We’re less than 24 hours away from the ECHL Trade Deadline, and the Adirondack Thunder had one of their busier days of the season on Wednesday. It began with a signing, and the day would end with a three-player trade with the Atlanta Gladiators. After all was said and done, nine players would be in transactions involving the Thunder. Gustav Muller would also be placed on reserve, and Ryan Nolan would be placed on waivers to make some space on the active roster.
Adirondack Makes A Trade For the Second Straight Day
For the second straight day, the Thunder made a trade, this time with the Atlanta Gladiators, sending forwards Ryan Francis and Alex Young to Atlanta in exchange for Blake Murray. Before the year began, there were high expectations for both players, but nothing seemed to pan out as Francis missed most of the year he’s played in just 28 games with the Thunder, putting up 10 goals and six assists for 16 points in 28 games. Alex Young had a promising start to his career, putting up two goals and four assists for six points while also getting nine games of Kelly Cup experience under his belt. This season, Young has struggled, putting up just nine goals and 15 assists for 24 points in 42 games. A change of scenery could help both players find their game, especially a player like Alex Young, who’s just finishing up his first full season in the league.
Blake Murray brings some much-needed experience to the Thunder as he’s in his fourth year in the ECHL as he has 59 goals and 83 assists in 142 games with the Norfolk Admirals, Florida Everblades, Allen Americans, and Atlanta Gladiators. In 55 games, he has 14 goals and 23 assists for 37 points this season with Atlanta. Murray, 23, was originally drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes in the sixth round of the 2019 NHL Draft. He’s spent most of the season in the top six for the Gladiators and can play on the wing and up the middle, but has played primarily up the middle this season with Atlanta. I expect him to play on the top line with the Thunder moving forward and help provide some much-needed goal-scoring for Adirondack.
Adirondack Adds Another College Forward
The Adirondack Thunder have now signed three college forwards in the last ten days, as they’ve announced that they’ve added forward Caden Villegas out of Union College. Villegas, 24, spent four seasons at Union, including being an assistant captain in his senior year. In 139 NCAA games, he put up 29 goals and 51 assists for 80 points. I expect Villegas to slot into the middle six for the Thunder moving forward. The Plano, Texas native had seven goals and 22 assists for 29 points in 36 games during his final season at Union. He would be tied for the team lead in both assists and points.
Jackson van de Leest Headed To South Carolina
The South Carolina Stingrays have had no issues bringing in former members of the Adirondack Thunder as defenseman Jackson van de Leest was re-assigned to the Stingrays by the Utica Comets. In 40 games with the Thunder, van de Leest had two goals and 10 assists for 12 points, including three in his last four games. In 12 games with the Comets over the last two seasons, van de Leest has one assist. Prior to playing pro, the 6’7 defenseman spent six years in the WHL, where he had 11 goals and 77 assists for 88 points in 255 games, before spending two seasons in USports with Dalhousie University, where he put up four goals and 13 assists for 17 points in 57 games.
“Jackson is still a young defenseman, and the first thing I notice about him is his size,” said Stingrays Head Coach Jared Nightingale. “I thought he gained valuable experience last year on Adirondack going to the Eastern Conference Finals. He fits our identity and plays with a mean streak and some jam. He will be a great fit for our group.”
South Carolina Stingrays Head Coach Jared Nightingale on the a
The Stingrays’ addition of van de Leest gives them more depth on the blue line. Looking at South Carolina’s defensive core, I would expect them to be bottom-six/extra defensemen. Van de Leest joins Jace Isley as the second former Thunder from this season to join the Stingrays. Isley was traded to the Hershey Bears earlier this year but has spent 33 games with the Rays. The addition of van de Leest gives the Rays eight blueliners on the backend, and I wouldn’t be shocked if the Rays had plans to move out a defenseman before tomorrow’s 3 PM deadline.
Dylan Wendt Back To Adirondack
The ping-pong ball that is Dylan Wendt has now been paddled back to Adirondack after spending the last week with the Utica Comets despite not playing in any games. Wendt has been an important piece for the Thunder when he’s been in Adirondack, putting up eight goals and 17 assists for 25 points in 40 games. He has two assists in seven games while with the Comets this season. I would expect Wendt to be in the lineup for all three games this season after not playing in 10 days.
Tyler Brennan Headed To 3-Day IR
For the second time in three weeks, Adirondack will be without Tyler Brennan as they head into a three-in-three; however, this time, there’s travel involved. In 29 games this season, the 21-year-old goaltender is 9-16-3 with a 3.48 GAA and .878SV%. I wouldn’t be shocked if the Thunder went out and signed a college goalie to possibly play a game this weekend and serve as the number 3 down the stretch while also seeing a handful of starts.
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