TRADE ALERT TOR/HSK

[Erik Summers 451]

 

Trade Details

 

To: Toronto

 

Nethila Dissanayake

 

To: Helsinki

 

S72 TOR 3rd

 

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Analysis

 

With only five players to re-sign and $34,000,000 to spend, expect to see Toronto take on a number of contracts from teams looking to free up cap space. From the Legion's perspective, Nethila Dissanayake is a low-risk/high-upside acquisition. After an inactive S69 due to off the ice issues, Dissanayake is expected to make a strong return in S70. Even if he doesn't pick up his production, he is still a solid bottom-six player. Regardless, with the money Toronto has to spend this season, spending 2.5 million a season for the next two seasons is a small price
for the potential payoff. For Helsinki, this appears to be a move intended to free up cap space. That means the Titans may be looking to make moves in the free-agent market this off-season. Otherwise, the future prospect may just be a way to ensure the team is ready to rebuild when the time comes as the Titans' core begins to age.

 

Get-to-Know the Players

 

Nethila Dissanayake

 

Drafted in S66 by Calgary with the 26th overall selection, Nethila Dissanayake was traded to New York to play his first VHL season with the Americans. The Americans scraped the bottom of the league in both S67 and S68, earning more points than only the expansion teams. In the S68 off-season, Nethila was traded again, this time to the Titans in return for Hans Gruber and an exchange of picks. After attending a training camp in Helsinki, when it looked like he may be a promising part of the future for the Titans, Dissanayake had a rather lack-lustre season in S69, seeing a minimal amount of ice-time. With the current state of Toronto's offence, a spot on one of the top lines is definitely available, but it remains to be seen whether or not Nethila will be up to the task of earning it.

 

 

 

VSN Writer Erik Summers