You might get excited about a 24-game W-H-L season being played when you see this kind of movement by the Saskatoon Blades!
The Bridge City Bunch announced the acquisition of overage defenceman Wyatt McLeod from the Edmonton Oil Kings Monday for a conditional pick in the 2022 Bantam Draft.
In addition, the Blue and Gold announced that their two imports from last season will not come to Saskatoon if there is a 24-game campaign soon. Twenty-year-old forward Martin Fasko-Rudas will remain in Slovakia and 19-year-old defenceman Radek Kucerik will stay in the Czech Republic. Kucerik’s rights will be retained by the Blades…as will 17-year-old forward Brad Lambert from Finland.
“We’re optimistic that we’re going to be playing within a month,” said Blades’ president and G-M Colin Priestner (pictured) when talking about the trade covering their bases in case there is a season. “Hopefully, by the end of February or early March is what our current outlook is.”
McLeod has played four previous seasons in the W-H-L with the Oil Kings. The full conversation with Colin Priestner can be found in the “podcast” section under “Sports in Conversation.”
Following is the news release from the Blades…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Saskatoon, Sask. — The Saskatoon Blades have struck a trade with the Edmonton Oil Kings,
acquiring 2000-born defenceman Wyatt McLeod in exchange for a conditional draft pick in
2022.
“Wyatt brings a great deal of leadership and playoff experience to our program,” said Blades
General Manager Colin Priestner. “In what will surely be an unprecedented season for us, we felt
having Wyatt on our back end would be very beneficial to help manage the ups and downs this
season may bring, and to help mentor our group of young defenceman.
McLeod, who turns 21 on January 27, has spent his entire four-year WHL career in Edmonton,
suiting up in 204 games and recording 54 career points (9G-45A). A two-year assistant captain
for the Oil Kings, McLeod has also racked up 146 career penalty minutes and a plus-minus
rating of +28.
The Dawson Creek, BC product’s most impressive contributions have come over the last two
years, where he’s collected a combined 40 points (7G-33A) with a +36 rating. Last season,
McLeod set a career high in points (21) and assists (18). He also posted the highest plus-minus
rating of any Oil Kings defenceman at +19.
McLeod fills a large hole on the Blades blue-line following the departure of veteran defenceman
Nolan Kneen and Scott Walford, who both graduated from junior hockey last season. McLeod
also has experience training at the NHL level, having been invited to Colorado Avalanche rookie
camp prior to the 2019-20 season, and Pittsburgh Penguins rookie camp ahead of the 2018-19
campaign.
“Our associate coach Ryan Marsh worked closely with Wyatt in Edmonton for two seasons and
always spoke highly of his character and abilities,” continued Priestner. “It should be an easy
transition for him to join our culture as a 20-year-old.”
In addition to McLeod’s acquisition, and due to the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, the
Saskatoon Blades are also announcing import players Martin Fasko-Rudas and Radek Kucerik
will not be returning to the team for the 2020-21 season.
“Given the circumstances related to COVID-19 and the international border situation, we have
made the mutual decision to keep both Radek Kucerik and Martin Fasko-Rudas in Europe to
continue their seasons playing professionally there,” added Priestner. “They are both in good
situations and we want to sincerely wish them the best as they finish their seasons in Europe.”
Fasko-Rudas, a pending overage forward, was acquired by the Blades in a deadline deal with the
Swift Current Broncos last January. The Slovakian winger recorded 18 points (10G-8A) in 23
regular-season games with the Blades. The majority of Fasko-Rudas’s career was spent with the
Everett Silvertips, who drafted him in the 1st round (58th overall) in the 2017 CHL Import Draft.
In 170 career WHL games, he’s picked up 72 points (35G-37A), 66 penalty minutes, and a +25
rating.
Fasko-Rudas is currently playing for his hometown club, HC Banska Bystrica of Slovakia’s toptier professional league, where he’s notched 15 points (7G-8A) in 30 games.
2001-born defenceman Kucerik was selected by the Blades in the 2nd round (115th overall) in the
2019 CHL Import Draft. In his rookie campaign, the lumbering blue-liner chalked up 13 points
(3G-10A) and 18 penalty minutes in a COVID-shortened 49 games.
Standing 6-foot-3, 209-pounds, Kucerik recently garnered praise on the international level,
named one of the Czech Republic’s top-three players to compete in the 2021 IIHF World Junior
Hockey Championships.
On loan by the Blades until it’s appropriate for him to return, Kucerik has spent the majority of
this season playing for HC Prerov in Czech Republic’s tier-two professional league. In 14
regular-season games, the 19-year-old has potted three assists and added 12 penalty minutes.
With these moves, the Blades retain the rights to 2003-born import pick Brad Lambert, along
with Kucerik, and intend to welcome Kucerik back to Saskatoon for the start of the 2021-22
regular season. The Blades would also like to thank Martin for his contributions to the
organization, and representing the club to the highest standard during his time in Saskatoon.
