Raiders GM Hunt says Sanford was ‘too expensive’

Sanford was eventually added by the Regina Pats just before Sunday’s 1 p.m. deadline in exchange for high-end prospect Gary Haden, overager Brian Williams, a second round pick in the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft, a third round selection in 2016 and a fifth round draft choice in 2017.

“We looked at Sanford and we looked at some of the 19-year-olds that were signed in the league. You’ll see the Sanford deal come out and I think it was a little too expensive for our blood,” said Hunt. “And in that deal, we would have given up a 20-year-old. I think our 20-year-olds have been a big part of our group. It’s hard to justify that cost and what it would mean to our room.

“As much as we would have loved to add a guy like that, one of the things we want to do is continue to build on the draft we had last year and be mindful that maybe this wasn’t the deal for us.”

They didn’t get Sanford but they did get two guys that could play with the Raiders for up to another two and a half years.

Morrison is a 6’1, 204-pound defenceman who won the 2014 Telus Cup with his hometown Prince Albert Mintos. He has played 98 games with the Hitmen, playing in his second full season with the club.

Bensmiller, 5’11, 195 lbs. winger, has 24 points in 44 games this year in his second full season with the Hitmen. The biggest thing the pair add is a little sandpaper. According to Hunt, that has been lacking at times with this team, especially in Friday’s 8-1 defeat to the Brandon Wheat Kings.

“Grit. Tremendous work ethic, tremendous commitment, guys that will go to tough areas and guys that will compete in all situations,” said Hunt. “When you look at our side with our game in Brandon, I didn’t think we gave them a lot of competition in that game and in other games. With other big strong teams like Red Deer, it was important that we added that kind of element.

“The other thing is they’re 18-year-old players and they haven’t been drafted. If they get drafted this year, there’s an opportunity they can play as 20’s so it works as a long-term goal as well.”

To get something in this league, you have to give up something. That happened to be 1997-born Matteo Gennaro, a former round pick of the Raiders and seventh rounder this past NHL Entry Draft to the Winnipeg Jets.

He was playing some of the best hockey of his career with 11 points in his last eight games. He also had a strong second half last season and was gearing up to do the same this year.

“For Matteo, he put himself in a position last year to get drafted and he’s been a great Raider,” said Hunt. “We wish him the best of luck and he’s a tough guy to move around with his size and he’s been playing a lot better lately.

“Unfortunately, we feel he wouldn’t be around as a 20 anyways. I think this is a good opportunity for him to be closer to home.”

Seeing as Gennaro is a natural centreman and Bensmiller is naturally a winger, the Raiders will be short on centreman now that Austin Glover will continue to be sidelined with an upper body injury for what Hunt estimates will be another six weeks. When asked how the Raiders will adjust their lineup, Hunt joked that it’s the coaches’ job to figure that out but said he likes how his roster is shaped for the remainder of the season.

“I like our group. Our goaltending and defence have been our strong points and we’ve had timely goal scoring. We’ve been scoring throughout our lineup more than we ever did,” said Hunt. “Sometimes when you lose a guy like Simon Stransky for the World Juniors, and Glover, you get a look at how your depth is going to respond. I thought we did a good job when they were away.”

jdandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_dandrea

by Jeff D'Andrea

Raiders GM Hunt says Sanford was ‘too expensive’

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