The Estevan Bruins were busy on the trade front last week, shipping away one of their top players and re-acquiring a familiar face in a separate deal.
On Friday, the Bruins traded top defenceman Tyler Kauk to the Flin Flon Bombers in exchange for 17-year-old defence prospect Connor Vermeulen.
Kauk, who is entering his 20-year-old season, has anchored the club's back end for the last two years, putting up 23 points as a rookie and 22 last season.
Bruins head coach and general manager Chris Lewgood said other teams had overwhelming interest in Kauk and that the Bombers initiated the deal.
"Since I took the job, there's been phone calls and e-mails on a daily basis inquiring about Tyler. A 20-year-old multi-faceted defenceman, they're hard to come by at his skill level. Some of the teams that are making a push right out of the gate for a title, teams that feel they're in contention, are looking for just that. That's the No. 1 puzzle piece that most of those teams are looking for and he fit the bill," Lewgood said.
"We weren't actively shopping him around at all, it was a reactionary thing, and having so many offers out there, we began to kind of do inventory on our club and see where we could improve and use that as an avenue to bring in some assets. One thing we felt we were missing long-term was offensive defencemen and once Flin Flon showed us their immense interest in Tyler - there was a lot of interest but they were very aggressive - it was a no-brainer for us to go after Connor Vermeulen at that point."
Vermeulen, a Saskatoon product, is an offensive defenceman who led the Beardy's Blackhawks in scoring with 16 goals and 28 points as a midget AAA rookie.
"Anybody who's going to score 16 goals at the AAA level has offensive ability, but for a defenceman to do it is exceptional, and a rookie defenceman nonetheless. We have to make sure to work with him and make sure he's ready to go on his defensive game," Lewgood said. "It's not quite as rounded, but I think his upside is there. He's also a big body and he's not afraid of the rough going. He looks after himself. Hard in the corners, hard to play against, which is sometimes what lacks with offensive defencemen. In his case, he doesn't have that problem."
Vermeulen, who is listed at 6-foot-1, 185 pounds, spent the 2011-12 season playing midget AA in Medicine Hat, where he had two goals and eight points in 34 games.
With the team's top defenceman gone, Lewgood said he doesn't expect any particular player to replace Kauk, but feels the Bruins are deep enough on the back end to offset the loss.
"We don't expect Connor to come in and replace Tyler this year. That's one of the best defencemen in the league we're losing, and we understand that. But we feel we have the depth at defence right now that can help fill that void by committee, and I think that long-term it'll improve our team. Tyler was a one-year guy for us going into this coming season, and we potentially get, realistically, anywhere from two to four with Connor. I think we have to look at it in the big picture. In the interim we're going to have to fill that void by committee."
The team's returning defencemen include 20-year-olds Brett Blatz and Leighton McLachlan, 19-year-old David Robertson and 18-year-old Zach Douglas.
"I'm really excited to see what Brett Blatz brings to the table this year. He's a big, strong body, he can play both sides of the game. We look for leadership out of him and he's going to have a good 20-year-old season," said Lewgood. "David Robertson's going to play well for us. Zach Douglas had a great finish to last year. As an 18-year-old, he comes in with higher expectations this year and we're really high on him. We're really excited about Nolan Nicholas, a rookie defenceman out of Ontario.
"We feel we have depth at the defence position. We feel we're well-set at that position long term."
Meanwhile, after spending a season away from the club, Ben Johnstone has returned to the Bruins.
The Carlyle product was re-acquired by the Bruins on July 17 in a trade with the Nipawin Hawks, sending future considerations the other way.
Johnstone, a 20-year-old centre, had 16 goals and 30 points last year between the Hawks and the Virden Oil Capitals of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League.
He had been traded from Estevan to Virden last September after a rookie season that saw him compile 16 points.
Bruins head coach and general manager Chris Lewgood said the deal was more about what Johnstone can bring to the team than anything.
"To be honest, I don't think it's a matter of anything changing. I think it's what our team needs and what Benny's able to bring to the table. I like his energy level, I like his leadership on the ice, he's a character guy and I think he brings some spirit to the team," he said.
"He brings the ability to contribute in every facet. That's rare and any time you have a guy like that, you can plunk him anywhere in the lineup and he'll find a way to contribute."
Although Johnstone's 30 points would have put him third on the Bruins in scoring last year, Lewgood said his offensive ability wasn't the impetus for the deal.
"Any time you can create more offence, you're going to do it, especially with a guy who's capable at both ends of the rink. (But) I think we have lots of offence, lots of good quality players who can put the puck to the net. I don't see that as the main reason we brought him back into the fold."
The fact that Johnstone is from Carlyle, which is about an hour away, and played minor hockey in the area was a key factor.
"It's huge. We're very proud of the local area guys we have. I believe our nucleus comes from the southeast area of the province and that's not easy to do," said Lewgood. "If he wasn't from the area, we might not have been as aggressive in going after him. It's not politics, it's hockey, but the fact that he's a fan favourite here and can put some butts in the seats is a huge positive for us."
