IceDogs pull off blockbuster trade
The Niagara IceDogs acquired Jason Robertson from the Kingston Frontenacs Tuesday as part of a blockbuster trade. Photo by: Terry Wilson / OHL Images.
The Niagara IceDogs are going for it.
The IceDogs pulled off a blockbuster deal with the Kingston Frontenacs Tuesday, acquiring a pair of 19-year old NHL prospects in winger Jason Robertson (Dallas Stars) and defenceman Jacob Paquette (Nashville Predators).
“This is a game changer. We addressed our two biggest team needs and added the best goal scorer in the league, along with an elite shut down defenceman,” IceDogs general manager Joey Burke said. “Jason has proven time and again how high calibre of a player he is, and he is going to fit in perfectly with our top six. Jacob is as solid as they come, and will provide tons of stability to our back end.
“We feel our depth is right where it needs to be to contend for a championship, and with this move we have put the pieces in place to really make some noise this season.”
The cost of acquiring Robertson and Paquette was significant: Sophomore defenceman Billy Constantinou, winger Ian Martin as well as a staggering 11 draft picks: Sarnia 2nd (2019), Windsor 7th (2019), Kitchener 3rd (2020), Niagara 13th (2020), Peterborough 2nd (2021), Niagara 5th (2021), Niagara 11th (2021), Niagara 2nd (2022), Kitchener 3rd (2022), Niagara 2nd (2023), London 3rd (2024).
“Anytime you bring in players of this calibre, you have to trade away good young players, and it’s always tough to part ways with guys like Billy and Ian, but in the long run this move will help in their development as young players, and we have added two elite players in this league,” Burke said. “I can’t wait to see them in an IceDogs uniform.”
Coming off back to back 40-plus goal seasons, Robertson joins the ‘Dogs as one of the premier goal scorers in the Ontario Hockey League, having already scored 23 goals and 38 points in 24 games played this season. He was an integral part of Kingston’s run to the Eastern Conference finals last season. A 2017 second-round pick of the Stars, Robertson has collected 124 goals and 238 points over 214 games.
Paquette, a 2017 seventh-round pick of the Nashville Predators, has spent his entire career with the Frontenacs and has served as an assistant captain over the course of the previous three seasons.
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