Blazers trade captain Minten to Saskatoon for picks, Kamloops local

KAMLOOPS — The Kamloops Blazers have made their first major roster move of the season, shipping out captain Fraser Minten to the Saskatoon Blades for a package including a pair of first round draft picks.

After starting the year with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Minten has registered 10 points in 7 games since his return to Kamloops.

Friday’s (Nov. 24) move was not entirely unexpected as the Blazers are currently in last place in the Western Conference and need to recoup some of the pieces shipped out last year. The team traded four players and nine draft picks to Everett for Olen Zellweger and Ryan Hofer in pursuit of Memorial Cup glory.

The full return for Minten is first round picks in 2024 and 2025, a fourth rounder in 2024 and Kamloops native Jordan Keller.

Keller, the son of Blazers Director of Player Personnel Aaron Keller, has eight points (5G, 3A) in 23 games played with the Blades.

In his final game with the Blazers, Minten recorded two goals and a helper in Wednesday’s 7-3 defeat to Lethbridge Hurricanes.

As Saskatoon is in Seattle for a matinee, it’s not expected that Keller will arrive in time for Friday night’s game versus the Vancouver Giants at the Sandman Centre.

There is belief more moves could be in the cards for a Blazers team looking to restock the cupboards in an effort to shorten the rebuild and contend again for WHL Championship in the near future.