Sask. hockey player resting at home after neck slashed by skate
9h ago
'Considering the circumstances ... this is best-case scenario,' Cole Cusitar said.
In a season filled with hills to overcome, Ryan Graham is heading on a new adventure.
The Saskatoon Blades have traded the 20-year-old forward to the Swift Current Broncos for a 2017 2nd round pick and a 2018 4th round pick.
“Ryan has been a loyal Blade for over 4 seasons, and has been a great ambassador for our organization on and off the ice,” said Blades GM Colin Priestner in a press release.
With Jesse Shynkaruk coming off injured reserve, the Blades would have had four 1996-born players on their roster, one over the league limit.
“Knowing our overage situation, we met with Ryan and both sides agreed a change of scenery for his final season of junior hockey would be beneficial for both Ryan and the Blades,” said Priestner.
Graham’s season started with disappointment after a lower body injury cut his stay at Ottawa Senators’ camp short. He missed the first 13 games of the Blades WHL season, returning to add one goal and five points in 11 games.
Ahead of the deal the Calgary, Alta. native had spent his entire WHL career with the Blades. In 248 games he Blades, having played 248 regular season games for Saskatoon with 60 goals and 116 career points.
Saskatoon’s next game just became a lot more interesting as well. The Blades visit the Swift Current Broncos on Tuesday, where it would be expected that Graham will dress for the hosts.