Chiefs, Blades pull off 6-player trade

As rookie Thomas Stehr waited patiently behind him with an armful of goalie sticks, Jim Watt took a moment to compose himself as he removed his gear from the Spokane Arena.

Watt, the team’s former starting goaltender, had just learned that he was part of six-player trade on Tuesday – one of the biggest in Spokane Chiefs history – and the reality was still hitting him.

“I didn’t see it coming,” said an emotional Watt, 19, who has played only for Spokane in his four-year Western Hockey League career. He was the team’s starting goalie for more than two seasons.

Watt, center Chad Klassen, and defensemen Joe Logan and David Schulz were shipped to the Saskatoon Blades in exchange for promising rookie goalie Kevin Armstrong, 17, defenseman Evan Haw, 19, and two draft picks.

In a related deal, the Chiefs acquired defenseman Phil Magistrale from Saskatoon for a draft pick on the same day the Blades got the 18-year-old from the Tri-City Americans. Last week, Spokane picked up 20-year-old center Brad Erickson from Prince Albert for a draft pick.

“I think, for us, once we got Brad Erickson, it allowed us to move forward,” Chiefs general manager Tim Speltz said. “We wanted to get younger – and better – in the net, if we could. … We were (also) ready to have a changing of the guard as far as a different group of players be our go-to guys and be ready to step up.”

The deals completed a major restructuring of the Spokane team, a movement which has been ongoing since the Chiefs missed the playoffs at the end of last season.

Klassen, a five-year Chiefs veteran, was one of the team’s three 20-year-olds and its leading scorer this season and last. He and Logan were both assistant captains this season.

“It would have been nice to finish here,” said Klassen, with a tone of resignation in his voice. “But I think the best place for me was Saskatoon. It’s my hometown. They’re looking to make a run deep into the playoffs, and that should be exciting.”

Klassen was accompanied by Logan, 19, a constant on the power-play unit with Klassen. The two were preparing for a 10-hour drive over the next day to Swift Current, Saskatchewan, to join the Blades, who are in first place in the East Division.

Logan, from Gull Lake, Saskatchewan, was the team’s defensive player of the year last season after being acquired from Vancouver. Schulz, from Winkler, Manitoba, came to Spokane from Swift Current earlier this season. All four will be closer to their homes. Watt is from Edmonton, Alberta.

“It’s definitely a surprise,” said a sullen Logan. “It’s tough, leaving one team and going to another. But, I guess if you’re on the good end of the stick and you’re going to the winning team, then I guess it’s better than the other way.”

For Schulz, it’s his second move in four months.

“It was a bit of a surprise. It always is,” said Schulz.

All four departing Chiefs said they were excited about the Memorial Cup chances of their new team that made several deals on Tuesday.

“I haven’t played on a winning squad in really a long time and that’s exciting,” said Klassen. “I’m really pumped up and I know the other guys involved in the trade are too.”

All three newly acquired Chiefs are expected to be on the bench for Spokane tonight when Spokane plays host to Prince George at the Arena.

In Armstrong, the Chiefs get one of the top young goalies in the WHL. He is 14-7-1-1 this season with a goals-against average of 2.49 and a save percentage of .916 as a backup to Russian standout Anton Khudobin. Earlier this season, he was named the WHL and CHL player of the week for Oct. 31-Nov. 6 after going 3-0 with a 1.35 GAA in three games.

Armstrong is rated as the WHL’s No. 2 goalie prospect by the National Hockey League’s Central Scouting Bureau (behind only Everett’s Leland Irving). He has also been picked for the NHL Top Prospects game on Jan. 18 in Ottawa, an honor which was also bestowed upon Spokane’s Michael Grabner on Tuesday.

Haw, at 6-4 and 215 pounds, is a former first-round draft pick in 2001. He is a plus-7 in 38 games this season and attended the San Jose Sharks’ training camp. Magistrale, 6-2, 180, has played in just 48 career WHL games.

The moves leave the Chiefs with 23 players on their roster: two goalies, eight defensemen, and 13 forwards and, on paper, a leadership void.

“The young guys on our team are going to have to step up – on and off the ice – in every aspect of the game,” said captain Jeff Lynch, whose brother Jason remains as an assistant.

Chiefs coach Bill Peters said the “A’s” worn by Klassen and Logan will be rotated among several younger players whom the team expects to play a bigger role.

“I’m excited about what we’ve got coming in and I’m excited about the opportunity to move forward … I like us,” said Peters.

Klassen and Watt leave the franchise high on several career lists:

“Klassen is sixth in games played (281); tied for eighth in goals (154); and 10th in points (252);

“Watt holds the franchise record for career shutouts (10); and is second in games (143) and minutes played.

Also at the trading deadline, former Chief Kyle Howarth was sent from Prince Albert to first-place Everett.