The Cincinnati Cyclones had a busy Monday as they completed two trades: one with the Jacksonville Icemen and another with the Rapid City Rush, both for future considerations. Cincinnati’s deal with Rapid City sent forward James Hardie to the Rush. Hardie has had a strong start in his first full season in the ECHL, putting up a goal and four assists for five points in six games this season after coming over from Mississauga Steelheads, where he spent three seasons, all in which he had 30 goals or more and finished with 128 goals, and 116 assists for 244 points in 255 games with the Steelheads, Hardie spent two games with Cincinnati at the end of last season but failed to find the scoresheet.
With Hardie heading to Rapid City, the Cyclones went out and added some size up front by adding Nick Isaacson, a 6’3 forward, to their roster. Isaacson has had a tough time finding playing time so far in his ECHL career after he left the South Carolina Stingrays after putting up five goals and six assists for 11 points in 26 games during the 2021-22 season. Isaacson played three games with Maine and two with Jacksonville, failing to find the scoresheet last season; in five games this season, he had a goal and an assist with the Icemen. Just like Hardie, Isaacson spent time in the OHL. However, he spent three seasons with the Peterborough Petes before being traded to Mississauga, where he would spend a year and a half on the same team. Isaacson had 32 goals and 50 assists for 82 points in 224 OHL games and added 147 minutes in penalties.
