14 new players: Saskatoon Blades get busy in the 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.
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· (F) Max Suter (Phoenix, Ariz.)
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Suter, who doesn't turn 15 until December, impressed with five goals and one assists in five games at the John Reid Memorial Tournament.
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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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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.
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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.
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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.
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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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