Though the trade of Nolan Allan leaves a hole on the blueline, Raiders GM Curtis Hunt believes his team has added some key pieces for both present and future. (Submitted Photo/Mark Peterson Media)

By Rob Mahon

Hunt on Allan Trade

Hunt sees short and long-term improvements in Allan trade

Nov 16, 2022 | 2:59 PM

When the time comes to improve his team, Prince Albert Raiders General Manager Curtis Hunt has proven he’s not afraid to make a big splash.

On Wednesday, the Raiders sent captain Nolan Allan to the Seattle Thunderbirds for a treasure trove of players and picks. Coming back the other way were forwards Gabe Ludwig and Brayden Dube, defenseman Easton Kovacs, two first-round picks, a second-round pick, a third-rounder, a sixth, and a conditional sixth.

The team as a whole has had their moments this season, most recently when they took down a strong Moose Jaw Warriors squad 2-1 in Moose Jaw. But something was missing from the puzzle, and the team’s struggles to score were part of the impetus for a move.

“You look at our group, we’re a competitive group and we play hard every night and we’re really struggling to get some traction,” said Hunt. “You look at the teams in our division and where we line up. Our goal is always to try and get in the postseason, and when we get there I do believe anything can happen.”

While the move might be seen as a seller’s play, especially given the haul of picks coming back, Hunt had faith the players coming back in the deal will help his team in the short run as well. With Kovacs coming in on the back end, and with growth from the existing group, they can account for Allan’s 28 minutes or more a night.

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“Long, rangy kid with a good stick,” Hunt said. “A good defender with really good boots that we would be able to continue to strive for our goal to get into the postseason.”

Then, up front, the Raiders add some depth and speed, as well as some youth.

“I think we’ve enhanced the competition up front for ice time,” said Hunt. “We’ve added speed, grit, and tenacity up front in Ludwig. We’ve added skill with Braden (Dube).”

Dube, the younger of the two forwards as a 2005-born forward, showed plenty of skill in the Junior A ranks last season with the MJHL’s Dauphin Kings. He posted nearly a point per game for them in the regular season, scored the series-clinching goal in the MJHL final, and tacked on four goals in five games at the Centennial Cup.

“This is a player with very balanced offense in terms of goals and assists,” Hunt said. “Whether it’s making a play for a tap in goal or shooting the puck himself. When you look at a team like Seattle, whether it’s Davidson or Crnkovic or Gustafson or Schaefer, he could find himself pretty far down the lineup. Here, we’ll get him a better opportunity I think in some of those positions and I believe he’ll continue to score once he finds his way here.”

Trading young players aren’t always easy, especially when that player has been a part of the team for as long as Allan has. What helped in this case, as was the case when the team traded captain Kaiden Guhle last season, was not only the return but the knowledge they were sending him to a good destination.

“Nolan, as a Raider, once a Raider always a Raider, is going to a really good environment as did Kaiden last year,” said Hunt. “We certainly wish him the very best, and that’s what you like to see. If we reflect on last year’s deal, Kaiden was the MVP of the playoffs so it was a very good deal for both clubs.”

Hunt added he expects all three players will travel from Seattle to Prince Albert in time to play in the Raiders’ next game against Medicine Hat on Saturday night.

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rob.mahon@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @RobMahonPxP