Although Max Paddock officially joined the Prince Albert Raiders roster on Thursday, the 19-year-old netminder was someone that general manager Curtis Hunt had been looking to acquire for some time.
“I think we probably knew in the summer that we had to go out and get a guy like Max,” Hunt said on Friday. “(Pats general manager) John (Paddock) and I had spoken about goalies a little bit in the summer, but we didn’t think that we needed to go in that direction.
“As things were unfolded in that position, we had spoken the one time but we backed away and went in a different direction. We then made the decision to go back to it and we found a fair deal that works for both clubs.”
Paddock, who had been with the Pats on a full-time basis since the 2017-18 campaign, was acquired for 17-year-old forward Jakob Brook, a second round pick in 2020 and a conditional third in 2022.
“He really stole the starting job halfway through that Memorial Cup season in 2018,” Hunt said. “He gave them the chance to win the tourney as it was a 1-0 game going into the third period of the final before they (the Acadie-Bathurst Titan) broke things open.
“He’s a big-game goalie who has been consistent since coming into the league, and he’s a quality kid that we think will fit seamlessly into the dressing room.”
The acquisition of Paddock, who will join 17-year-old rookie Carter Serhyenko in between the pipes, wraps up a roller coaster week of movement at the position.
The Raiders had brought in 19-year-old netminder Keegan Karki on Friday from the Everett Silvertips for a fourth round pick in 2020, but he was reassigned to a team to be named later on Friday after playing in three games for the club.
The club also dealt 18-year-old goaltender Boston Bilous, who had been the starter for the defending champions, to the Moose Jaw Warriors on Tuesday for a fifth round pick in 2020 and a seventh round pick in 2021.
The Raiders were also the first club to make a trade after the Christmas break, as they acquired 18-year-old forward Matthew Culling from the Swift Current Broncos on Dec. 27 in exchange for 18-year-old forward Cole Nagy.
“That deal kind of fell into our lap,” Hunt said.
“He was part of a winning program with the (Regina) Pat Canadians and as our fans can see, he brings a strong effort every night and helps to strengthen our forward group.”
The Raiders did not add a blueliner at the deadline, but the club has 20-year-old Devan Harrison of the Estevan Bruins, 16-year-old Adam McNutt of the Saskatoon Contacts and 15-year-old Tre Fouquette of the Prince Albert Mintos available to them if one of their current blueliners is injured, sick or suspended.
“We’re also working hard on trying to sign (2019 second round pick Graydon) Gotaas,” Hunt said.
“It was a goal of ours to add a guy, but are you adding a guy just to add someone or do you want to bring someone who has an immediate impact. When you see the price that a guy like (Swift Current Broncos blueliner Kasper) Puuito went for, that’s something we didn’t want to get into at this time.”
The biggest trade on deadline day saw the Winnipeg Ice land 19-year-old Dallas Stars defensive prospect Dawson Barteaux and a pair of a draft picks from the Red Deer Rebels for six draft picks, four of which are second rounders.
Barteaux, who was the captain for the Rebels, has 23 points in 39 games this season.
Meanwhile, the Everett Silvertips acquired Swift Current Broncos captain and Prince Albert product Ethan Regnier, along with 17-year-old Finnish blueliner Kasper Puuito for 19-year-old Slovakian forward Martin Fasko-Rudas, 18-year-old defenceman Parker Hendren, a first round pick in 2020 and a second round pick in 2022.
The 19-year-old Regnier, who was the last member of the 2018 WHL championship side left on the Broncos roster, led the team in scoring with 21 points in 34 games at the time of the deal.
The Broncos would then deal Fasko-Rudas to the Saskatoon Blades for 2001-born forward Matej Toman, 2004-born defensive prospect Cale Ashcroft and a sixth round draft pick in 2022.
The Ontario Hockey League trade deadline finished with a bang on Friday as the Saginaw Spirit acquired Carolina Hurricanes prospect Ryan Suzuki from the Saginaw Spirit.
The 18-year-old Suzuki, who was the 28th overall pick in last June’s NHL Draft, has 23 points in 21 games this season.
