that live and be on the ice was something that I’m definitely going to take to my game and it’s something that I’m going to add to my game every time I’m on the ice.”
The Raiders open the 2024-25 WHL season on Friday, September 20 when they welcome the Regina Pats to the Art Hauser Centre. Puck drops at 7 p.m.
sports@paherald.sk.ca
