IceDogs deal import pick
The Niagara IceDogs lost out on a potential impact player when they were unable to secure the services of defenceman Gabriel Eliasson.
The IceDogs selected Eliasson with the 12th overall pick in the 2024 CHL Import Draft but were unable to convince the big rearguard to play in Niagara and traded him to the Barrie Colts this week for a third-round pick in 2028 and a 15th-round pick in 2027.
“We couldn’t agree to terms,” IceDogs general manager Wes Consorti said. “A player like that would have helped for sure. Import drafts can go both ways and hopefully in the future we can sign guys like this but we got a return for a player that wouldn’t sign.”
Consorti was satisfied with the return.
“That was the deal we made with Barrie and there’s not much else to say, really. The first overall pick in this CHL import draft went for a third-round pick and a player, so these players still have to report and play for that team.
“It’s another spin off import drafts. Andre Loshko is in Niagara now after being drafted a few years ago in the Quebec League and now he’s in the OHL. There are lots of different scenarios for a lot of different players and Gabriel did have a lot of options going into the CHL and import draft as well.”
The 6-foot-7, 206 pound native of Kungsbacka, Sweden was selected in the second round, 39th overall by the Ottawa Senators in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. The 18-year-old played with HV71 in Sweden. He split time between their U18 and U20 teams, while playing majority of his games in the U20 Nationell league. In addition he represented Sweden internationally at the U18 level playing in a total of 22 games.
Eliasson is slated to be in the lineup Friday when the Colts open the season in Sudbury.
“He is a big, raw talent,” Colts general manager/coach Marty Williamson said. “You can’t teach 6-foot-7 that skates well. We will be patient and help him develop.”
According to The Hockey News, Eliasson was described by some as the meanest player in the 2024 NHL Draft and comes with limited offensive upside. Across 61 games during the 2023-2024 season he recorded a total of 13 points and 188 penalty minutes.
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