Saskatoon Trades [1/2]

[Peace 1,562]

SASKATOON, SASKATCHEWAN -- The Saskatoon Wild have been active on the trade front by bringing in two defenders and a forward since the season begun, but it came at such a significant cost it left many wondering whether or not the price was worth paying for seemingly slight improvement to the core roster. The most conflicting trade was sending a first round pick in exchange for Kefka Palazzo, a young developing defender from the Las Vegas Aces, but Peace is confident in the decision he made. Today we're going to summarize the moves made by GM Peace and his Saskatoon Wild boat. 

FIRST TRADE 

Saskatoon sends a S68 first round pick to the Aces in exchange for Kefka Palazzo ( @diamond_ace ).

"It may look like a steep price, but this was a depth move for this season and he's a building piece for the next." Peace admitted. Palazzo joins the Saskatoon Wild after being drafted to the Aces' during the dispersal draft, he has put up three points in his eleven contests so far but remains scoreless with the Saskatoon Wild in his two appearances with his new club. "Kefka provides us with some stability and some flexibility, and the best way to look at it would be to say 'this is the type of player we would have drafted with that first round pick'. In essence, I channeled my inner Devise ( @Devise ) by trading a draft asset on a similar player I would have otherwise drafted with the pick itself. Kefka will be rejoining Saskatoon next season and we'll have his rights, since he was drafted by the Aces for this season, and we're extremely excited to build around him in the future." 

"We know the reputation of the Ace agency, and they've always supported talented players without fail, and that is why we agreed to the exchange." 

Kefka Palazzo has been playing alongside Shackleford on the teams top unit since joining the club.

SECOND TRADE 

Saskatoon sends S67 and S68 third round picks to the Bull's in exchange for Fylo Gibbles ( @SpartanGibbles )

"I think many can see the approach we took regarding this trade," Peace said. Fylo Gibbles is the flagship talent of the Spartan Agency, and although his development has hit an unfortunate stagnation, he was recently seen by the Wild's development coach. "We're really happy to have Fylo, we have great confidence in who he is and what type of player he is, and should he be a perennial VHLM'er I'm entirely okay with that as well." 

"In hindsight this is probably the most risky acquisition, as we were hoping that a quik scouting insight lead to action or improvement, and we will see if we can pursue that but there's no harm in it not happening. Ultimately - bar any expansions - Saskatoon will have Fylo's rights for a few more seasons and that's worth a couple of third round picks. If he starts improving again, well, I'd say that's a huge win for the Saskatoon Wild." 

Gibbles has found the score sheet, registering three points in his two games with the Saskatoon Wild.

THIRD TRADE 

Saskatoon sends two second round picks, a fourth round pick, a fifth round pick and Kachur to the Bull's in exchange for Milan Griffin ( @Sogarn )

"This trade was one we knew we had to make," Peace stated. "Griffin has confirmed with us that he is staying down for another season in the minors, and that made our decision - a decision of reacquiring him - exceptionally easy and, really, I proceeded without a second thought. This was perhaps the easiest trade to make simply because the Sogarn agency wants to build a VHLM reputation, and Griffin is achieving that goal for them." 

"I spoke with him prior to the trade - with permission of course - and confirmed with Griffin he'll be staying down for at least another season. We're really excited to have an active player who's content being a key piece of our core. With Dissanayake, Shackleford, Jaundice and Strong all heading to the VHL next season he'll join Gibbles and Palazzo as players we build around." 

Sogarn will likely play a few more games with the Bull's while the league approves the trade, but is expected to join Saskatoon immediately after the approval process is complete. 

Conclusion 

Although it appears that Saskatoon may have overpaid - or given up far too many assets - the team clearly built up a bit for next season as well. Typically, when a team 'goes all in', they acquire assets that help them now rather than later. What Saskatoon did was ensure a slightly better team now, and a healthy team next season as well. It should be noted that Saskatoon may have a strong returning cast of players rejoining the team for S67. 

 

[Renomitsu 934]

Review - Enjoy seeing the reasoning. In the VHL this trade probably wouldn't fly, but with the turnover the VHLM experiences, it's usually worth tanking for a few seasons to go all-in on another. Personally, I'd like to see you write a bit more on how you feel Saskatoon is compared to other top minors teams (e.g. the Lynx and Reapers), but I'm excited to see how Kefka does!